Eco Cleaning and Other Lies
Think about the marketing messages we see at the supermarket. Eco Cleaning, Earth Friendly, Biodegradable, Green and Clean and ways to Reduce your Eco Footprint are all messages every company seems to be pounding us with.
On the surface it sounds great. And it is terrific if the company is actually telling us the truth. Have you ever heard of greenwashing? Greenwashing is when a company puts an “eco friendly spin” on a product that is not as eco friendly as they claim. And many of them do it (those dirty dogs!).
Determining if an eco cleaning product is as green as it claims to be, can be tough. This is because of greenwashing strategies. The eco friendly cleaning market can seem muddy because of these misleading statements.
Take a look at the table below. It is a high-level sample of terms that you likely hear every day. It will give you a good baseline for challenging eco friendly labels, and help you determine if a product is really as green and clean as it claims to be.
By the way, your best bet to purchasing a truly eco friendly cleaning product is to buy the cleaner that has every ingredient on the label.
|
Term |
Meaning |
Reality |
Consider This |
|
Phosphate-Free |
Contains no phosphates. |
A meaningless marketing message. Phosphates have been banned in all cleaning products except dishwasher detergents. |
In waterways, phosphates spur algae growth, depleting oxygen and killing fish. |
|
Oxygenated |
Helps whiten by breaking up stains and eliminating mildew. |
Safer than chlorine bleach. |
Oxygenated products may not work as quickly as chlorine-based products, but they are as effective when directions are followed. |
|
Surfactants |
The active cleaning agent in detergents. |
Look for surfactants that are described as plant-based; these are a much safer choice. |
Most cleaning products often use petroleum-based surfactants. This isn’t good. |
|
Bio-Degradable |
The item will break down over time into material harmless on the environment. |
Doesn't mean a thing unless the manufacturer states how long it takes to break down. |
The sooner, the better. |
|
Nontoxic |
Small amounts will not cause damage. |
Use of the term isn't regulated. |
Choose products that indicate in what way the materials are nontoxic. |
|
Chlorine-Free |
Contains no chlorine |
Look for chlorine-free versions of all cleaners. Hard on your health and the environment. |
Chlorine is a toxic chemical responsible for more household poisonings than any other. To boot, it is a cause of ozone depletion. |
|
All Natural Ingredients |
There is no context for standards. Basically a marketing term. |
An example is a product that claims to use “all natural” ingredients, but also uses a number of synthetic ingredients along with those “all natural one”. |
Have you noticed how everything seems to be “all natural” these days? |
Remember, the terms surrounding “eco cleaning” are not regulated. That means that any marketing executive at a chemical company can twist and spin the terms they see fit. Be careful out there when you do your shopping.
Thanks for reading.
PS - here is some more thoughts on eco cleaning and considerations around green cleaning products .