Making changes to our sex life isn’t usually one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about how we can lower our carbon footprint. But online searches for sustainable products like vegan condoms and non-waste contraceptives have been steadily increasing in recent years.
What is eco-friendly sex? Working on environmental sustainability from Nigeria, Dr. “For some, eco-friendly sex means using lubricants, sex toys, bedspreads, and condoms that are less harmful to the environment,” says Adenike Akinsemolu.
The United Nations (UN) Population Fund calculates that 10 billion male condoms are produced each year, and many of them end up in landfills. Most condoms are made of synthetic latex and because they contain chemicals cannot be recycled.
Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu is fighting for a life where we do not produce waste.
Condoms made from lamb intestines, which have been used since Roman times, are completely biodegradable the only option. However, these do not prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Since most of the lubricants are made from petroleum products, they contain fossil fuels. The increase in the number of people who do not want to use them has led to the introduction of water-based and organic products.
Recently, the number of lubricants that can be produced at home has been increasing.
Gaining more than 1 million followers on TikTok with her sexual health videos, Dr. Tessa Commers’ most watched video with eight million views, cornstarch and water It was the video where he explained how to make lubricant.
Dr. Akinsemolu “Water-based lubricants, organic and vegan condoms It is a good option for those who want a sustainable sex life while having fun,” he says, adding: These are not only products that cause the least harm to the environment, but also provide a pleasant experience to their users.
However, it is necessary to be careful when using some environmentally friendly products.
Some of these cannot be used with most types of condoms and can cause rupture. For this reason, it is recommended to consult a doctor or family planning specialist before deciding on birth control products.
Sex toys are another area where the use of plastic is common. Many products also have alternatives made of steel or glass. Opting for rechargeable ones in your sex toys is also It allows you to produce less waste. There are even solar-charged sex toys on the market. Some sex toy dealers in the UK have a program to recycle old or broken sex toys.
How else can waste be reduced? There are also some areas in our sex life where waste reduction is not so obvious. Some of these are:
- Prefer underwear or clothing from ethically produced products.
- Avoiding sex in the shower.
- Using less hot water.
As with most products we buy, the packaging of the product often returns to the environment as waste.
New York-based entrepreneur and zero-waste campaigner Lauren Singer says many of her companies can make a difference in this space. Condoms, lubricants, and birth control pills It is usually sold in boxes that end up in landfills. While birth control methods inserted in the womb are less wasteful and longer-term options, they also have their own risks. Lauren Singer has been living without producing waste since 2012 and has managed to fit all the products she could not recycle in the last 9 years into a jar. There’s no condom litter in Lauren’s jar. Since condoms are the only way to prevent STDs, she asks all sex partners to take a bedtime test: My current partner is monogamous. But if it makes you uncomfortable to ask a partner for a test before you go to bed with them, it’s probably better for you not to sleep with them.
On the other hand, as much as an unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease that there is nothing that harms sustainability He adds: We need to think about which waste is worth producing and which is not. People shouldn’t stop using condoms or birth control pills just to do less harm to the environment.
Dr. Akinsemolu agrees: Whether it’s made with green or other products, safe sex is the most sustainable option for people and the future of the planet.
The effect of reproduction on the climate is much greater. This brings us to a point where sex and the environment contradict each other: having children.
According to a study conducted in 2017, not driving is 2.3 tons per year, eating vegan It prevents 0.8 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. If you live in a developed country, the carbon dioxide emissions prevented by not having children are 58.6 tons per year. In less developed countries, the amount is much lower: the annual carbon footprint of a child in Malawi is estimated at 0.1 tonnes.
Some celebrities have also openly expressed their reservations about having children. in England Prince Harry, told Vogue magazine in 2019 that they wanted to have a maximum of two children and that the environment was an important factor in this. Similarly, US politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in a speech she gave at the C40 World Mayors Summit in 2019, said, “I am a woman whose dream of motherhood is not as sweet as it used to be. This is because of what I know about the future of our children.”
Birth rates have been falling for years in many countries. However, it would not be correct to claim that this decline is due to concerns about climate change. Young people think the future is scary, according to the results of a global survey of 10,000 young people by British scientists. 41 percent of respondents not thinking of having childrenHe says that climate change also has an effect on this.
Kimberly Nicholas, an academic at Lund University in Sweden, was one of the authors of the study that showed that having children greatly increases carbon emissions in developed countries.
But he doesn’t think people shouldn’t have children: personal preferences It’s not my job to question them or impose some decisions on them. It is a human right for people to decide freely when they want to have children. What I strive for is that children who are already born have a safe society and planet.
Nicholas recommends that people change their travel habits rather than complain about product packaging or non-recyclable packages of birth control pills: We need to focus more of our efforts on what makes a difference. Research by academic Kimberly Nicholas, It explores the effect of not getting on a plane or not eating meat.
Lauren, who has spent a third of her life without producing waste, has yet to decide on having a child: I thought about adopting, which must be awesome. But there is also the physical process of having a child. So I’m not sure. of having a child What effect will it have on the planet? Can I transfer some values to this child, who will live longer than me, and make him strive for a better world?
So what do you think about eco-friendly sex?
