feature
SUSTAINABLE
SEX Eco-friendly Sex Life
How To Lead An
Rhalou Allerhand investigates the hairy
underworld of greener sex
lthough probably not the first
thing that springs to mind when
considering one’s sexual de-
sires, the state of the planet is
fast becoming a serious issue.
The world population is expanding at an
astounding rate and the earth has only a
fixed amount of natural resources — many
of which are rapidly depleting. So as popu-
lation growth increasingly strains our lim-
ited resources, there are fewer available to
us, and consequently even less for future
generations.
Thankfully, various companies are jump-
ing on board the eco bandwagon, and from
sex toys to bondage gear, all manner of
options are available to enable us to lead
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sustainable sex.indd 30
an ethical sex life. But taking the eco route
doesn’t mean giving up depilation or devel-
oping a barnet of stinky dreadlocks.
Whether you’re happily married, a saucy
swinger, a devious dominant or loyal sub,
most of us consider sex a vital part of life.
Before you ask what on earth environmen-
tal issues have to do with your libido, there
is actually a lot we can all do to make our
bedroom fun greener and more eco-friendly,
and help maintain a sustainable sex life on
this fragile planet. But the concept of reduc-
ing our collective carbon sex footprint need
not impinge on our enjoyment of carnal
pleasure, and combining saving the earth
with saucy bedroom fun can be surprisingly
sexy. There are a few steps we could all take
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feature
High-quality sex toys
may tend to be pricey,
but will almost certainly
last longer
to ease our environmental conscience and
still enjoy healthy and adventurous bedroom
fun.
Get jiggy in the dark
Something as simple as turning off the lights
can improve your energy efficiency tenfold
and help stop climate change. And the in-
visibility factor adds sexy ‘groping around
in the gloom’ appeal. If you really want to
watch your lover’s reaction while doing the
wild thing, then simply get fruity during the
day, or switch to energy saving light bulbs,
whose subtle illumination can do wonders
for your white bits.
Ethical sex toys
Worldwide, more than one in five adults has
used or owns a vibrator or sex toy. The plas-
tics used to construct a wide range of sex
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sustainable sex.indd 32
toys contains very
high concentra-
tions of hazardous
phthalates, which
are toxic chemical
softeners used in
PVC to make it soft
and flexible. These
are chemicals that
do not easily biode-
grade and can be
dangerous — even
in small amounts.
Many of us also
react to phthalates
as an allergy, with in-
flammation, skin rashes and discharge that
mimics a yeast infection as the symptoms.
The latest research indicates that exposure
to phthalates can also upset the body’s abil-
ity to regulate hormone production, damage
reproduction, and cause liver and kidney
defects and possibly even cancer.
But before you all run to your bottom
drawer to release your beloved bunnies
back into the wild, many sex toy distribu-
tors are becoming aware of this and have
already put measures in place, so read the
small print to check what they contain. If
you’re not sure, you can tell by the smell.
If your sex toy smells of anything other than
your own bodily fluids, it usually means that
it’s releasing chemicals.
When buying new gadgets, opt for some-
thing silicone or sustainable and phthalate
free and remember that high-quality sex toys
may tend to be pretty pricey, but will almost
certainly last longer, be better designed and
have less environmental impact.
‘One suspicious warning sign is the dis-
6/8/08 19:34:05
 claimer you’ll find on most sex
toy packages stating that the de-
vice within is for “novelty purposes
only”,’ says Jacob from treehugger.com, an
online resource for all budding eco-activists
looking for information on green news, solu-
tions and product information. ‘We suggest
playing it safe. Look for toys made from
glass, metal, silicone, hard plastics, or elas-
tomers. If your sex toy of choice is a power
tool, buy a rechargeable one or use your
own rechargeable batteries.’
Various companies now specialise in
ecologically sound sex toys. Blissboxtoys.
com have launched the Eco Dildo, a hand-
crafted, beautifully finished dildo made from
hardwood. And for each Eco Dildo sold,
they also promise to plant a willow bush
and issue the purchaser with their very own
bush-planting certificate.
US company Tantus, Inc. are also a vi-
able option, as they design and manufac-
ture anatomically targeted toys, hand-made
from high quality 100 per cent silicone. All
their products are hypoallergenic, hygi-
enic, phthalate free, odourless, tasteless,
boilable, bleachable and even dishwasher
safe, and because they’re designed to last
a lifetime, they offer minimal impact on the
environment.
sustainable sex.indd 33
Glass and metal dildoes
are also a good alternative,
as they provide sensations
that you can’t get from jelly or rubber dildos
and they’re non-toxic. The majority of glass
dildoes are made from high-grade Pyrex,
which is a durable, safe, sturdy, ecologi-
cally sound material that can be heated up
or cooled down in your fridge or freezer for
intense variations in temperature. Any col-
ours used to maximise the beauty of a glass
dildo will be produced from non-toxic mate-
rials and, in most cases, FDA approved to
ensure ultimate safety. Unless you acciden-
tally chip them, the surface of a glass dildo
is unlikely to present any problems to you or
your lover’s orifices.
