Conventional cleaning products are a fantastic cocktail of chemical compounds, solvents, bleach, artificial fragrances and the like. They may cut through grease, decontaminate and leave a room lemon fresh, but at what cost?
Conventional cleaning products may kill germs but they are also adding toxins and poisons into our environment and into our bodies. Negative impacts against conventional cleaning products can include using non-renewable resources, emitting greenhouse gases, and poisonous to waterways and aquatic life.
Green cleaning should protect health without harming the environment.
- Use Renewable Resources: Raw materials sourced from vegetable and mineral resources.
- 100% Biodegradable: All components will biodegrade, with all that remains being water, CO2 and minerals.
- Non Toxic: Green cleaning products are non-toxic to aquatic life, and are safe for septic systems (and therefore your sewerage treatment plant), free from chlorine bleach, synthetic dyes and artificial fragrances.
- Solvent Free: therefore are VOC free.
- Phosphate Free: When phosphates hit the waterways they disrupt the natural balance in lakes and streams, allowing abnormally high algae growth.
- Meet Government Standards: Look into your country’s government standards for cleaning products and of course the actual product performance.
- Eco-labelled: Look for your country’s eco-labelling program and ensure your cleaning products meets these standards.
- Commercial grade green cleaning products are readily available in most markets.
- Insist your cleaning contractors to use environmentally sound cleaning products.
- Insist on caterers and food traders use environmentally sound cleaning products.
Toilet Paper and Hand Towels
- Use toilet paper and paper towels/hand towels should be made from recycled paper. There is no excuse to use toilet paper made from virgin pulp.
Bin Bags/Rubbish Sacks
- Use bin bags made from recycled plastics. Use biodegradable bin bags to collect compostable material.