Navigating a Non-Toxic Life with Abbie Davidson, Founder of The Filtery
For Abbie Davidson, founder of The Filtery, the journey to non-toxic living was personal. After years in sustainability and wellness, she experienced firsthand how environmental toxins can impact health, leading her to adopt a more mindful, non-toxic lifestyle.
This shift inspired her to create The Filtery, a digital platform dedicated to helping others reduce toxins in their homes and daily lives. Through well-researched content, non-toxic brand recommendations, and ingredient education, The Filtery empowers people to make healthier, more eco-conscious choices.
In this interview, Abbie shares her journey and insights on embracing a cleaner, toxin-free lifestyle.
What inspired you to start The Filtery, and how has your mission evolved over time?
I've been involved in sustainability and holistic wellness for a long time now, but I was really inspired to start The Filtery after I got very sick from a moldy air conditioning unit. After that, I became more sensitive to other environmental toxicants like fragrances and smoke. Through that experience, I was motivated to not only live a 'lower-impact' life from a larger environmental perspective, but also for human health too.
What’s been the most surprising or eye-opening thing you’ve learned while researching toxic ingredients?
One of the most eye-opening things I've learned about toxic chemicals is that the old saying "the dose makes the poison" isn’t always true, specifically when it comes to hormone disruptors. These chemicals can cause health effects even at very low levels, and sometimes they behave in unexpected ways, having the opposite effect at high vs. low doses. Unfortunately, a lot of regulatory testing doesn't account for this.
For someone just starting their non-toxic journey, what are the first three swaps you recommend?
This is a tough one because I actually don't think it's the same answer for every person. It depends on your current habits, budget, health concerns, etc. But if I hadto choose some general swaps that are great for everyone, I would say:
1. Start filtering your water. Any filter is better than nothing (as long as you're actually changing the filters when they need to be changed!), but some are better than others. The standard Brita, for example, doesn't do a great job at filtering out a lot of the contaminants currently in our water (like PFAS). Here are some of the most affordable water filters that can adequately reduce a large number of contaminants.
2. Ditch the single-use plastic water bottles and get a reusable glass or stainless steel one instead.
3. Store your leftover food in glass or stainless steel (like Pyrex or Ello) instead of plastic.
What are some hidden toxins in everyday products that most people don’t realize they’re exposed to?
1. There are PFAS added to some items a lot of people might not expect — like dental floss.
2. Certain paper products (like to-go coffee cups, food wrappers, straws) are lined with plastic.
3. A lot of clothing has toxicants of various kinds in it. Unfortunately, there is even less regulation and labeling requirements on textiles than there is on personal care and cleaning products.
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