I was born in 1991. Yes, I am a child of the nineties. A millennial, a member of the internet generation, a digital native… but there’s one more crucial element. I’m a part of the green generation.

What does that mean to me?

I like to say I grew up green – in a little eco bubble. When my mom was pregnant with me, she read a book called Diet for a Poisoned Planet that changed our lives (including my prenatal self). My dad went to work one day, came home, and the entire house was “organicized.” Everything was replaced with a truly natural alternative from organic food to toxin-free cleaning products to glass containers and much much more. That is the world into which I was born and raised. My mom instilled in me a belief that anything can be approached from a more environmentally responsible standpoint, a thoughtful mindset. It may be a bit over-cautious at times, but that works for me; I like to live by a precautionary principle: why risk my health and well-being when I don’t have to? I make a conscious effort to reduce the burden on my body wherever I can. Nowadays, it’s so simple to “live green” with the plethora of fantastic green alternatives on the market (and fabulous educational resources – like this one right here!).

Growing up, my eco-lifestyle included local produce from weekly farmers markets, carpooling, glass water bottles in place of plastic (pre-metal canteen craze), organic cotton sheets and towels, no VOC paints… and from there, it took off to encompass all I come in contact with and am surrounded by. But it’s not only me. It’s an entire generation growing up in this time of ecoRenaissance, as I like to call it (and the name of my blog).

Ultimately, it became Teens Turning Green, the campaign I co-founded in 2005. Studies were coming out linking the toxins in the cosmetics and personal care products I used 24/7 to cancer, birth defects, reproductive harm, neurotoxicity, and more. That is nothing I wanted near my body, particularly during puberty. There are so many risk factors and potentially hazardous exposures in the world that we, as individuals, cannot control, but TTG focuses on the choices that are within personal control. When information is available and alternatives are accessible, people begin to think critically and that prompts change. So we developed those consumer-ready easy-to-use resources. Beginning with cosmetics and personal care products, we compiled lists of the most commonly found egregious chemicals to AVOID (The Dirty Thirty) and safer and healthier brands to TRY which we vetted for safety, sustainability, and efficacy (Greener Alternatives).

Now a national non-profit organization, TTG is devoted to education and advocacy around environmentally and socially responsible choices for individuals, schools, and communities. Our student-led movement seeks to promote global sustainability by identifying and eliminating toxic exposures that permeate our lives, often unknowingly, yet threaten public and environmental health. What began around my kitchen table now has a presence at numerous middle and high schools, universities, and student organizations across the country, as well as a strong virtual platform and media presence. The TG chapters lead grassroots efforts that aim to raise awareness and work to lessen local and global impact.

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