The Root of the Matter

There is much ado in the cleaning world today. At every corner, we hear and see
the word “Green”. Much of the public is not aware of what “Green” truly means.

In today’s lexicon, “Green” is understood by the general public to mean “safe”. Safe
compared to previous offerings, safe compared to environmentally unfriendly
predecessors, and maybe safe when compared to toxicity levels for the end user.

Unfortunately, “Green” can be a misnomer. Green typically refers to the fact that
the product contains primary active ingredients derived from renewable resources.
One of the newest product lines on the market for the general public has had
widespread mass marketing campaigns in the media. Upon closer inspection,
however, the primary active ingredients for this hard surface cleaner are less than
safe for the consumer and the environment. The primary actives are coconut based
surfactants (heavy-duty detergents), and corn based ethanol (nothing more than an
alcohol derived from corn in a distilling process.)

The facts are that corn based ethanol is still toxic, still emits unwanted VOC’s, (which
contribute to greenhouse gases), can be dangerous to the environment, and uses
more energy to manufacture than more traditional chemical solvents.

There are alternatives available which are safer for the user, more effective than
traditional cleaners, and very safe for the environment. Before you “Go Green”, be
sure the products you use are truly non-toxic to humans, the environment, and do not
use excessive amounts of energy to produce. While “Green” maybe good,
“Environmentally Friendly and Non-toxic” is probably a better choice for the
consumer and our planet.