Chris and Sally of Exclusively Eve - Sapphic Central's sexperts - take a look at THE hot topic in the sex-toy industry at the moment - phthalates. Haven't heard of it yet? This is the subject of raging debate right now - so for some things we all need to know read on ...
Many of us are very conscious about what we eat and drink, and opt for organic foods, vegetables and meats where we can. We also use eco products for washing ourselves and our clothes. However, when it comes to our sex toys ‘green’ is not always the first thing on our minds!
Greenpeace has recently called on the European Union to ban the use of chemical plastic softeners in sex toys because they contain substances known as phthalates. Phthalates are oil-derived plasticisers commonly used to soften PVC, and jelly rubber, which allegedly pose a risk to human health and the environment. Andreas Kortenkamp, an expert in environmental pollutants at the London School of Pharmacy, said ‘These are mass chemicals. They are used in any plastic that is pliable, including clingfilm, toys and blood bags’. The Phthalates Information Centre Europe, meanwhile, is having none of the allegations. Its website declares "Plasticised PVC has been used for nearly 50 years without a single known case of it having caused any ill-health and the environmental effects of phthalates are known to be minimal."
So what is a girl supposed to believe?
Advice on sex toys doesn’t just stop at how?, when?, and what with?. It is important to understand what your toy is made from to enable you to make imformed choices about use, and health and hygiene. Products that contain phthalates can be identified by a plasticy smell…….remember that smell the last 
time you treated yourself to a new shower curtain? Toys that contain phthalates are made from jelly rubber and are likely to degrade over time. It is always advisable to use a condom with these products.
The good news is that all silicone toys are phthalates free! It is really fantastic to see manufacturers responding to customer concerns. Some manufacturers like Tantus and Top Cat have been proactive and eliminated the use of phthalates in their products. A Tantus press release states, ‘Tantus Incorporated takes great pride in the fact that all of their toys are made with the highest quality 100% ultra premium platinum silicone ... all Tantus toys are hypoallergenic, hygienic, odourless, tasteless, boilable, dishwasher safe, and completely phthalate free.
We have also seen the phenomenal increase of glass products on the market. They are made of hardened, blown glass similar to ‘Pyrex’, and so are very sturdy. What’s really remarkable about these toys is how stunning they are, and what personality they have. The shapes and designs are often practical as well as aesthetically pleasing.
The best advice if you are unsure of what your toy is made from or want to know if it may contain phthalates is to contact your sex toy supplier. They will have, or have access to, full details of the product.
As they say, it's important to have a healthy sex life!
