Regardless of whether you live in a house, or spend your life travelling the world in an RV or camper, it is important to understand the materials that we surround ourselves with. Although we like to think that our modern world is a lot safer than it was just 50 years ago, when asbestos siding was all the rage, the unfortunate truth is that we have developed a whole new batch of toxic products to surround ourselves with.
When you live in a camper, either full time van life or on a vacation, the need to surround yourself with non toxic, and safe materials becomes even more important than it is in a house. The reason is mainly, although not exclusively, that the RV living space is so concentrated, and typically, not as well ventilated as a house.
In this article we want to give you an insight into some of the most common harmful products that you may inadvertently be using, but fear not, we will also give you some suggestions on what to replace them with. With a little time, and effort you can easily replace any toxic camping gear with safe, and natural RV products, and RV supplies for healthy van living.
Safe RV Kitchen Accessories for Cooking and Preparing Food
1. Pans
The most common culprits of toxicity in your kitchen are your cookware. I grew up with non-stick cookware, and my parents still swear by it, but the chemical that makes your pans so easy to cook with is extremely toxic. The most well known non-stick coating is Teflon, but anytime you see the words non-stick coating on cookware it is most likely going to be in the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) family of chemicals. Also called forever chemicals, they have been linked to a plethora of health risks, and when overheated they can release toxic fumes into your home1.
The non-stick coating is also very easy to scratch, and as soon as that happens you are literally eating toxic chemical flakes. The PFAS chemical is not just used for pans, it is also often used in sandwich toasters, such as the Ridge Monkey, which seems to be a favourite of many UK van dwellers.
Needless to say non-stick cookware is not a healthy or safe choice for your tiny home. We are personally fans of cast iron cookware, simply because it is durable, and versatile, which means you can use it on the campfire one day, and on your induction cooktop the next. If you do not have a big budget, it is hard to go wrong with the Lodge cast iron pans that are made in the USA. Although heavier than the more premium cast iron brands, they are nonetheless a great beginner pan. As long as you season your pan well, it will be a great cooking companion for many years.
2. Pots
For pots we used to use the dutch ovens from Le Creuset, but they have sadly been buried deep inside our storage locker since we sold our house, and began travelling full time. Instead we bought a basic stainless steel pot from IKEA, which honestly has held up really well, and fulfils our cooking needs in the van.
3. Food Storage
Since weight is always a concern when living in a van, it is tempting to reach out for the classic tupperware. However, unless your van is always at a perfect room temperature, and the containers are never exposed to sunlight, I would recommend giving them a miss. The plastic used in these containers contain a plethora of nasty toxins, including PFAS, that can leach into your food2, especially when used for heating leftovers in a microwave. Even the simple act of placing hot leftovers, for example soup, into plastic containers can cause them to leach chemicals into your food.
Even though many plastic containers now proudly declare themselves BPA free, the reality is that they have simply substituted one chemical, in this case bisphenol A (BPA), for other similar chemicals that are equally as harmful. Studies have linked BPA to fertility problems in women, along with cancer, heart disease, and liver disease in both men and women2. I also find that they are more likely to retain the smell, and taste of food stored in them.
The best alternative to plastic food storage is glass, which is easy to clean, and does not take on the flavour of what is being stored. If you can find them, stainless steel food containers would also be a good lightweight alternative, but you do need to be careful about where they are manufactured as some stainless steel products have been shown to be radioactive, and contain lead.
4. Mixing Bowls
The exact same advice applies to mixing bowls, as well as plastic bowls, and plates. However, with these heavier wear items you add in the risk of ingesting plastic as a result of regular wear and tear. We replaced all our mixing bowls with glass, and wrapped them in a kitchen towel in our drawers. Even after my best attempts to find the roughest roads in Europe, not a single bowl has broken. Again, stainless steel is also a good option, just make sure they are manufactured in a country with strict health regulations.
5. Cutting Boards
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, plastic cutting boards (sometimes also called HDPE – High-density polyethylene cutting boards) suffer the exact same problem of containing toxic chemicals, just like all the other common plastic kitchen items we have discussed. The biggest difference is that with a plastic cutting board, you are essentially guaranteed to get a serving of toxic plastic with the food you are preparing.
