How Friendly Are “Environmental” Lawn Care Products?
May 16, 2003 — The Competition Bureau is advising Canadian consumers to do their homework this spring before purchasing lawn care services that claim to be green, environmentally friendly, ecologically friendly, organic or safe. With consumers becoming increasingly aware of the potential health issues associated with chemical pesticides, the market for safe lawn care services is expanding. Many companies offer their services exclusively chemical-pesticide-free, while others have added chemical-pesticide-free or “organic” programs to their list of existing services. However, since services differ from company to company and from program to program, the advertising can be confusing and potentially misleading. Some programs involve the regular use of chemical pesticides on the entire lawn while others involve occasional use on affected areas (spot treatments) or no chemical pesticides at all. As a result, the Bureau strongly encourages consumers to research the various programs offered by
