Scent-Free Policy

In response to health and environmental concerns, Green Calgary has adopted and formalized a Scent-Free Policy for our office. Artificially scented products such as perfume, deodorant, body lotion, shampoo and fabric softener can trigger reactions including respiratory distress, nausea and headaches. We ask that all staff, volunteers and visitors to Green Calgary refrain from wearing any artificially scented products when visiting our office or classroom environments.

Why is a Scent-Free Policy important?

Approximately one-third of North Americans report having some type of reaction to fragrances – ranging from watery eyes to extreme health threats such as anaphylactic attacks.
Canadians spend upwards of 90% of their time indoors. Air quality indoors can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Fragrances are the most obvious indoor air pollutant, second only to tobacco smoke.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that fragrances account for 30% of all allergic reactions, and 70% of asthmatics develop respiratory difficulties when exposed to perfumes. Artificial scents have repeatedly been reported to trigger symptoms in people with asthma and other environmental sensitivities.
Recent Canadian Human Rights legislation requires people with diagnosed environmental sensitivities to be accommodated in the workplace.

For more information on how to procure a Scent-Free Policy in your workplace, please visit the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety's website: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/scent_free.html

To read more about our 'Fragrance Stinks' Campaign, click here.

To read a recent 'Ask Ashley' article - "No scents makes good sense" about Scent-Free environments, click here.

View Green Calgary's formal Scent-Free Policy here.