There are various items that come under the heading of “sealing product,” but what binds them all together is the fact that they contain some sort of adhesive. Whether it’s tape or liquid glue, sealing products are used in industry and in the home on a regular basis. Carpeted homes have adhesive under the carpets; when you mail a package, you seal it with package tape; when your break something you glue it back together using super glue; etc.
Depending on your line of work and the layout of your home, you may be exposing yourself and your family to all sorts of toxic elements inherent in adhesives. Also, many adhesive products such as package tape are made from non-biodegradable plastic. Let’s take a look at some of the eco-friendly types of sealing products, and why they are better for your health and the environment than chemical adhesives.
- Package tape
Using brown paper tape rather than plastic package tape is better for the environment. It can be recycled or made from recycled paper, and it is as strong as its plastic counterpart.
- Carpet glue
There are significant health concerns surrounding the “off gassing” of carpet glue. Individuals with chemical sensitivities and allergies may find that they suffer attacks even when the carpet is “clean” because of the odorless fumes. In fact, carpet glue is implicated in “sick building syndrome,” an odd mix of symptoms that some people experience in office buildings or even in their own homes due to chemicals used in the construction of the building. There are eco-friendly alternatives to carpet glue, thankfully. Some homeowners simply tack their carpeting down without using adhesives at all.
- Glue
Wood glues, epoxies, and other adhesives can contain a significant amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are implicated in health problems that range from kidney and liver damage to cancer. However, there are water-based glues now on the market that contain very low amounts of VOCs, and some adhesives that contain no VOCs at all.
We all want our homes to be safe. Usually, that entails making sure the windows and doors are closed and locked, or that our alarm systems are set. But there are other ways to ensure our family’s safety, too, and that is by making informed decisions about eco-friendly products and conventional ones.
Keep Going Green!
Lynne
