Lori Popkewitz Alper is a Mom on a Mission® mom!
January 20, 2023
Lori Popkewitz Alper is Healthy Child Healthy World’s January 2023 finalist for our Mom on a Mission® award. Read her first-person story below on how she became an advocate for children’s health.
By Lori Popkewitz Alper, Children’s Health Activist & Groovy Green Livin Blogger, January 2023 Mom on a Mission® Finalist
My journey began 12 years ago after seeing firsthand how living a non- toxic lifestyle directly affected my own health and well-being. Years later, when two of my children were diagnosed with life threatening food allergies there was no turning back.
My law practice was placed on hold and I traded in my suits to follow my passion. I founded Groovy Green Livin, a site for sharing simple and useful tips and trends relating to living a greener lifestyle. Then I stepped it up a notch and decided to take a stance against some of the largest consumer product companies, to let them know that we won’t stand for toxic chemicals in their products.
Tide Petition Victory!
A report released by Women’s Voices for Earth found high levels of a cancer-causing chemical in Tide Free & Gentle laundry detergent. I petitioned Procter & Gamble (makers of Tide) to strip this toxic chemical out of Tide Free & Gentle. With the support of over 78,000 signatures and the backing of many incredible organizations including Healthy Child Healthy World, Procter & Gamble agreed to reformulate Tide to drastically reduce the levels of 1,4-dioxane by January 2023. This victory is a testament to the power of our collective voices.
Taking BPA on ABC World News
During an interview with ABC World News my unfiltered reaction was caught on camera when the FDA decided against banning a harmful chemical, bisphenol-A (BPA) from food packaging. My anger and disappointment were overshadowed by the realization that we moms (and dads) are a powerful bunch and we will continue to fight for change.
Marching in Washington DC in Support of the Safe Chemicals Act
I Januaryed in Washington demanding that Congress pass Senator Frank Lautenberg’s Safe Chemicals Act.
Asking Disney to Remove Toxic Chemicals
When a study found high levels of toxic chemicals in children’s school supplies I decided to take action. I started another petition, this time calling for Disney to stop using phthalates in their products, including their princess and Spiderman lunch boxes. Over 60,000 people joined forces and signed.
Asking the Top Retailers to Take a Tough Stance Against Toxic Chemicals
I’ve joined forces with Safer Chemicals Healthy Families and several other bloggers and organizations, asking the nation’s top ten retailers to get tough on toxic chemicals in consumer products. There’s still so much work to be done, but I know we can do it together. It’s empowering to know that change really can start with one person who believes in a cause.
Follow Lori’s work on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Google+.
Know an amazing mom who is making a difference? Nominate her to be one of our Mom on a Mission® finalists! Learn more about Healthy Child Healthy World’s 2023 Mom on a Mission® campaign by visiting Healthychild.org/mission. A special thank you to our sponsors Ology and Unreal.