In our latest blog, mom of three and Founder of MADESAFE®, Amy Ziff, shares all about her incredible journey as a female founder, pioneer of safe product advocacy, and healthy living educator. She is revealing her inspiration behind starting MADESAFE®, insights into the work she does, and her favorite safe, eco-friendly products. Keep reading for the scoop on achieving a healthier, more sustainable life!

A: MADE SAFE® is a destination to find products for daily living that are safe for humans and for the entire ecosystem. While it may seem like a given that all things should be made this way, the reality is, there is no single governmental agency that serves as a shepherd to guide and protect how products are made. As a result, harmful (often manmade) substances are purchased and used regularly by shoppers who unknowingly pollute their homes, their own bodies, and even their children.

A: I started MADE SAFE so people wouldn’t have to have a PhD or nondisclosure agreement with a company to figure out if something was safe and sustainable for home use. The MADE SAFE Certification allows consumers to shop with confidence knowing that they are doing the best they can to protect themselves and their families – using their purchases to vote with their dollars and support companies that are making safe and sustainable products.

A: It has been a wild ride! As a founder of any business, you have to become a jack-of-all-trades. You don’t just set the mission, vision and lead – you also have to know how to do all the roles on your team. Sometimes you don’t have a marketing person, so you step in there. Other times, it’s something technical, and maybe you have to learn a new skill to support the team or get the job done. Some days I work with donors, scientists, media, and even policy-makers and lawyers; on other days I work with brands, ingredient suppliers and manufacturers; other times it’s collaborating with NGOs and partners. It is always exciting! As an active founder you have to be agile and continuously learn and grow.

A: It is really varied. Some days I am working with the team or our advisors on details of the business and certification while others we are in the field, pitching, educating, and evangelizing. MADE SAFE pioneered the Ecosystem Approach which is a rigorous scientific way to screen substances and materials and determine how they will impact humans, air, water, soil, sediment, aquatic and terrestrial life. We do this because we believe that if something is harmful to any part of the ecosystem we rely on for life, then it is harmful for all life and should not be used. This unique approach has never been utilized before so there is a lot of need for education around the concept and how to use it. It may sound obvious but for most brands, it’s pretty radical to apply this kind of approach to product making. Conventional products tend to focus on aesthetics and performance – but they can entirely miss the considerations on the true cost of the chemicals and processes that are used to manufacture the products. In this sense our work at MADE SAFE is somewhat disruptive to the status quo, and so a huge part of my day to day work involves educating people on the ecosystem approach and its significance for human and environmental health.

A: I believe that it is of the utmost importance to be speaking for the ecosystem, which has no way of speaking for itself. At MADE SAFE we are working for products we can use for a safe and sustainable future where all beings can thrive. There has never been a more important time for this work, and I am honored to be a part of it.

A: One thing we are passionate about is continuing to increase the number of companies committed to removing harmful materials from the marketplace. We have created the largest Red List of materials identifying over 15,000 of the most harmful chemicals, and all MADE SAFE certified products adhere to the list as a part of what they do to become certified. The Red List provides a clear roadmap to removing some of the most toxic chemicals in manufacturing. If more companies would simply join in adhering to that list we would have cleaner air, water and soil on this planet for everyone. Inviting others to step up and learn from MADE SAFE Certified products and the brands making them is a big part of that work. Companies like Pura Stainless are leading the way in making products that prove you don’t have to sacrifice for safe and sustainable products. They are proving that being a company that makes good products is still good business, and they are changing the status quo.

A: I love getting to work with companies that share our mission and are determined to forge a better future.

A: My top 3 healthy basics are:

1. Eat well, with lots of fresh fruits and veggies and avoid processed foods. Make easy meals at home whenever possible.
2. Exercise daily. If you can get outside in nature to do it, terrific. If not, try to connect with nature by growing something in a window or a garden, count birds or other wildlife, or find a nearby body of water to visit. All of this helps keep you fit and also provides a counter-balance to the stress of daily life.
3. Buy better whenever you can, avoid plastics and other pollutants. These practices will help you (and me) keep to a healthier life!

A: My kids know, I try to avoid drinking from plastic water bottles (ever!) so I always carry my own. Thanks to Pura Stainless, that's easy. But I also could not live without my True Botanicals face oil, Symbiome The One cream, Fontana lip balm, or Kate McLeod Body Stone.

A: I could literally write a book on this topic! But what I always say is this, don’t try and do everything at once. You won’t get everything right – and it will be ok. Start with what you need to buy next. See if you can find an option at madesafe.org and buy something you know is better. Do that over and over. As you get into that groove, you’ll learn more about products, how they are made, and hopefully it will spark your curiosity to learn more about products and ingredients. My general rules are: avoid plastics wherever possible in clothing, food, and water (including the bottles and cups you drink from). Let this be a guide from fabrics and fibers to formulated goods and your food.