How do I make sure a cleaning product is genuinely green?
Choosing a green cleaning product can be based on numerous observations. First, “EcoLogo” certifies the product is compliant with a series of specific environmental requirements such as no phosphates, biodegradable within 28 days, etc. Selecting concentrated formulas, i.e. either dilutable or requiring very small amounts, is environmental because of the packaging savings. E.g. if one bottle can provide 2 to 3 times the laundry loads of a same-size competing brand, the impact of consuming the product is equally reduced by 2 to 3 times. The packaging is also a good indicator of a product’s environmental quality. The lack of excess packaging, the container’s level of post-consumer recycled content, the container’s square shape requiring less shelf and shipping pallet space – these are all features that reduce a product’s ecological footprint. Finally, buying local products, manufactured as close to the point of sale as possible, also constitutes a green choice for obvious reasons: shorter
