The "Happy Planet Index" (HPI) is a new global measure of which ranks the progress of nations based on the amount of the Earth's resources they use, and the length and happiness of people's lives. This is a revolutionary new approach to measuring human well-being and environmental impact, published by the New Economic Foundation in association with Friends of the Earth.

The Pacific Archipelago of Vanuatu rated the highest out of 178 countries! Apart from our low population, unique rainforests, very little logging and a large land area very rich in volcanic ash (plus 2500 kms of exposed coastline), a very significant factor was that Vanuatu emits next to NO carbon emissions! [Download the report]

Global warming is upon us and drastic changes are needed to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Everybody needs to do their part - this applies to countries, governments, manufacturers, business, communities AND individuals.

It's Time To Make Peace With The Earth!

Next time you look to buy chemical based skin care products, consider the following:-

Your body absorbs up to 60% of everything you put on your skin.

The other 40% is likely to go down the shower drain and contaminate the environment.

Many of these chemicals are manufactured in factories that emit high levels of CO2.

Some of these chemicals are potentially toxic and harmful to the body.

CHEMICALS FREQUENTLY FOUND IN MANY SKIN CARE PRODUCTS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY TOXIC

It is not always easy to work out whether a particular skin care product is chemical free. The reason for this may be the use of a scientific or industry name that you aren't familiar with. One thing you can be certain of is that the word "chemical" is unlikely to appear on the label!

One of the big culprits are the Parabens. The main reasons why many companies use these chemicals is to extend the shelf life of the products. They are also cheaper than natural preservatives. You'll commonly find Methyl Paraben listed as an ingredient on product labels. It is highly toxic and should be avoided.

Other chemical preservatives include Diazolidinyl Urea and Imidazolidinyl Urea. These are well established as a primary cause of contact dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology) and the ingredients are derived from ANIMAL urine.

Then there's the chemicals used to make Synthetic Colors. Many of these are cancer producing agents (i.e. carcinogenic). Look for labels such as D&C or FD&C, followed by a color and then a number (e.g. D&C Green No. 4 or FD&C Red No. 2).

Let's not forget the chemicals found in all Synthetic Fragrances. These are made using as many as 200 ingredients. The law only requires that the word "fragrance" on the label so you may not know one way or the other. What is known is that some synthetic fragrances can produce symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, rashes, vomiting and skin irritation.

Virtually all commercial hair shampoos contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES). The main reason for using these ingredients are that they foam up particularly well. However, they are nothing more than cheap, harsh chemical detergents and surfactants.

There are many other chemicals to be found in everyday personal care products. In fact, at least one study has shown that the average woman unwittingly applies 176 different chemicals to her body every day, as part of her normal beauty /makeup routine!

Volcanic Earth skin care products are all CHEMICAL FREE, so now you can avoid exposing your body to harmful toxins AND reduce your ecological "Skin Care" footprint at the same time!