Who wants to have to worry about toxic emollients and parabens in bed? More and more contraceptives and sex toys are also made from natural materials and are vegan. Utopia gives nine tips for green and vegan sex.
We try to ban pollutants from the kitchen, bathroom and, if possible, from the car – why not from the bedroom? Because sex toys and lingerie are often contaminated with plasticizers or other harmful substances – and condoms are often not even vegan.
Nevertheless, you don’t have to do without fun, because toys, condoms and much more are also available in sustainable. Here are nine tips for a vegan, fair and sustainable love life.
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1. Green sex without pollutants: Be careful with conventional toys
Sex toys can add variety to bed. But the desire goes quickly, if you read Stiftung Warentest, 2/2019: Five of the 18 tested vibrators, love balls and penis rings scored “poor” in the pollutant check. The reason: They were heavily contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), phenol, nickel or other dangerous pollutants.
The problem: sex toys come into contact with mucous membranes. “These tissues are usually well supplied with blood and can be sensitive,” says the project manager of Stiftung Warentest Dr. Sara Wagner-Leifhelm. There are strict pollutant limits for children’s toys – but not for dildos, vibrators, etc.
2. Satisfactory alternative: vegan sex toys made of wood and glass
You don’t have to do without sex toys. Those who like to experiment can instead use a Green Sex model made from a completely natural material – namely wood. In addition, many manufacturers attach great importance to their toys meeting the needs of their customers without harming the environment.
The German family company WaldMichlsHoldi produces its vibrators, dildos and plugs, for example, under fair conditions. According to its own information, the company only uses certified, sustainable Odenwald spruce wood. The toys are absolutely free of harmful substances – and even comply with strict children’s toy regulations.
If you are not into wood, you can try a model made of glass. There are also love balls and toys for pelvic floor training made of glass, stone or crystal – guaranteed without plasticizers or similar pollutants.
Sources of supply: You can find WaldMichelHoldi products directly on the website. Toys made of glass and Co. are available in various erotic shops, including at Other Nature.
3. Vegan sex: only with the right condoms
Sex without a condom is often a bad idea, but so is sex with the wrong condom. Öko-Test already found in 2010 that some products contain harmful substances such as allergy-causing latex proteins and potentially carcinogenic nitrosamines.
In addition, the rubber from which rubber is made is produced by plantation workers in Asia, Africa and South America – often under poor working conditions and without considering the environment. Vegans have to be particularly careful which condoms they buy, as some contain the milk protein casein.
Fortunately, there are now a lot of really vegan brands, such as Fair Squared. These vegan sex condoms consist exclusively of fair trade natural rubber latex and are produced under fair conditions in Germany. They are also free from colorings and flavors and are not tested on animals.
Sources of supply: Fair squared condoms are available from Avocadostore, for example.
4. Natural prevention: Green sex alternatives to the pill
The birth control pill is the most widely used contraceptive. But the small tablets have long had a bad reputation because of their numerous side effects. (Although rare, pills of the newer generations are said to increase the risk of thrombosis, among other things). In addition, because only about 40 percent of the active ingredients are broken down in the body, the usual hormones end up in the wastewater via the urine.
Sewage treatment plants cannot completely filter out hormones, which is why the estrogen level in bodies of water and in drinking water rises. Researchers have already been able to prove that they make some male fish sterile.
Fortunately, there are a number of hormone-free green sex alternatives:
- If condoms are too unsafe for you, you can think about the copper coil. With a Pearl Index of 0.3 to 0.8, it is considered a particularly safe contraceptive.
- For the symptothermal method, all you have to do is measure your basal temperature every day and observe the cervical mucus. In this way you can find out which days you are fertile and use prevention accordingly.
You can find all the advantages and disadvantages of the contraceptive methods here: Contraception without hormones – an overview
5. Fun without side effects: natural lubricant gel
Lubricants are supposed to make bed more fun – but water-based agents, for example, often contain glycerine, which can promote fungal infections. And oil-based lubricants have to be removed with soap after sex, otherwise they can destroy the vaginal flora and make it more susceptible to fungus or bladder infections. You also have to wash out silicone gels with soap – which can significantly disrupt the romance in the moments afterwards.
With homemade aloe vera lubricant, you don’t have to worry about infections. Simply cut off an aloe vera leaf and squeeze it out – and you’re good to go. If you don’t have a green thumb, you can also get a tube of aloe vera gel – preferably in natural cosmetic quality. However, the product should contain as few additives as possible that could irritate sensitive mucous membranes. The sap of the plant is also said to help against vaginal dryness.
Of course there are also “biological” lubricants: They do not contain substances such as parabens and are mostly based on water.
Sources of supply: The Yes brand sells organic lubricants without parabens or glycerine; available in the avocado store.
6. Relaxation for two: make massage oil yourself
A massage can be relaxing or sensual – it is even more fun with homemade massage oil. Just use your favorite fragrances, preferably organic. You can find a detailed recipe here: Relax naturally with homemade massage oil.
7. Fair, vegan and sexy: sustainable lingerie
We have the most intimate body contact with our underwear – all day long. Nevertheless, we usually don’t think about what kind of textiles we let in so close to us. Because conventional underwear is often contaminated with residues of harmful chemicals.
8. Green sex is analog: do without smart sex toys
What sounds like sex of the future has long been a reality: You can already control some toys via app. For example, you can use your smartphone to set the vibration level or film your genital area with a camera. Many of the toys were developed for long-distance couples, for example.
We advise: you better keep your hands off it. Unfortunately, the “Internet of Things” often still has extreme security gaps. According to Spiegel, hackers can easily gain access to many of the devices and the intimate data stored on them. This cannot happen with Green sex toys made of wood, glass or latex.
9. Green sex tip for the curious: Alternative sex shops
Green sex is still a niche topic. But a first alternative sex shop has already opened in Berlin: Other Nature describes itself as “feminist, queer, sex-positive, environmentally friendly and vegan” and only wants to offer “harmless to health” toys. If you are curious, you can just drop by – either in person in the branch in Kreuzberg, or online in the shop.
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Sustainable underwear: 7 labels with meaning and sensuality
- Taking off the pill: this happens to your body
- Best list: organic tampons, washable sanitary towels, menstrual cups & sponges