The best alternative to plastic is a wood cutting board that is made with food safe glue. If you buy the board untreated, that is to say if the board has not been oiled, then you can easily oil it yourself using walnut oil, or raw linseed oil. Although classified as food safe, you should avoid buying a cutting board that has been treated with mineral oil, as that is still a petrochemical product.
You do not need to buy anything fancy, a simple cutting board from IKEA will do the trick, just make sure you coat it with oil before using it too heavily. Apart from being non toxic, wood also has natural anti-bacterial properties which helps keep you healthy, even if you do not have access to scolding water to clean with. Naturally you should still clean your cutting board very carefully with soap, especially after preparing raw meat on it.
6. Kettles
The majority of vanlifers are unlikely to use an electric kettle in their van, but if you do have a home base you should take a closer look at your kettle. There is a very strong chance that it is made entirely out of plastic. Given what we know about the chemicals present in plastic, and that heating plastic is a great way for those chemicals to leach into our food, it is clear that plastic kettles are extremely bad for your health. Remember, just because a plastic says that it is BPA free, it does not mean that it is actually safe, as the plastic might simply contain substitutes such as bisphenol S bisphenol AF, bisphenol B, bisphenol M, and bisphenol A diglycidyl, which are either more toxic than BPA, or equally so3.
We recently bought a Hario gooseneck kettle, which is made in Japan, for heating water as it is made entirely out of stainless steel. When used on our induction cooktop it heats up water incredibly fast, and even when we find ourselves in an Airbnb, we bring it inside and continue using it. The benefit of the kettle is that it makes a great cup of coffee when used with a Chemex coffeemaker, and it is ideal for tea as well.
7. Coffee Makers
In our first van, we used a Moccamaster KGBT coffee maker, which produced excellent coffee at the flick of a switch. Unfortunately the filter basket, where the hot water sits, was entirely made out of plastic. This is sadly the case for almost all regular coffee machines, and on some cheaper models even the internal heating elements are made out of plastic.
In order to completely avoid plastic components, we recently switched to using a Chemex coffeemaker. After almost a year of using the Chemex, I can honestly say that we would not go back to using the Moccamaster. We keep our Chemex inside the original box in one of our kitchen drawers in the van, and despite plenty of rough roads, it is still in one piece. If you have a good way of cleaning out the grounds, then a glass or stainless steel French press coffee maker could also be a good alternative.
Sleeping: Natural Products for Your RV Bed
8. RV Mattress and Cushions
A comfortable, and safe bed, is probably the most important item in your camper, given how much time we spend in it. Unfortunately the vast majority of people end up buying a memory foam, or synthetic latex mattress, without fully understanding what they are choosing to sleep on. This is not really their fault, as with the advent of the mattress in a box concept, every man and his dog has started a slick marketing company that wants to sell you their newly patented dream gel, or nap foam, or any other silly name they can think of.
At the end of the day all these foams, and gels are petrochemical derivatives, with an added dose of toxic fire retardant chemicals4. This last point is especially important to remember, as I have seen a countless number of people on YouTube casually cutting foam mattresses into different sizes for cushions, and other projects. The problem with this is twofold, firstly you are now releasing, and breathing in, a significant amount of toxic chemicals, and mattress particles that are thrown into the air when you cut your mattress. The second concern is that your mattress may contain fibreglass, which if released into the air can seriously damage your lungs5.
Asides from all the above issues, synthetic mattresses all tend to sleep very hot, as the materials cannot breathe. Beyond giving you a bad nights sleep the lack of breathability also allows for moisture, and in the worst case mould, to build up inside the mattress4.
The best alternative is to buy cushions, and mattresses made out of organic natural latex, and wool. These mattresses do inevitably end up being heavier than a memory foam equivalent, but the weight penalty is worth it to get a good night’s sleep. Some other big advantages of wool are that, unlike memory foam, it is breathable, can handle moisture, and does not attract dust mites.
