In Japan there is so much still to do to try and find survivors, then no doubt the clean up will begin and the nation can start to come to terms with the full impacts of the earthquake disaster. Then the clean up can begin.
Cleaning Products
This week my blog is all about cleaning products. If you are like me, the temptation when choosing cleaning products is to purchase on the claims of what the products can do, rather than look more closely at the ecological attributes. Some cleaning products rely heavily on chemicals. If you look at their product data sheets it can be quite scary to learn of their potential harmful impacts to the environment. As a child, I remember my parents using Lysol. I checked this out and it contains benzalkonium chloride, a substance highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. So whenever possible I look for Ecover for the main source of our cleaning products. They have a really friendly and helpful website, so I would suggest readers to check it out. Whatever products you buy do check the labels, it’s a good idea to look for the European Ecolabel.
The European Ecolabel is a voluntary scheme, established in 1992 to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment. Products and services awarded the Ecolabel carry the flower logo, allowing consumers - including public and private purchasers - to identify them easily. Today the EU Ecolabel covers a wide range of products and services, with further groups being continuously added. Product groups include cleaning products, appliances, paper products, textile and home and garden products, lubricants and services such as tourist accommodation. While the logo may be simple, the environmental criteria behind it are tough, and only the very best products, which are kindest to the environment, are entitled to carry the EU Ecolabel. So really there is little excuse not to find a product which has minimal impact on the environment.Researching all these “eco” products got me thinking. Do we actually need to buy these commercial products? What did our ancestors do? So Future Directions has started to do some research into these and I will share my findings in future blogs. I will also look out for other brands who have achieved the EU Eco Label.
GOOD PRACTICE HINT:
Bath cleaner: Mix 15 mls of vinegar into 1 liter of water. Use this mixture to clean your bath. For persistent strains use full strength vinegar on a cloth and rub briskly.
Future Directions work with companies to help them improve profitability and sustainability by finding ways to reduce running costs and ensure that they are compliant with environmental legislation and regulations. We offer an initial free consultation and can also conduct an initial assessment on your existing environmental management system. Contact us at;
email: enquiries@futuredirections.org.uk
telephone: 01874 638 979
