Public and media interest in environmental issues has focused primarily on global warming in recent years, and not without reason; global warming is perhaps the largest ecological threat we face and could displace millions of people and destroy countless species and ecosystems. However there are of course many other threats to the environmental health of our planet beyond global temperatures and carbon emission caused by the release of other man made pollutants.
One of the largest sources of these pollutants has historically been the industrial chemical industry – those making chemicals on a large scale for a variety of different uses. including the making of cleaning products. Cleaning products often contain chemicals that can cause environmental harm. They are often by their nature chemically abrasive and dangerous to organisms (for instance cleaning products used to clean food surfaces and hospitals have to be able to kill bacteria and viruses)
When released into the environment cleaning products can work their way up the food chain, often first being consumed by aquatic organisms eventually working their way up the food chain causing serious problems to the animals at the higher trophic levels. When consumed these chemicals can be harmful to health causing toxicity, cancer, limited growth and sometimes even birth defects. Of course these chemicals can sometimes pass from the environment into human populations causing serious health problems. Not all chemicals are biodegradable meaning they can persist in the environment for years.
Often sites that have processed and synthesised cleaning products have left a legacy of environmental issues long after the factories have disappeared. Packaging is another issue; much of the packaging for cleaning products is chemically resistive, meaning it often doesn’t break down naturally leading to further issues if released into the environment.
Obviously we need cleaning products to keep our healthy clean lifestyle, so what choice does a consumer have? More than you might first think.
Selden Research Ltd is a company that makes cleaning products with a difference. As well as making quality cleaning products they have also vowed to minimise environmental damage as much as possible – resulting in a cleaning products company that can claim green credentials.
Selden boast an eight point environmental mission statement to ensure that their environmental impact is minimal. They have gone beyond the ISO industry standards to gain IPPC accreditation and are working towards AISE charter status, a voluntary initiative implemented by the detergent industry to promote sustainability.
Selden import bulk materials to cut down on transport and packaging, reducing the company’s carbon output and waste production. After reducing waste to a minimum Selden promise to recycle the remainder. Within the factory Selden recycle water and heat to ensure they reduce energy requirements, lowering their carbon emissions and helping reduce global warming.
Perhaps the most important of all Selden have gone beyond EU law to ensure the chemicals they use are as biodegradable and environmentally friendly as possible, ensuring their products abide by all existing voluntary agreements. Continuing investment within research and development ensure that the company will be ahead of the curve on green issues for the foreseeable future.
Selden does not test on animals and preferentially sources of raw materials where suppliers have similar ethical views.
Cleaning products are a necessity, but making the choice to buy a cleaning product from a reliable source means you are minimising your own environmental impact and helping prevent environmental damage.
