A range of newly-released cleaning products give consumers an expanded range of choices when it comes to living in an ecologically-sound manner. When it comes to matters green, the media tends to focus on measures like recycling, green transportation measures, and efficient use of power and heating in the home. However, as consumer awareness of environmental matters expands, more are realising the effect day-to-day choices and home matters can have on the environment. Home cleaning products have long contained a range of chemicals that toxic to both the user and the environment. Consumers interested in reducing the level of toxins being dumped into their world now have a better choice of green cleaning products.
Planet People, a Canadian company, produces a line of cleaning products called iQ. The latest product in the iQ range comes in the form of a small cartridge that contains non-toxic plant concentrate. The cartridge is used in a pre-owned spray bottle, which is filled with tap water. The REFill cartridge means less production waste, more efficient use of shipping resource and less need for single-use cleaning products. Eco Clean, a Danish company, launched its range of products in the USA in June. In the UK, Bentley Organic re-launched its line of eco-cleaning products in March. Bentley Organic claims to have been the first company to create all-natural household cleaners.
According to estimates, a billion cleaning bottles are thrown away every year in North America. It takes a gallon of crude oil to produce 29 plastic single-use spray bottles. In addition to environmental costs of producing and discarding all those plastic bottles, there is the packaging waste associated with the transportation and retailing of the products. Furthermore, many of the chemicals in conventional household cleaning products are extremely toxic to the environment. Bleach kills fish. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produce greenhouse gases that harm the ozone layer.
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