As if the years of feeling ashamed of buying, using, and enjoying sex toys weren’t enough, a new wave of morality is washing over our sex lives: green shame. But how many organisms is an orgasm killing?
Materials
With shame still surrounding sex toys and these products considered novelty items rather than medical ones, sex toys are not FDA regulated, meaning what is in them may be as bad for us as it is for the environment. Lower-grade and cheaper sex toys, especially, are typically made of plastics which are too low quality to be broken down even if the toys were to be appropriately recycled. They are therefore disposed of as general waste and sent to landfills where they can remain for literally hundreds of years, slowly breaking down into toxic microplastics which have been found in our environment, waterways and even bodies. Even ‘better’ plastics, such as ABS plastics and medical grade silicone which are technically recyclable, tend to meet the same fate due to poor recycling infrastructure.
The skin-like quality and flexibility which many toys, such as fleshlights, seek to replicate often require more porous plastics. These tiny pores can harbor bacteria which is why cleaning sex toys is essential. These tiny pores in contact with bodily fluids also mean these toys often fall under biohazardous waste and cannot be considered fully clean after use. These kinds of plastic are also likely to have been softened using Phthalates, which help create the soft cushion-like texture but are dangerous to the environment. A study by Greenpeace in 2006, which tested eight different sex toys for phthalates, found seven out of eight contained phthalates with concentrations ranging between 24-51%. As they are not chemically bonded to the plastic, phthalates easily leak into the ground and water, where they can have an incredibly harmful effect. Phthalates do not break down naturally and can therefore remain in the environment for a long time. Moreover, exposure is shown to have an impact on hormone and reproductive system functioning in both humans and aquatic organisms in particular.
Non-rechargeable, battery-powered devices are also a big issue. Although batteries are over 90% recyclable, few are disposed of correctly. Battey-powered sex toys are often sent to landfills with the battery left inside toys. As these batteries slowly corrode, the dangerous chemicals in them enter surrounding water sources as well as the soil and, in turn, groundwater. This harms both animal and plant life in the surrounding area. Nickel and cadmium are known carcinogens used in batteries and are also often released as batteries lay in landfills.
THE RECYCLING MYTH
Beyond the issues regarding the materials that make up a majority of mainstream sex toys, there are also challenges in taking the toys apart and recycling them appropriately. Few toys are easy to take apart sufficiently to recycle, and some are made of a mixture of plastics and materials. These mixtures may be costly and time-consuming to break down, resulting in many recycling facilities choosing to send these items to landfills. Moreover, at present, the US recycling infrastructure and education lag behind many other countries. Toys that are, in theory, 100% recyclable seldom reach these promises in practice. Consumers must often find specialty recyclers who will accept plastics which have been exposed to bodily fluids. Even with the knowledge of how to recycle and take apart a toy, local recycling facilities may still refuse to accept it or fail to have the infrastructure to recycle all the parts. Especially as sorting processes become increasingly automated, systems may discard sex toys that a consumer has tried to recycle to landfills. To fully recycle all of a toy, certain parts might need to be shipped off to other states to be recycled, which, too, creates a carbon footprint. Currently, in the US, recyclable sex toys remain more of a utopia than a reality, and the common use of this as a selling point is nothing more than a variant of greenwashing.
Finally, packaging and shipping must also be considered, especially in the modern era of online shopping. Shipping often involves a truck ride, if not a flight, from a warehouse to a front door. Packaging is designed for single use and will typically be made with flimsy plastic destined for the landfill. Sex toy shipping, in particular, is likely to be more wasteful since many companies offer discrete packaging, which will add an extra bag or box over the original in-store packaging. Even typical in-store packages are likely to be problematic. Imagine a typical sex toy box made up of ridged cardboard and a plastic window so customers can examine the toy. Inside, some box-shaped plastic, sculpted to allow the toy to sit perfectly displayed within. It is more than unrealistic to suggest that the average consumer is going to attempt and successfully manage to take apart, sort and recycle this packaging.
SOLUTIONS
To have sex a little bit more sustainably, we should opt for toys made out of long-lasting, sustainable materials and make sure they are cleaned and cared for. Medical-grade silicone is nonporous and, therefore, healthier for both your body and the environment. Steel, wood, glass, and aventurine jade can also make long-lasting toys.
With a market for sustainable alternatives, many producers are adopting special bioplastics into their manufacturing processes. For instance, Womanizer Premium Eco is made entirely of Biolene, which is made from 70% natural materials, including cornstarch. On top of this, Womanizer has pledged to plant a tree with One Tree Planted for every premium eco toy purchased, and the packaging is 100% plastic-free! Similarly, the Gaia eco vibrators are made from BioFeel and BioTouch, which are both plant-based materials which can decompose in compost. Although these new products require consumers to take the extra step and recycle all the parts, this is a mindful step in the right direction by sex toy designers and manufacturers.
The more sustainable option for toys that need electricity is rechargeable devices over battery-powered ones. However, if you’re willing to go the extra mile for the planet, California Exotic Novelties have pioneered solar-powered bullets. Besides opting for more sustainable alternatives when possible, all attempts at sustainability are about mindful consumption. Thinking twice about a purchase can allow us to see a new toy as an investment that pleases us as well as the environment.
Written by Ellen Gisto