How does GreenEarth compare to other alternative cleaning methods like CO2, 100% professional wet cleaning and hydrocarbon?
CO2 and 100% wet cleaning are both recognized as very good choices environmentally, but less than one-third of one percent of dry cleaners utilize them. The problem for dry cleaners is that it is very difficult to make a living operating with either system exclusively. CO2 machines can cost up to three times as much as traditional machines. Wet cleaning requires more labor to produce and finish garments; thus both methods, although green, are considerably more expensive to operate. Hydrocarbon solvent has, until recently, been popular as an alternative because it is affordable and petroleum-based, so the industry is familiar with it. The concern about hydrocarbon today is that it is not as “green” as some people thought originally. While certainly a big improvement over perc, hydrocarbon is classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC), and is a likely contributor to smog formation. It is not approved as a SNAP material and would likely require clean up if spilled. Like perc, hydroca
