Many people have decided to go green due to health and environmental concerns. This has led many consumers to buy products marketed as “green.” As you may have suspected most of these products are actually not green at all. Indoor air pollution is ranked among the top five environmental risks to public health (Source). One of the main sources of indoor air pollution is attributed to household cleaning products.
I will examine some of these supposedly green cleaners and expose them for what they are. I will use their grades from the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Green Cleaning to evaluate the toxic offenders. Click on the links to see their ratings and the ingredients that they are based on. An “A” rating is the safest while an “F” rating is least safe. Is your Green Cleaner on this list?
The Brand: Method
The Claim: All of Method’s ingredients are comprehensively assessed by a leading research firm to ensure their safety for people and the environment.
The Facts: Out of 53 of Method’s products evaluated by the Environmental Working Group, 35% of them had a ranking of an “F.” Not a single one of their products earned an “A” rating (Method Products Ratings).
The Brand: Simple Green
The Claim: Simple Green claims their all purpose cleaner is non-toxic.
The Facts: Simple Green’s all purpose cleaner is rated an “F” (Simple Green Rating). The fact that a company markets their product as green when it has high cancer concerns is quite suspect.
The Brand: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day
The Claim: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day claims their products are all earth friendly.
The Facts: Not a single one of their products has an “A” ranking (Mrs. Meyer’s Ratings). Almost half of their products have a “C” rating and many have a moderate environmental health concern.
The Brand: 7th Generation
The Claim: 7th Generation claims their products are non-toxic and environmentally friendly.
The Facts: While 7th Generation does have 13 products rated an “A” or “B,” 14 of their products rank a “D” or “F” (7th Generation Rating). This is too many for a company claiming to be green.
The Brand: Clorox Green Works
The Claim: They say you don’t have to compromise on clean to be green.
The Facts: While I do agree with them that you don’t have to compromise clean for green, they clearly are not talking about their own products. Out of 18 of their products, 12 of them scored an “F” and none of them were an “A” (Green Works Rating).
A Truly Green Cleaner
The Brand: Green Virgin Products
The Claim: Green Virgin Products is dedicated to selling only completely non toxic and eco-friendly products.
The Facts: GVP Formula 433 is an all purpose cleaner/degreaser that is completely odorless and safe for the whole family including those with allergies. It can be used to clean any washable surface and even as a veggie wash. It kills over 99% of salmonella and E. coli bacteria. It is so non-toxic that it requires no warning label of any kind from any government agency. It is not yet in the EWG database but Green Virgin Products has requested that they add it as soon as possible.
Ingredients:
Purified water, fatty acids, coconut oil, organic alcohol (the alcohol all evaporates during the cooking process), vitamin B9, minerals and enzymes derived from edible and seed bearing plants.
It’s MSDS sheet can be found here.
About The Author
Jeremy Marion works with his family business at Green Virgin Products. He is an advocate for healthy living and preserving the environment. Visit his company’s website Green Virgin Products to see more products and information that he supports.