9. Sheets
If you have spent any time shopping for bedding on Amazon you will likely have come across listings with outlandish claims such as 1000 thread count sheets, ultrasonic, or similar oddities. Chances are these are all made out of microfiber, or polyester, and regardless of what they call themselves, they are all plastic. Asides from polluting the environment with microplastics every time you wash them, these fabrics also do not breathe, which can cause you to sleep hot, and uncomfortably.
The best alternative to polyester bedding is good old fashioned cotton sheets. Obviously organic is the best, but even just regular cotton will be a lot better for you than polyester. Some other fabrics that work great in sheets, include linen or flax, along with hemp. I am personally not a big fan of bamboo, mainly because the process of breaking down the bamboo stalks into a usable fibre is typically fairly toxic.
10. Duvets / Comforters & Covers
All the same caveats as above apply to your duvet/ comforter, polyester simply does not breathe, and will cause you to sleep too hot. Ever since we moved in together, Sita and I have used a duvet with a duvet cover for sleeping. We also quickly discovered that having your own comforter, instead of sharing one big one, is the secret to a happy marriage.
We switched from sleeping with down duvets to wool duvets almost eight years ago, and are still exceptionally happy with that choice. We currently use two twin light weight wool comforters from Woolroom, and find that it is the perfect choice for a van where you are more likely to be hot than cold. If we do get cold, we just put a wool throw on top of the duvet.
11. Blanket / Throw
When we built a house many years ago, the builder was kind enough to give us a big blanket for the couch as a move-in gift. Unfortunately when we inspected the tag we discovered that it was made out of 100% Polyester. Luckily our cats peed on it, forcing us to throw it out. The problem with polyester is that it is once again a petroleum derivative, that will leach microplastics into the water every time you wash it.
An easy, and healthier alternative, is to buy a wool blanket instead. We have two in the van, and we use them constantly when travelling during the winter months. During the evenings they are wonderful to snuggle into when sitting on the couch, and at night we use them as an extra layer on top of our comforters to keep us warm.
12. Mattress Protector
Using a mattress protector is almost a must if you want to keep it dry and healthy for a longer period of time. However, you should most definitely avoid polyester mattress protectors for all the reasons we have mentioned above. We have been using a simple thick wool felt with elastics on the corners for several years now, and it does a great job of keeping our mattress clean, whilst still allowing it to breathe.
Investing in Natural Products for Safe & Healthy RV Living or Camper Van Life
This list might sound a little bit overwhelming, but the good news is that most of the natural alternatives that require a bigger investment are quite long lasting. For example, a memory foam mattress usually begins to break down after a few years, whereas a well made mattress of natural materials can last for decades if you take care of it properly. Likewise a cast iron pan that has been well maintained will outlast any non-stick pan, and can be handed down for generations.
If your budget is very tight, then I would recommend changing out your cookware to start with, as a new cast iron pan, stainless steel pot, and wood cutting board can all be had for under $80.
If you are building out a completely new van, or renovating an old camper, then I would strongly encourage you to start with a good base, and ensure that your cushions, and mattress are made with natural materials. If you are about to build out your own camper, or tiny home, take a look at this article for tips on building a non toxic camper. A new start is also a good time to sort through old plastic items, and upgrade them to metal or glass. The same lesson goes if you are moving house, or especially if you are buying or renting your first home, it might cost a little bit more money upfront to buy non toxic products, but your health is most definitely worth it.
Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7906952/
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/plastic-toxic-chemicals-health-effects-b2513082.html
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/bpa-substitutes-safer-harmful
- https://www.leafscore.com/mattress-guide/mattresses-101/toxic-chemicals/
- https://reviewed.usatoday.com/sleep/features/fiberglass-mattresses
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/09/toxic-forever-chemicals-plastic-food-containers
- https://echa.europa.eu/hot-topics/perfluoroalkyl-chemicals-pfas
- https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/the-growing-global-threat-of-radioactive-scrap-metal/
- https://www.thenewlede.org/2024/03/explosive-growth-in-petrochemical-production-linked-to-increases-in-cancers-and-other-diseases-in-new-report/
- https://www.thenewlede.org/2023/11/plastics-pose-broad-health-risks-for-babies-report-reveals/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8279095/
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/23/what-are-pfas-forever-chemicals-how-toxic-are-they-and-how-do-you-become-exposed
