Green Living: 3 Actions to Take Right Now

Yes, says Laura Fenton, small space and sustainable living expert and author of the book “The Little Book of Living Small.”

“Green living … is something I think we should all strive for,” Fenton said, noting that choices good for Earth are generally good for us as well. “It’s all very intertwined, these questions of health for ourselves and what is healthy for the planet. They kind of go hand in hand.

“So what’s good for [massage therapy] clients, what’s good for the actual massage therapist, is also often going to be the same thing that is the best choice for a healthy, happy planet.”

In this article, we’ll explore methods of living greener in three key areas: choosing massage and personal-care products; the advantages of ditching single-use plastic water bottles; and why to consider making your next vehicle electric.

The massage lubricants you use with clients provide a natural starting point for enhancing the earth-friendliness of your practice; it’s integral to most massage therapy experiences and is an important part of establishing ambiance as you work.

Start by looking at the oils and lotions you offer: Check the labels, and even log on to their websites to read more about the ingredients. Most reputable companies making natural products will be very forthcoming with information that will help you feel good about choosing them.

Here’s a breakdown of a few terms you may encounter as you shop:

Choosing natural, organic massage oils and lotions, besides being good choices for the planet and healthy for you and clients, many times carries another advantage, said Fenton: added luxury.

“Healthier choices … will also feel more luxurious,” she said. “Oftentimes the sustainable choice naturally is going to be a better-quality choice, which is something you will enjoy the experience of.”

This may be especially true when it comes to choosing linens for your massage table. Rather than polyester blends, Fenton recommends choosing natural fibers such as organic cotton, linen, bamboo, hemp or wool. “The tactile physical experience of touching those sheets or towels will be more luxurious to the person who is receiving massage,” she says. “It’s going to be an upgraded experience.”

When looking at cotton sheets, she noted, make sure to choose organic cotton, as non-organic cotton is a very resource-intensive crop to grow, requiring a lot of irrigation and a lot of pesticides. For that reason, organic cotton is more expensive than other natural fibers. Be careful with bamboo linens, too; because bamboo comes from overseas, it can be difficult to ascertain whether it has been sustainably produced.

Also, take into consideration the detergent you use to launder your sheets, towels and blankets. Fenton says it may require some trial and error to find one that is as natural as possible but still packs enough power to completely clean massage oils and lotions from your linens.

One last thing to be mindful of with the products you purchase: their size and their packaging. Avoid items packaged in plastic or that have way more packaging than they need.

When it’s practical, buy big. “If you’re not already purchasing bulk options for use on clients, they’re typically more cost-effective and cut down on packaging waste,” said Ada Chen, founder of Chuan’s Promise, a natural skin care line focused on sustainability and inclusivity. “When purchasing products for resale to clients, look for plastic-free options, too.”

Like many massage therapists, you probably encourage your clients to drink plenty of water after their massage, or you may offer them a bottle of water as they exit. While drinking water is a healthy choice, said Fenton, single-use plastic bottles contribute to a number of environmental and health issues.

“The problem with single-use plastics is that even if they are ‘recyclable,’ they’re very infrequently actually being recycled,” she noted. “Unfortunately, a lot of them end up neither in a recycling facility nor in a landfill. They’re ending up in our waterways and our oceans and wreaking all kinds of havoc on marine life.” Another large-scale environmental concern is the carbon footprint left by so many companies bottling and transporting water to the millions of stores that sell it.

Perhaps the best reason to avoid plastic bottles, however, is their potential to cause health problems.

“There’s a lot of research being done right now,” Fenton said. “We learn more disturbing things week by week about microplastics, which are these tiny little plastic particles that are sloughing off of things like water bottles into our food, into our water.”

Fenton points to a 2019 study from Australia’s University of Newcastle, commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund, that says the average American ingests enough plastic particles per week to equal the weight of a credit card.

Instead of offering bottled water, she suggests installing a water filter to your tap or investing in a pitcher that filters water, then drinking it from glasses. Handing a client a glass of filtered water after a massage rather than a plastic bottle also adds another touch of luxury to the experience.

Have you considered investing in an electric car? Charging an electric car is way cheaper than buying gas, which can add up quickly, especially if you are a mobile massage therapist and make your money being on the go. They also contain fewer parts than gas-powered cars, meaning fewer things that can break and require expensive trips to the mechanic.

While typically electric cars still cost more to purchase than gas-powered vehicles, some companies are making lower-priced models. Mazda, for example, offers one in the $30,000s, but it doesn’t run as long per charge as more expensive counterparts—which is the issue most consumers have with electric cars, after price.

The distance you can cover in an electric car before having to recharge is an important factor to consider carefully, said Dev Chakravarty, CEO of Dukeflow Limited, a London start-up that rents out plug-in hybrid electric cars. An electric car is an ideal choice for a second vehicle if your family owns more than one car, he noted; “potentially one can be an EV for short journeys, and the other a hybrid [gas/electric] for long journeys,” he said.

Advance planning is a must if you invest in an electric vehicle, especially if you’ll have to recharge along the way. “Can you charge at home or at work?” he said. “When going on a long-distance trip, are you prepared to plan ahead and have contingencies in case the intended charger is out of order or in use?”

The major advantage to choosing an electric vehicle is the amount of pollution it won’t produce compared to a traditional gas vehicle. “You can drive an EV assured that you’ll be spewing zero tailpipe emissions into the atmosphere that contribute to climate change,” wrote Jim Gorzelany, an automotive contributor for Forbes, on its website.

And if a new car isn’t part of your near-future plans? “If you travel to clients, consider purchasing carbon offsets for distances traveled,” Chen suggested.

No matter how much effort you are taking to make positive product choices in your life and business, make sure your clients find out about it: Use it as part of your marketing; doing so can only help you.

“People are acutely interested in their health, and a growing number of people are really concerned about the sustainability of all the businesses they patronize,” said Fenton. “It’s not a turnoff to anyone; there’s never going to be a negative.”

Allison M. Payne is an independent writer and editor based in northeast Florida. She has written many articles for MASSAGE Magazine, including “5 Ways to Make Sure Your Massage Marketing Appeals to a Diverse Clientele” and “Program Restores Healthy Touch to Trauma Survivors’ Lives.”

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