Your roadmap for a healthy green life

  1. Find out your current healthy green score with our five-minute quiz
  2. Discover what to do next from 400+ actions & track your progress
  3. Share and compare with your friends & neighbors
Superbly Green
Your Action Status
Not Committed Yet
Sign in or join now to get started
Points
Health Health 10

Switch to natural hand sanitizer

All Practically Green: 3,445 or so people have DONE this action so far.

All Practically Green: 2,914 or so people have ADDED this to their action plan so far.

Why is "Switch to natural hand sanitizer" green?

Clean hands will keep you healthy. But there are times—riding public transportation or eating lunch at your desk at the height of cold and flu season—when there’s no easy access to soap and water. Enter hand sprays and gels. Before you wipe that goop on you, read the ingredient list to make sure it’s safe.

Many hand sanitizers contain questionable chemicals, including the antibacterial agent triclosan. It’s currently under review by the FDA and the EPA because recent studies have linked it to endocrine disruption, and it has altered hormones in animals. It’s also non-biodegradable, irritating to the eyes and skin, highly toxic to aquatic life, and known to accumulate in the breast milk of women. The American Medical Association says it may encourage bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The CDC says it’s found in the urine of 75 percent of the population.

Hand sanitizers may also contain 60 percent alcohol—either petroleum derived or made from genetically modified corn. This can dry out skin and can be harmful if ingested by small children. There were over 12,000 cases of hand sanitizer poisoning reported to Poison Control centers in 2006.

Other ingredients of concern can include synthetic fragrance (which has also been linked to hormone disruption) and dyes. Choose a natural hand sanitizer to avoid these considerable concerns.

How to: Switch to natural hand sanitizer

Shop for a natural sanitizer that contains thyme oil and/or other essential oils known for their antibacterial properties. Always read ingredient lists, even on natural products. Or make your own.

  • EO Hand Sanitizer Spray in Organic Lavender
    • (0 Ratings)

    Earning high marks from Good Guide, this hand sanitizer contains certified organic ethanol, echinacea, and lavender to deliver naturally antiseptic and anti-microbial benefits without drying hands.

  • Clean George Hand Purifier
    • (0 Ratings)

    All of the ingredients in this alcohol-free hand purifier are either certified organic, ECO-CERT, FSC certified, or naturally derived. Natural tea tree and manuka oils provide a gentler, healthier clean for happier hands.

  • Cleanwell All-Natural Hand Sanitizer
    • (2 Ratings)

    Cleanwell steers clear of alcohol, triclosan, and benzalkonium chloride in their all-natural sanitizer. However, GoodGuide raises a medium level of health concern over the presence of copper PCA which is suspected of causing kidney and respiratory toxicity.

  • Burt's Bees Aloe & Witch Hazel Hand Sanitizer
    • (1 Rating)

    Earning high marks from Good Guide, Burt's Bees sanitizer keeps hands 99.99 percent germ using a combination of corn-based alcohol, glycerin, witch hazel, and the added benefit of aloe vera so leave hands feeling dry.