Environmentally sustainable cleaning products need to be considered like all other products on the market. These days the term ‘zero waste’ has become quite popular with regards to climate change and the rise of non-recyclable plastics, the harm they cause to the planet and especially sea creatures.
Did you know?:-
That every bit of plastic that was ever created is still on our planet? Single-use plastics are killing our ecosystems and destroying our planet. consider this article by Carolanne Wright Contributing writer for Wake Up World
Areas called ‘dead zones’ are continuing to appear across the ocean – these are areas in which most marine life can’t survive as a result of a lack of oxygen. There are estimated to be around 500 dead zones throughout the earth’s ocean, covering almost 250,000 square kilometers.Ocean Pollution Statistics and Facts 2021 – Boat Deal
Why not do our part in trying to reduce our carbon footprint? You could do your part by using reusable jars for cereals, bringing your own bag to the grocery store, and using environmentally safe cleaning products!
While it may seem trivial initially, most of our cleaning products generally end up in the sewage treatment plants. Often the water is then dumped into mains water. This can be especially harmful to the ecosystem as untreated chemicals can cause irreparable damage to the ocean floor and the organisms. Eco-friendly products are bio-degradable as they are derived from natural and organic ingredients.
The following list has been made by taking into account factors like:
minimal or biodegradable packaging,
whether the product itself is biodegradable,
how safe the ingredients are, and initiatives taken by the company to reduce their footprint.
Here’s a list of products that we found ticked all the boxes above:
Dropps
Dropps is an eco-friendly brand that produces easy-to-use dishwashing products and laundry detergents. The company is known for being awarded the EPA Safer Choice Partner of the year by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2017.
Coming to the products themselves, they are natural/plant-derived and biodegradable. The packaging is minimal, and they are delivered in a cardboard box. The pods are wrapped in a water-soluble membrane made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), which dissolves in your washer. Microorganisms easily break down PVOH to form water and carbon dioxide.
Frosch
Frosh is a versatile brand that offers green products in multiple categories, from room fragrances/ shower gels to laundry care and cleaning products. It is EU Ecolabel Certified, a label of excellence offered to products that meet high environmental standards throughout their life-cycle.
The company has an entire tab on its website dedicated to tracking its sustainable missions like sponsoring the International Ocean Film Tour, supporting education, or working on greener packaging. The brand offers plant-derived ingredients with biodegradable packaging, and the products are packaged with 100% recycled PET. Lastly, all their formulas are dermatologically tested and free of harmful chemicals.
Earthhero
Earthhero has to be one of the most customer-friendly websites on the list. Apart from offering a wide range of products from clothing to hygiene products, they have a blog that provides helpful advice to new customers who might be overwhelmed with all the choices. The brand is 100% carbon neutral and is a member of 1% for the planet, which donates portions from every purchase to environmental organisations.
The products listed here are biodegradable and completely organic. Their packaging is mostly plastic-free and they are shipped with paper tape and in recycled cardboard boxes. The best part is that they offer multiple products, including dishcloths, paper towels, etc., all of which are eco-friendly.
Clean Cult
Bringing up the rear of the list is Clean Cult; I prefer their concept of using a refillable bottle to reduce single-use plastics. Their refills all arrive in a milk carton-looking container, which might be slightly harder to recycle depending on your location—however, props to them for trying out an innovative concept.
Their products are all fragranced with natural oils. Moreover, they are quite transparent about the ingredients they use. Their products are completely biodegradable and plant-derived. The best part is their shipping is also carbon neutral! Sustainable