Recycle your vibrators
When thrown into landfill sites, all electri-
cal waste, whether it’s TVs, toasters, com-
puters or vibrators, can release toxins that
pollute the environment. The EU has intro-
duced a directive aimed at reducing the
environmental impact of this, by encourag-
ing the reuse of electrical components and
increasing recovery of raw materials from
waste electrical products. New recycling
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feature
regulations mean that all electrical equip-
ment, including sex toys, must be disposed
of at a designated electrical waste collec-
tion centre. So don’t just chuck your used
vibrator in the kitchen bin, do your bit for
the planet by sending your dead sex toys to
LoveHoney Rabbit Amnesty to be recycled,
and after you retire your trusty rabbit, you
can get a brand new one for half the price.
Check their website for details (www.love-
honey.co.uk/rabbit-amnesty).
Eco lube
Forget the fossil fuel based lubricants like
petroleum jelly, which are a non-renewable
resource, and switch to a phthalate free eco
friendly lube. Sliquid Lubricants, available
from www.LoveHoney.co.uk, are entirely
glycerin (sugar derivative) free and paraben
(chemical additive) free, 100 per cent vegan
friendly personal lubricants, so oil up your
lover in earth friendly style. They’re also non-
staining, easy to clean, and won’t cause
yeast infections or urinary tract infections,
so the all round ethical option for slippery
bedroom fun.
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sustainable sex.indd 34
Choose your
rubberwear wisely
When shopping for your brand new gimp
suit, avoid PVC and vinyl accessories for
your fetishistic playtime pleasures. They
contain polyvinyl chloride, and the produc-
tion of PVC creates and releases the incred-
ibly toxic chemical dioxin. Opt for acces-
sories made from natural substances like
rubber or leather, or stick to the most pliant
material of all, your birthday suit.
Bathtime for two
To save water, soap up together in the
shower or make room for two (or multiples
thereof…) in the bath. More than one bil-
lion people in the world don’t have access
to clean water, so spare a thought for the
shortage of this precious commodity and
share your tub. Plus soaping down your be-
loved’s hairy bits at bath time can add seri-
ous erotic steam for all parties involved.
Spank with care
Use paddles and BDSM tools and
accessories made from sustainable
harvested timber, or even rubber,
which can still have just as sat-
isfying an affect as wood when
thwacked across an eager but-
tock. Look for equipment certified
by the internationally recognised
ecological forest certification or-
ganisation, the Forest Steward-
ship Council, or FSC.
6/8/08 19:34:41
 Opt for ethically
aware companies
Lots of businesses have started
to do their bit for the environ-
ment; including Forum favourite
Bath based sex toy distributors
Lovehoney. To offset the carbon
dioxide emissions generated by
the general operations of the com-
pany and the shipment of products
from sources around the world to
the LoveHoney warehouse, they
make an annual donation to the
World Land Trust.
The World Land Trust Carbon Bal-
anced Fund is used to acquire land water filtra-
and undertake restoration projects working tion, solar energy
through local partner organisations. Through and sufficient electri-
the support of individuals and companies cal waste disposal, and are
such as LoveHoney, the World Land Trust actively exploring other ways to reduce
has been able to purchase and protect Topco Sales’ carbon footprint.
more than 350,000 acres of tropical forest ‘We understand the importance of be-
and other threatened habitats. ing environmentally conscious and the re-
When you recycle a rabbit vibrator with sponsibility we have as one of the world’s
Rabbit Amnesty, LoveHoney will donate largest novelty manufacturers.’ Explained
£1 to the World Land Trust, which is an in- Topco Sales’ director of marketing and
ternational conservation organisation that public relations Desiree Duffie. ‘Our Com-
takes direct action to save the rainforest mitment to Green will help shed a positive
and other biologically important and de- light on the adult toy industry as a whole.
pleting natural resources. The wilderness It starts at the top and our efforts will
areas bought by the World Land Trust are benefit our distributors, online retailers,
protected indefinitely as private reserves brick and mortar stores and ultimately the
owned and managed by local organisa- end-user.’
tions for the benefit of both wildlife and
people (www.worldlandtrust.org).
