March 10, 2020–What is the Environmental Impact of Your Cleaning Products? (Greenblizzard.com)

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Ever wonder as you are inhaling those fresh, clean smelling scents of your cleaning product as to what is its health and environmental impact? Only a small percentage (7%) of cleaning products disclose enough information to realistically estimate both their carbon footprints and environmental impact. In an increasingly ecologically minded society, this is surprising. With so little information, this means that consumers cannot make an informed decision, authorities cannot accurately track the health and environmental impact, and activists cannot pressure companies to produce a more eco-friendly product. According to the Economist, only a few of us actually look at product labels to assess the carbon footprint and environmental impact. Current estimates suggest the carbon footprint producing these cleaning products to be 0.7lbs of CO2 per pound of product. In terms of volume of CO2, this is roughly the size of a 2 foot cube filled with CO2. 

This is a stark contrast to the food industry in Britain, where every action and emission is assessed. With regard to cleaning products, we do not know the cost of processing the chemicals, packaging them, creating the packaging, or transportation. As noted above, carbon footprint only covers the amount of energy required to produce the product. However, its impact goes well beyond this to what leaked, spilled or used products have on the environment. For example, APEs, a type of cleaning compound with bioactive consequences has been banned in the UK for its effect on an organism’s endocrine system. Cleaning wipes are clogging up drains, rivers, oceans, and seafood across the world. Furthermore, many cleaning products contain toxic substances such as formaldehyde, ammonia, and sodium lauryl sulfate. To view the full article visit the Greenblizard.com.