Conventional plastic shower curtains made from PVC have us screaming Psycho-style in the shower. It’s not just that they look ugly (which they do), or that they mold faster than the bread (which they do), it’s that they’re the least green way to cut yourself off from the world for a shower. And most of us go through several a year.

Plastic shower curtains, which most of use alone or behind fabric shower curtains, are actually made from polyvinyl chloride, a material with a wide range of toxic chemicals (like phthalates) that have been linked to a host of health concerns including asthma, autism and cancer. In fact, PVC is so toxic that it can’t be recycled because of the amount of harmful chemicals that would be released. If you’ve ever noticed the strong smell the accompanies a new plastic shower curtain, you should know that it’s the smell of chemicals off-gassing from the PVC and that one study found that vinyl shower curtains can cause higher levels of air toxins, which may last more than a month. With plastic shower curtains that have been treated to be mildew proof there are even more chemicals involved, and since you’re in a closed area when you shower with little air flow (both in the shower itself and in the bathroom) and the heat and steam from the shower spread quickly through the room, any chemicals in your shower curtain are simply going to linger in your air.

Grossed out? Us too, which is why we’re a fan of the Hemp Shower Curtain from Bean Products. There’s no plastic in the curtain and no plastic liner required, instead the hemp will get wet but not drip or soak through to your bathroom. The  hemp fabric is made from Romanian-grown hemp, which is grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and the fabric itself is naturally resistant to mildew and bacteria. Even better, you can throw the hemp shower curtain in the washing machine when needed.

While hemp does a good job of keeping mildew away on its own, the shower curtain isn’t 100% mildew proof, like all things if the climate is right and ventilation limited, the curtain can mildew. The best way to avoid any issues is just to wash it regularly (easy enough to do with your regular laundry loads) and try and keep good ventilation in your bathroom—something worth doing regardless.

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