US sex toy wizards Topco Sales (www. Earth-loving lingerie
topcosales.us) have also made a 35th an-
niversary ‘commitment to green’ initiative, These days, ethical lingerie need not mean
where they have implemented recycling, unsightly granny pants or tie-dyed hippy

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sustainable sex.indd 35 6/8/08 19:35:24

feature
gear. There are various up and coming fash-
ion labels designing modern, sexy under-
wear from the finest organic and sustainable
fabrics and renewable fibres such as hemp,
cotton, bamboo, soya, silk and other natural
products.
West country label Enamore (www.en-
amore.co.uk) designs seriously sensual
bespoke lingerie from all natural or hand
selected vintage fabrics, only source fabric
from accredited suppliers and actively sup-
port local manufacturing.
Reminiscent of Fifties pin-up girls, their
glamorous vintage style lingerie doesn’t
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sustainable sex.indd 36
possess even a whiff of dreadlocked eco
warrior chic and is sure to get your lady
friend in the mood to strip.
GreenKnickers (www.greenknickers.org)
make saucy pants solely from sustainable
fabrics that improve agricultural land. They
use only organic and natural dyes and certi-
fied fair trade cotton and all recycled mate-
rial for packaging, as well as working with
local producers and fair trade suppliers in
developing countries. Sarah Lucy Smith set
up the eco undies line after graduating in
environmental design. ‘We started Green-
knickers to prove that ethical choices can
be funny, beautiful and sexy. The logical
place to start was obviously knickers.’ And
their sassy pants sport catchy slogans such
as ‘Eat Organic’ and ‘No Deforestation’, so
you can make a bold statement about sav-
ing the earth whilst simultaneously feeling a
little bit sexy.
Safe sex
According to the Environment Agency of
Britain, between 60 and 100 million con-
doms are improperly disposed of each
year in the UK. Most condoms are made
from latex, which is an all-natural substance
made from the sap of rubber trees. Con-
doms made of polyurethane should be
avoided, as they are essentially plastic and
not biodegradable.
‘The jury is still out as to whether latex
condoms are biodegradable and what ef-
fects additives and lubricants have on bio-
degradability,’ says Jacob from Treehug-
gers.com. That said, in terms of safety, latex
is the best option.
6/8/08 19:35:42
 Lambskin condoms are biodegradable
but are only effective against pregnancy, not
STIs. For disposal purposes, putting used
condoms in the rubbish bin so they can
then be sent off to landfill sites is the best
option. ‘Flushing condoms down the toilet
is definitely no good,’ says Jacob, ‘as this
clogs pipes, treatment plants, and rivers.’
Bamboozle
Use bamboo bedsheets and towels in your
sexy boudoir. A surprisingly soft and sen-
sual fabric, bamboo is the ideal sustainable
material, as the grass doesn’t require re-
planting, grows without fertilisers and pes-
ticides, and can be harvested every three
to five years. Bamboo also offers environ-
mentally friendly reduction of pressure on
forests through wood substitution, is people
friendly as it uses traditional resources, and
enhances rural employment generation. You
can get bamboo-based products, including
sumptuous bedsheets, from various shops
online. Try www.nigelsecostore.com.
Eco porn
Fuckforforest.com is an alternative non-
profit organisation for revolutionary eco-ac-
tivists, exploring the power of sexuality, to
save nature and liberate life. They aim to
‘have fun with sex, show natural people and
raise funds to save the rainforests’, so basi-
cally it’s a bunch of hairy, feral types fucking
for charity. But with their guerilla-style public
sex shows and seriously raw and explicit
footage available online, saving the planet
sustainable sex.indd 37
has never been so sexy. And in next month’s
Forum we have an extensive interview with
the fascinating forest fuckers.
Vegan porn
Eating meat is one of the most significant
contributors to environmental decline.
Farming and cattle affects various ecologi-
cal factors including greenhouse gas emis-
sions, deforestation due to grazing, climate
change, water pollution and loss of biodi-
versity, so considering a whole or part veg-
etarian diet could benefit the environment
substantially. If this doesn’t sound sexy to
you, then check out www.vegporn.com,
an adult site dedicated solely to models
that opt for vegetarian lifestyle and ethical
choices.
Famous for their naked vegan rec-
ipe collection, Veg Porn is ‘an alternative
erotica and sex-positive culture for herbiv-
ores and those who love them’. The site
features exclusively vegan and vegetarian
models, of all shapes and sizes, posing for
your meat free pleasure. The paid member-
ship site currently has 34 models and over
3400 original photos of the animal lovers
having fun in their naked entirety. Fans of
the more hirsute lady will also particularly
enjoy this site, as many of the vegan mod-
els favour the furrier look.
It only takes a few steps to help save the
planet, and participating in ethical sex can
be surprisingly good fun. So the next time
you buy a sex toy, some new lingerie for
your lover, or you’re just about to step into
the shower, spare a thought for the planet
and get sexy eco style.
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