4 minute read
Sustainable products made in Cayman
from BOUNCE Issue 2
by pinkduck
By Judy Isacoff
Photos by Janet Jarchow
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A health and beauty regimen that also helps maintain the ecological integrity of our planet is entirely possible – and easily accessible – with sustainable products made in the Cayman Islands.
As awareness of the need to reduce plastics and other major pollutants increases throughout Cayman, Darlene Young and her suppliers are among those developing gentle, natural options.
At EatBreatheBeWell in Grand Cayman, Darlene showcases and sells a variety of natural products, ranging from cleansers and moisturisers to teeth whiteners and unscented laundry soap, in addition to the popular shampoo and conditioner bars.
“I have always been drawn to organic products and natural foods,” says Darlene, who was sensitive to certain foods at a young age and so began reading labels and looking for new products.
“The more you read, watch, and observe how the environment is affecting the health of people, animals, plants, water, air, etc., you have to do something to help. “Every little conscious effort helps,” she adds. “With all the social media, it is great to see the wonderful things people are doing around the world to help the environment and save the plants and animals.”
Developing an all-natural concept
For her part, Darlene began hosting gatherings at restaurants and at people’s homes four years ago with her friend Carolyn Jervis to share information about health topics. These gatherings and discussions evolved into the concept for her natural products store. The shampoo and conditioner bars, in particular, she says, are very popular. They are made on island by 33 Alchemy in small, high-quality batches using only the best ingredients available, she says.
Darlene points out that 33 Alchemy’s owner, Caymanian Priscilla Jensen, has ties to the northwest of the United States, and so she follows Proposition 65. Proposition 65, enacted in 1986, is a California state law that requires businesses to provide reasonable warning about the use of any chemicals the state has decided could cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Beyond that, Priscilla adds that she only uses products that are safe.
“Research, testing, and honesty are the answers when developing these types of [natural] products,” says Darlene.
“The shampoo bars are what most would consider ‘natural’ - they are in fact hair soap,” says Darlene. “But please don’t confuse this with skin soap because the two are formulated very differently.
“The conditioner bars are more complex and do not carry an ‘all natural’ label. You’ll know if you’ve ever tried to do ‘all natural’ hair care, your hair doesn’t always agree with your decision. You really do need conditioning agents to make a true conditioner bar,” she says.
Nevertheless, the conditioning bars she sells have far fewer ingredients than traditional, bottled conditioner and – bonus! –since the bars don’t contain water, there is no bottle. In fact, neither the shampoo nor the conditioner bars are packaged – they come au naturel. “Putting these products in wrapped plastic defeats the purpose,” says Darlene. “There is no need to have packaging that will last longer than the product.
“I try to use eco-friendly packaging whenever I can,” she says, “using glass with metal lids, and cardboard tubes for things like lip balm. Everyone loves decorative packaging, but really you just throw it away, so I try to use as little as possible.”
Small changes
For consumers who want to use healthier products, Darlene recommends a simple approach.
“Start making small changes so you will stick with it, and it becomes a habit,” she says. “When you are finished using your commercial product for body or home, replace it with a nontoxic or homemade version. Look for items that aren’t in plastic.”
She also recommends the website of nonprofit, nonpartisan ewg.org as a great place to look up ingredients to find out what is toxic. In the long run, she notes, it is both cheaper and healthier for consumers to make their own products.
Originally from Ontario, Canada, Darlene has been on island since 1997. Like so many others, she came to Cayman for “a year” and ended up staying. She had signed up for a herb course, which she had planned to finish in the U.S.
As is often the case, she fell in love with the island and never left.
“I still have the books for the course,” she says. “Once I finish my online aromatherapy course, I can finally get to that herb course I wanted to take so many years ago.”
Find EatBreatheBeWell at Paddington Place, above Atlantic department store, and on Instagram and Facebook. Call 917-5527.
