The greening of sex

Green is the new black. And, in these days of "inconvenient truths," even our sex lives can use a little environmental consciousness.

Personally, I'm a big fan of sex and the environment, or more specifically, in the environment. Nothing feels quite as fantastic as doing it in the great outdoors with the sun beaming down on your naked bodies. Except maybe doing it outdoors on a warm summer night under the flattering light of a full moon or a romantic starlit backdrop.

Maybe it's just in my Dutch blood. According to ananova.com, outdoor sex is so hot in Holland, Dutch Rangers are growing stinging nettles and thistles to stop all the outdoor sex, even full-on orgies, going on in national parks, picnic areas and other public places.

But outdoor sex can leave an impact.

That lovely patch of field may look inviting, but, according to gorp.com, an outdoor recreation resource site, all that rolling around can lead to crushed ground cover and compacted soil. Instead, they suggest, find yourself a nice bed of duff, the dense layer of decayed leaves and pine needles on the forest floor, as it restores itself more easily.

Beware of your sex noise pollution, too, they add: "Yells and moans carry over open water and across meadows but will disperse quickly among trees."

And while I also understand the appeal of jumping butt naked into a lake or river after getting all hot and sweaty with your sweetie, forgo the soap. Even phosphate-free or biodegradable soap is harmful to natural water sources.

Needless to say, tissues, condoms or any other sex trash should never be left behind. Not only is it gross to stumble across a used condom on that wonderful family hike, animals can swallow or even become entangled in them. As with camping, if you packed it in, pack it out.

Environmental consciousness isn't just about having good, clean sex outside. As we all become more aware of the things we put into our bodies, it makes sense to think about ALL the things we put into our bodies. Like sex toys.

According to Toronto-based sex shop Come As You Are, the sex toy industry is getting wise to this, pledging to stop producing sex toys containing phthalates (a potentially toxic chemical added to jelly rubber toys) in the coming years.

While this may be more marketing strategy than genuine concern, says a recent CAYA press release on the topic, it's still good news for health and environmentally conscious consumers.

Of course, says CAYA, there are plenty of smaller, sex-positive manufacturers who've been on the environmental sex toy case for years (CAYA itself has been quietly introducing environmentally conscious products for the past five years) and genuinely care about the pleasure and health of their customers. They also favour manufacturers who provide fair wages for their workers and use manufacturing processes that have less negative environmental impact.

Here are some tips from CAYA to help you make socially and environmentally responsible sex toy purchases:

• Avoid phthalates and latex. As latex allergies become more common and concerns over the environmental and health impact of phthalates have emerged, toys made of non-latex, phthalate-free silicone and elastomer are your best bet. But beware — a toy doesn't have to be 100% silicone to be labeled ?silicone.' Ask before buying.
• Avoid parabens. Often contained in lubes. Like phthalates, the jury is still out on their impact on humans, but you can avoid them by simply reading the ingredients. Look for Canadian-made and organically sourced, preservative-free massage oils and lubricants.
• Switch to rechargeable batteries or buy plug-in vibrators.
• Go animal free. Come As You Are sells Glyde, the only Vegan condom, as well as a line of Vegan restraints and harnesses.

Follow this advice and sex will feel good, in a whole new way.