I’ve been studying sustainable living for more than a decade. It started with my internship with TransFairUSA where I learned the impact our purchases can have on our world and how our money is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.

I became concerned with toxic chemicals when I would drive past a pond near Golden Gate bridge with a sign informing people the water isn’t safe for swimming, while there were birds standing in the water and when my friend’s wife came out of remission with breast cancer. Seeing my friend and his teenage children in fear of losing their mother broke my heart and set me on a mission. I started changing everything I could, especially my cleaning products, personal care products and food.

When I became a mother I began to see it as my mission to protect my daughter from harm, including harm from chemicals. Not only those chemicals that have been absolutely proven to cause harm but also those that even “might” cause her harm. As her mother it is my primary responsibility to protect her from ANYTHING that might harm her.

I needed a way to stay home with my daughter and still have an income so I started a business selling certified organic personal care products. I began to educate myself about “fake” natural products (both personal care and cleaning products) that add a few natural ingredients to a bunch of chemicals and then call themselves green. I felt betrayed when I found out some of my favorite brands weren’t what they said they were.

Since then I’ve been on a mission to educate people how to eliminate toxins from their life and to bring attention to companies that actively greenwash. I have zero tolerance for companies that make safety and environmental claims that don’t hold up, manipulating consumers who are just trying to do the best for their families.

I’ve seen many friends go through the same process I have, buying products they think are safe because the company said it was, only to find out later there were dangerous chemicals in the product. It’s just not right. We shouldn’t have to have a chemistry degree to buy soap.

So my life is dedicated to helping to educate families and help them make educated decisions about what they bring into their home, both by way of my business but also in my writing. I want every family to feel empowered and confident in protecting their families from toxic chemicals.

Danika Carter
Colorado Springs, Colorado