Green Calgary

Choosing Truly Green Cleaners

Reader Question

I have decided to make the shift to healthier cleaners but I am perplexed by all the different products which claim to be green. Do you have any tips for selecting the best of the natural cleaning products?

Thanks,

Shelley

Ashley's Answer

Hello Shelley,

As citizens shift their purchasing habits to align with a heightened awareness of the links between human and environmental health, the availability of “green” products has surged to meet this demand. Though a handful of companies have dedicated themselves to creating safe and effective products from renewable sources for decades, there are many more companies seeking to capitalize on people’s good intentions by labeling their products with words like biodegradable, green, natural, environmentally friendly, and safe. Some companies have gone as far as creating their own certifications, giving citizens the impression of oversight from a third-party, yet this could not be further from the truth. These tactics are known as greenwashing and regulators are falling farther and farther behind in trying to deal with what has become a rampant problem.

Greenwashing, according to Terrachoice Environmental, “is the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.” Their report titled The Seven Sins of Greenwashing found that 98% of the 2,219 products reviewed were guilty of committing at least one greenwashing sin. Though greenwashing is not at all limited to cleaners, this category of products is second only to health and beauty for the number of greenwashing sins committed. Selecting a green cleaner, then, requires special attention and a keen eye.

The most obvious place to start when choosing a product is to look for transparency. Though Canadian law does not require a listing of ingredients on cleaners, many companies have voluntarily included a full list of their ingredients. Look for detail and avoid products that are overly vague. One major chemical company which has recently come on board with a line of “natural” cleaners states its ingredients to be “a special blend of naturally derived cleaning ingredients.” This is not a list of ingredients. This is greenwashing!

Secondly, you want to look for a reputable third party endorsement of the product. Tarrachoice Environmental has a nifty little wallet card outlining all the reputable “Ecolabels” and what they cover. Probably most recognizable to Canadians will be the EcoLogo, which is often represented by 3 doves interlocked to make a maple leaf. This is a great certification program and covers everything from cleaners to home and office products to building products.

Thirdly, avoid products with synthetic fragrances. I’ve written on this topic before but as a reminder – the FDA reports that fragrances account for 30% of all allergic reactions and 70% of asthmatics develop respiratory difficulties when exposed to perfumes. Synthetic fragrances are also responsible for headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin irritation and discolouration, as well as coughing and vomiting. If you want a pretty smell look for pure essential oils. These are entirely plant-derived and contain no synthetic ingredients.

Lastly, support companies that make environmental and social responsibility their mandate, and not those that produce a few “greener” products alongside a multitude of toxic and destructive products. Companies like Seventh Generation, Nature Clean, Ecover, Bio-vert and Simply Clean are in the business of creating safe and healthy products. That’s it. These are the real leaders and we should support those who have led the charge, not the big guys who make a few green products in an attempt to appease their customers. To learn about how individual products and companies fair from a health, environment and social welfare perspective, check out the Good Guide. More than 65,000 individual products are rated on this indispensable resource and encourage everyone to check it out.

Now keep in mind that many of the smaller local companies do not have the scale to afford a third party endorsement. Calgary-based companies like Small Planet and Claudia’s Choices, as well as Cinderella’s Organic Housekeeping products from Salmo, B.C., are standout businesses that are wholly committed to creating the most responsible products available and we should support these small, home-grown businesses. These products, by the way, are all available at Green Calgary’s EcoStore.

Lastly, I will remind people that virtually all your cleaners can be made at home with very simple and cost-effective ingredients. Green Calgary’s Green Cleaning Guide has dozens of do-it-yourself recipes for those interested in getting good results, while saving a few pennies to boot.

Be informed, be skeptical and ask the tough questions. Do this and you’ll have no problem choosing healthy products for happy people and a happy planet.

Safe cleaning,

Ashley

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