Cindy Mead began her low-tox journey four years ago. Photo: Steve Pohlner
Cindy Mead’s low-tox home journey began with a visit to a naturopath.
The Brisbane mum and entrepreneur said she and her husband sought the advice of the alternative medicine specialist when they decided to become parents.
“She introduced me to the idea of natural skincare products and deodorant,” Mrs Mead said.
“After that, we started overhauling things very slowly – as one thing ran out I’d replace it with a tox-free alternative.”
Soon Mrs Mead was swapping out perfumes, candles, cleaning products, bedding and plastics and non-stick cookware in the kitchen.
This eventually led ultra-low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint in the nursery, an electromagnetic field monitor and a home water filtration system.
“Overall, to get to where we are now has been about a four-year journey, so it was very gradual,” Mrs Mead said.
“It can be confusing as well.
“I’ve had to really double check everything and do my own research rather than just rely on what is on social media.”
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Cindy Mead began making her own cleaning products as part of her low-tox and sustainability journey. Photo: Steve Pohlner
Mrs Mead is part of a growing number of Queenslanders concerned about lowering exposure to synthetic chemicals and toxins in their homes.
Jarad Malan, selling partner at Ray White Malan and Co, said this group had emerged as a niche segment of the Southeast Queensland property market in recent years and developers were beginning to meet their needs.
“People are becoming more aware of the impact their homes can have on their health,” he said.
“And they’re pleasantly surprised the homes they are looking for can come in a healthier, low-tox version.”
Mrs Mead shared her low-tox journey with a social media following she grew while renovating homes with her husband.
She said the response had been mixed, but more and more people were showing interest.
“If I used to post about low-tox living, I’d get nasty messages and people unfollowing,” she said.
“When I bought the EMF monitor, I lost hundreds of followers, but gained thousands.
“Now I’m getting more questions on a daily basis from people asking for recommendations. “People are becoming more educated.”
Cindy Mead and her husband installed a water filtration system in their Brisbane home, which filters the water they use to drink, bathe and prepare food. Photo: Steve Pohlner
Mrs Mead said low-tox living also influenced Ameli Home, the reusable home vessel business she launched after having her daughter.
“The business idea started years ago from a purely aesthetic point of view, but when I became a mum it quickly shifted to creating sustainable and tox-free vessels,” she said.
Mrs Mead said she and her husband planned on building a home in the future, and aimed to create a place built around low-tox and sustainable living.
“We will be going for more sustainable brands and typically avoiding hazardous substances,” she said.
“I think a lot more brands are being held accountable and are aware the consumer is a lot more educated when it comes to sustainability and low-tox.”
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