The Green Police

In Your Weekend magazine, dated 16th February 2013 there was an article titled "Only Natural"

Cover page of 'Your Weekend' magazine which inspired this blog

This article described the growing industry of natural cleaning products and asked if these products are actually better for the environment.  You are probably all familiar with the arguments so I won't  re-visit the subject, but I do want to highlight a useful summary of the environmental accreditation standards that can be obtained here in New Zealand.  

The accreditation standards are listed below. You will need to do further reading to get the full story, and do further investigation of the companies you wish to purchase from to really be sure you are making the best choice. 

Environmental Choice

• Operated and managed by the government owned New Zealand Ecolabelling trust. 
• Generally recognised as NZ's most comprehensive and robust product-focused certification
• Focuses on the life cycle of individual products - including toxicity, water and energy management, consumer information and packaging
• Compliance is audited annually
• Weaknesses include that it does not test whether ingredients come from a sustainable source and there are specification inconsistencies, for example phosphates are excluded from hand dish wash formulations but not laundry or dishwasher formulations.  In addition, the specifications are developed with industry to ensure they are commercially viable.*  

Read more at: http://www.enviro-choice.org.nz/

*In terms of this last comment I would have to say that is is something that everyone does seem fixated on, yet the reality is that if we don't have a sound environment there will be no commercial viability anyway so its kind of a backwards thought, which we need to educate consumers on so they can provide better challenges to companies. 

Enviromark

• Based on a British programme and is owned and managed by Landcare Research.  It focusses on process; specifically, how the company assesses and manages its environmental impact.  It has a life-cycle approach.
• Divides its standard assessment system into bronze, silver, gold, platinum and diamond.
• Weaknesses are that all products can be labelled with the logo, but individual products are not tested.  The five step certification is also misleading as Enviromark bronze simply means the company is considering environmental impact and complying with the law.  Measurable improvements are not required until gold level.

Read more at: http://www.enviro-mark.co.nz/MainMenu

Green Tick 

• Launched in 2001 by a Wellington couple, products are assessed against 20 criteria based on life-cycle  legal compliance, waste reduction, disposal programmes and raw material sourcing.
• A random sample of products is assessed.  Assessment reports are available online and reassessment occurs every 2 years.
• Weaknesses are that it focusses largely on company process and policies with limited product testing.  Products are not individually certified.  Ecostore was the first Green tick certified but they left because they said the bar was set way to low. 

Read more at: http://www.greentick.com/index.html

The full text from "The Green Police" summaries