Sex Toys & Ecology: The Buzz on PVCs

These days (and nights) there is a new three-letter acronym on the tongues of concerned lovers-- and this time it has nothing to do with STDs. I'm talking about PVCs, harmful plastics made from industrial waste which release mercury, dioxins and phthalates into our workspaces, our homes, and our, um, bodily orifices.

It is agreed internationally that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) should not exist. It is an unnecessary material that causes serious problems for all of life during its production, use and disposal. Many governments have banned PVC plastics in children's toys because the poisonous additives and softeners are easily ingested by teething toddlers. However, there are no regulations on toys for adults (which are used just as intimately).

A dildo, like any other item made from PVCs, can more easily and safely be made with other materials. Many sex toy companies are realizing this and promote products made with soft silicone or hard glass. Both materials are natural, non-reactive, hypoallergenic and hygienic. PVC plastics on the other hand are made with chemicals that can leach into the body causing problems like hormonal disruption and various types of cancer.

It is not required that an adult toy made with carcinogenic PVCs be equipped with a warning label, but you can recognize such a plastic by a number 3 inside the recycling symbol. This kind of plastic cannot be recycled with other types and can ruin a large batch of recycling if not properly separated.

If you are interested in recycling used sex toys of any kind but are unsure of how to proceed, there is a website called Recyclemysextoy.com. Here you will find an address for where to send your old friend, in exchange for which you will receive a $10 gift card for a purchase from one of their sister sites.

Browsing the internet it is not difficult to find companies with an environmentally-friendly sex toy theme. There is one from Portland, Oregon called Earth Erotics that sells many beautiful pleasuring devices made by local glass-blowers, as well as organic cotton sheets and silicone vibrators with rechargeable batteries. Another site sells a silicone vibrator powered with solar panels. Another sells harnesses, whips and dildos made from 100% recycled rubber tires, which are PVC-free. (AC can't publish these links.)

These days and nights green sex play can include a lot more than feathers, wooden paddles or phallic vegetables. Since the dangers of PVCs have been revealed, more ecological technologies are rising to meet demand. What joys might the future bring?