Surprising things made from oil

Recycla has been following the continuing saga of the Gulf oil spill and, honestly, it has been like watching a 117 car pile-up — first one car rear-ends another, then another slams into the mess, and then another, and then another, and then another.  The horror just doesn’t seem to end.

The environmental impact of the Gulf oil spill is still being calculated, but it’s safe to assume that it will take years, possibly decades, for Planet Earth to recover from this catastrophe.

A NASA image of the oil spill on May 10.  Photo courtesy of Yahoo Images.

Recycla fervently hopes that this disaster will become a catalyst for change and that Americans will finally reduce their dependence on oil.  The tricky part is that oil is in more than just car engines and airplanes.  In fact, there are a number of surprising places where it shows up:

• plastic — Did you know that most plastics are derived from petrochemicals (a.k.a. oil)?  Yet another reason why we all should cut back on our plastic use.
• food — Yes, that’s right.  Some food additives and food colorings contain petrochemicals.  A most compelling reason to ditch processed foods.
• detergents — Soapless detergents used to wash clothes and dishes contain glycerin, which is a petrochemical.  Switch to eco brands like Seventh Generation, Ecover, and Mrs. Meyers.  (No endorsement implied by the Eco Women.)
• candles — Most candles are made from raw petroleum.  Make your romantic dinners safer and oil-free by switching to beeswax or soy.
• nylon — Many nylons and other synthetic fibers also come from petrochemicals.  Wear more natural fibers and, when you buy polar fleece, look for garments made from recycled materials.  You’ll still be wearing plastic, but at least it was recycled.
• vitamins and some medications — The active ingredient in many well-known over-the-counter meds is acetylsalicylic acids, which are made from petrochemcials.  And synthetic vitamins are also made from petrochemicals.
• makeup — Cosmetics containing ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol and benzene come from — you guessed it — petrochemicals.  Search the Environmental Working Group‘s database to see how safe or hazardous your mascara, eyeshadow, and lipstick are.
• personal lubricants — The most frequently used ones on the market contain glycerin, propylene glycol, and parabens, which are derived from petrochemicals.  Really, why would anyone want oil, um, there?
• golf balls — Those wee dimpled orbs contain polybutadiene, which is made from you-know-what.

This list is not meant to freak you out, but instead to enlighten and educate you.  Look around your house and think about how you can eliminate some of these items from your life and try to substitute better options.

Tell the Eco Women:  Which of these items on the list surprised you the most?  Recycla is still reeling from the medications and personal lube.

List courtesy of the Huffington Post.