Nature.is

Demeter

Demeter is the brand for products from Biodynamic Agriculture. Only strictly controlled and contractually bound partners are permitted to use the brand. A comprehensive verification process insures strict compliance with the International Demeter Production and Processing Standards, as well as applicable organic regulations in the various countries. This is done without a gap, through every step, from agricultural production to processing and final product packaging.
Motivated by Rudolf Steiner's, Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture and Goethe's, Conception of Nature, Biodynamic farmers view their farms as individually unique living organisms.

See further information on Demeter's website.

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Hazardous Chemicals / Synthetic Chemicals - guidelines

Products that people buy and use on a daily basis contain chemicals whose purpose is to enhance the life of the product, make them softer, decrease the risk of fire, etc. Our consumption pattern is reflected in the home in a way that most people do not realize. Það er til dæmis hægt að greina yfir 150 mismunandi efni í “rykrottum” á hverju meðalheimili. Many of those chemicals have been classified as harmful by the EC, that is, they are poisonous, lipidic and do not biodegrade in the body. The great amount of many chemicals in our home is the main reason that chemicals increase faster in humans than in the natural environment. Domestic chemical use is the main source of synthetic chemicals in nature.

With new legislation within the European Union in 1981, it became necessary to register, not evaluate, all chemicals that are produced and sold within the EC. Applications for registration were received for 100,106 chemicals. It is estimated that today there are up to 70,000 chemicals in use within the countries of the EC, and of those, there are around 30,000 which are produced in higher quantities than one ton per company per year. Only around 5% of the chemicals used have undergone some kind of risk assessment. Therefore our knowledge of the impact of chemicals in general on both human health and the environment is still severely limited.

Many people believe that the chemicals used today as constituents in, for instance, shampoo’s , clothing, construction materials, toys and other things are all carefully tested and accepted by the environmental and health authorities. It is more apt to say that those chemicals are not forbidden since there is no law or regulation in effect which demands that the producer check the danger of those chemicals before they are used in the product or sold in another way.

It is however the duty of public authorities to investigate the chemicals in use and if such is the case, prove that they can be harmful to human health and the environment. Then those chemicals can effectively be banned. The burden of proof, thus, lies with the public authorities not with the companies that market the chemicals. Nature.is considers it only natural that the general consumer is informed about the effects of the various chemicals that are or can be part of a product. It is, therefore demanded by law that the producer/seller list and report to the public authorities what type of classification and which safety and precautionary measures apply to the chemical in question based on current law and regulations. There is, therefore, only a demand that the producer/seller in question report to the authorities the information required by law that he has to report anyway, on, for instance Material and Safety data sheets or on the commercial labeling of products.

Information about classification along with safety and precautionary labels is to be found in regulation 236/1990 [pertains to the classification, labelling and handling of hazardous chemicals and consumer products which contain such chemicals)] with later changes. Here it is correct to point out that in some cases the producer of the chemicals has to supply MSDS (Material Safety and Data sheets).

Example:

Chemicals such as flame retardants with bromide found in electric appliances, electrical chords, textiles, curtains, tapestry and furniture are considered harmful to the environment and may also have an effect on fertility and in other ways impair the health of human beings.

Plasticizers, so called phtalates, used in glue, paint, varnish, cosmetics, perfumes, plastic in floor materials and in certain toys are considered harmful to the environment and they too may also have a detrimental effect on fertility and in other ways impact on the health of human beings.

Biological chemicals with TBT which is, for instance, found in boat paint, textiles, clothing, leather products and floormats, besides being harmful to the environment are considered irritants for the skin and eyes.

Surface active chemicals for example, in soap and detergents that are harmful to the environment can also produce eczema and other skin diseases.

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The Blue Angel

The Blue Angel (Der blaue Engel) is the first and oldest environment-related label for products and services in the world. It was created in 1978 on the initiative of the Federal Minister of the Interior and approved by the Ministers of the Environment of the federal government and the federal states. Today about 10,000 products and services in 80 product categories carry the Blue Angel eco-label. In Iceland it is best known on various paper products and folders.

See further information on Blue Angels's website.

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FSC - Forest Stewardship Council

FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

See further information on FSC's website.

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Transport - Post

Pets form an important part of most families that keep them. They are good company and provide comfort. Besides, it is good for children to take care of animals but allergies toward certain animals are common as are allergies towards certain natural materials. Allergies, in fact, have been increasing during recent years, quite possibly because we are exposed to so many food additives and strong chemicals. Thus the stress on the immune system can be very high.

It is important that pets eat good and variable food. Factory made pet food is not always the best option. Inform yourself about what else you can give your pet. It is possible to buy organic pet food and environmentally friendly cat litter. The food which is sold here in Iceland is free from all toxic chemicals and other detrimental substances, provided it is legally imported. The Icelandic Food and Agricultural Authority supervises the import of pet food and ensures that it is healthy.

Most pets also need lots of exercise and company. Outdoor activity is important for all animals, not only for dogs and cats. Allow your pets to experience and inhale fresh air. You can always take pets onto the balcony or into the garden when the weather allows.

Pets form an important part of most families that keep them. They are good company and provide comfort. Besides, it is good for children to take care of animals but allergies toward certain animals are common as are allergies towards certain natural materials. Allergies, in fact, have been increasing during recent years, quite possibly because we are exposed to so many food additives and strong chemicals. Thus the stress on the immune system can be very high.

It is important that pets eat good and variable food. Factory made pet food is not always the best option. Inform yourself about what else you can give your pet. It is possible to buy organic pet food and environmentally friendly cat litter. The food which is sold here in Iceland is free from all toxic chemicals and other detrimental substances, provided it is legally imported. The Icelandic Food and Agricultural Authority supervises the import of pet food and ensures that it is healthy.

Most pets also need lots of exercise and company. Outdoor activity is important for all animals, not only for dogs and cats. Allow your pets to experience and inhale fresh air. You can always take pets onto the balcony or into the garden when the weather allows.

Unaddressed advertising mail includes newspapers and advertising material which is delivered to us without our consent. Each home receives around 176 kg of such mail every year. Those who do not want to receive it can now cancel it at the nearest post office and get a ticket to put on their mailbox. The ticket says that such advertising mail is not desired. Iceland Post however distributes only around 12% of advertising mail which is actually sent out. You can also call the National Registry (Þjóðskrá – tel. 569 2900) or send an e-mail to thjodskra@thjodskra.is (with name and social security number) and have a sign put next to your name. This sign means that it is not allowed to send you advertising mail.

Regarding other advertising mail which enters all homes in the country, it must be said that it is not easy to stop the flow of unwanted advertising mail that some people call junk mail from entering our mailbox. A special workgroup working on behalf of the Ministry of Environment is trying to find better solutions. Their aim is to minimise the amount of paper accumulating in this way and to introduce some kind of responsibility on behalf of the producer/polluter.

Regarding newspapers, you have to call the paper in question and ask that it not be put in your mailbox. Fréttablaðið, for instance, accepts this kind of cancellation, noting down your name and address, taking care that the paper does not enter your mailbox. Anyway, most papers can be read as Pdf documents on the internet.

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