Canadian-based EcoLogo Program has released its revised environmental standard for hard surface cleaners. It strengthens the health and environmental requirements for certification of hard surface cleaners, specifically limiting use of asthmagens and excluding substances that are harmful to humans or the environment.
These include ammonia, formaldehyde and phthalates – hazardous chemicals commonly found in cleaning products.
“This standard sets a vital benchmark to help identify hard surface cleaning products that excel in protecting health and the environment,” claimed Dr Angela Griffiths, EcoLogo Program executive director.
The broad-reaching hard surface cleaner standard covers a variety of products used at home, in schools and in other institutional and commercial environments. It includes general purpose, bathroom and glass
cleaners as well as dish detergents, degreasers and cleaners for cooking appliances. Beyond household cleaning products, the standard also includes industrial, vehicle and boat cleaners.
‘Limiting asthmagens is an important addition to this standard and the EcoLogo Program will continue to research the issue to ensure that future revisions keep up to date with current research on asthmagens,’ said the EcoLogo press release.
I find it amazing that we constantly battle to find out what chemicals are in cleaning products and limit the toxins when chemical cleaning is often necessary. In a recent study with one UK shipping company I found that 60% of the toxic chemical cleaning products they used could be replaced by non chemical nature based products which were also cheaper so the company saved money, reduced its chemical footprint and provided a healthier and safer workplace for its employees.