Our Mission

Teens Turning Green is a national movement of youth transforming the world by working to eliminate toxic exposures that threaten our health and the environment. The focus is on daily lives, school campuses and communities - inspiring people to re-think their behaviors and practices to sustain our earth. Through education, mentoring, and advocacy, campaign members are changing habits, laws, and business practices leading us all toward a sustainable future.

Programs

Teens Turning Green: Lifestyles

Creates awareness about toxic exposures and sustainable practices through  in daily lives through educational outreach events, and advocacy actions to protect health and the environment.

Teens Turning Green: Schools 

Investigates toxic exposures in schools and takes action to eliminate those exposures and implement healthy, greener alternatives.

Teens Turning Green: Community

Launches specific initiatives in partnerships with community leadership and residents to care for communities.

Turning Green: College

Campaign Recap

Campaign Recap_of_2008-2009_year

Campaign Recap of 2007-2008 year

Our Story

 In 2002 it was revealed that Marin County breast cancer rates had risen an alarming 60% in eight years. When asked what was being done, the response was there wasn’t enough funding to do the necessary studies. Shortly thereafter, Judi Shils formed the Marin Cancer Project (currently known as Search for the Cause) to explore potential causes, seek answers and work to eliminate them. Knowing that environmental toxins are one of the leading causes of disease, cancer, birth defects, asthma, and reproductive harm, she worked to help inform citizens how to reduce exposure in their own lives, knowing that if we rally together for change, change is possible.

In 2005, inspired by a group of teens who wanted to examine the toxic exposures in their lives that might potentially contribute to cancer and other health related concerns,  Teens for Safe Cosmetics  was founded as a program of Search for the Cause. The teens began organizing, growing in sheer numbers around this issue, to educate others about the potential harmful exposures. Teen campaign members played a key role in the passage of SB484, The California Safe Cosmetics Act in October of 2005. Thanks to their 11th hour lobbying efforts in Sacramento, California's Governor signed the bill, on tap for veto into law. The Bill required Department of Public Health to develop an online reporting system, and requires cosmetics manufacturers, packers, and distributors to submit information on carcinogens and reproductive hazards to the system and disclose such information to the consumer. 

In 2007, the teens went back to Sacramento to lobby for the Toxic Toys Bill. The bill was to ban phthalates from children’s toys and baby nipples. The Governor was set to veto this bill and the teens, also fighting to ban phthalates from cosmetic products, changed his mind. The bill became law in October 2007. They also spoke at a hearing lead by Senator Carole Migden in San Francisco fight for laws in support of Nail Salon Workers and then again in 2008, at a hearing to ban lead in lipstick. In 2009 they are leading the BYOBag Marin city ordinance to support the ban of single use bags in Marin County, and are part of many other advocacy initiatives within their schools and communities to support sustainable practices.

Teens realized that they wanted to broaden the scope to all areas of a teen's life that potentially exposes them to harmful chemicals in their homes, schools and communities, and changed the name to Teens Turning Green.  New chapters of Teens Turning Green expanded from coast to coast with  new members joining weekly. Shortly thereafter, Teens Turning Green: Schools was launched in the Spring of 2008, as a program of Teens Turing Green,  harnessing the inquisitive nature of teens to investigate their schools and find the greener alternatives available to replace toxic products and build sustainable practices.

The new Teens Turning Green Collection, developed by the  teens and a collection of fabulous  green skin care companies, provides a powerful way to educate by having a brand that is easily distinguishable to teens and exemplifies products that are healthy, safe, and effective (and even recommended by their peers!) 

We hope that no matter where your interests lie, you can join our campaign and begin your journey to Turning Green.