Does eco-sex really exist?
Babies. Gotta love 'em! I have two kids and they rock. I wouldn't want a world without them. But what if you don't want to hear the pitter-patter of little carbon footprints right now? As a wannabee eco-warrior, what are your options for contraception? Hormonal injections? The IUD? The Pill? Uh uh. We're talking animal testing, the pollution of our water and the resulting harm to wildlife, so that's a no go. Condoms? Well sure, I guess, but if you're trying to reduce your impact on the environment then of course not!
Here's the facts: Condoms are made either from latex or polyurethane. Polyurethane condoms are made of a type of non-biodegradable plastic and are to be avoided if you're concerned about pollution because pollute they will. For a long, long time.
Latex is a slightly better option but still takes years to biodegrade. They shoot out of our sewerage systems and bob up and down, obscenely, in the ocean for decades. On top of that, condoms are coated with chemicals. Stabilisers, preservatives and hardening agents (vulvanisers).
Furthermore, latex is derived from rubber and so added to the vile impact of the finished product, there's also the monstrous damage to rubber trees, and the exploitation of rubber plantation workers during the production process. Although The French Letter Company is trying to do their bit against worker exploitation by trading in Fair Deal Trade condoms only.
Or, you could use biodegradable condoms but the drawback is that they aren't effective against STD's so are no good if you like to get out and about.
The bottom line is that condoms are convenient and they're going to be around until someone comes up with a better solution. What you can do to minimise their impact is:
- don't flush them - they clog up water treatment plants and the waste water sometimes runs directly into the environment
- if you're in a monogamous relationship, have yourself and your partner tested for STD's and then switch to sheepskin condoms
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-12-2008 @ 4:31PM
Rabbit said...
http://www.french-letter.co.uk/
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1-15-2008 @ 9:53PM
Corin Royal Drummond said...
I'm not sure the recommendation about using sheepskin condoms in monogamous relationships is a good idea.
Given the rates of people having sex outside their primary relationship without the knowledge of their partner, recommending sheepskin condoms implies you're reccommending people put themselves at risk for STDs.
I think it's foolish to link your own health to the behavior of your partner. Everyone should be protecting themselves from STDs with every partner, even if they "love and trust" them. Because "He/She would never..." is very often gonna be wrong.
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1-15-2008 @ 9:59PM
Larissa Halsell said...
Sheepskin condoms are NOT the only birth control options for monogamous couples with low or no STD transmission risk. Natural methods that track fertility signs like mucous and temperature and use periodic abstinence for the fertile periods in a woman's cycle provide excellent effectiveness rates (many methods over 99%) and require no pills, hormones, or throwaway devices. One common and effective method is the Symptothermal Method used by both the FAM (the Fertility Awareness Method) and NFP (Natural Family Planning).
Yes, eco-sex does exist. Following one's natural fertility signs is easy, cheap, and has a very low environmental impact. Some natural methods do not even require human-made products to use.
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1-15-2008 @ 10:08PM
peter gusztav said...
the only problem is that there arent a lot of biodegradable condoms around.have you heard of actuall condoms for women? found the link here http://www.opentopix.com/topic/health/does-eco-sex-really-exist
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1-15-2008 @ 10:31PM
Justina said...
is it really the best solution for couples who don't want to use products because they're tested on animals (hormones, birth control pills) to suggest using a product MADE FROM animals (sheep skin condoms)?
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1-17-2008 @ 12:42PM
jfitzsi421 said...
Intersting that you should so strongly urge people not to use non-latex polyeurethane condoms given that most people who do use them are not using them by choice but rather due to serious allergic reactions to latex.
Keep in mind that while you wish to be responsible to the environment this need not be done by actively alienating an entire group of people by attempting to add eco-guilt to a physical condition that already likely causes difficulties in their private lives.
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1-20-2008 @ 1:12AM
Starre said...
Hmmmm.....well I just have to say that having sex instead of shopping, going to the golf course, or driving your car to do errands is def. an eco-friendly activity! And creating more people has the most negative affect on the environment (not to mention your personal time and money) than any pile of condoms ever will. So use condoms and always throw them in the trash, not the toilet!
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