Green cleaning services took another step forward in California with the signing of The Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017.
Green Cleaning Services and the Right to Know What's in Your Cleaning Products
California's State Senate and Governor recently provided green cleaning advocates an enormous boost, and finally took a stand against cleaning product 'greenwashing', by signing Senate Bill 258.
According to the Environmental Working Group;
The Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017 – Senate Bill 258, authored by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens – requires the ingredients in cleaning products to be listed on both product labels and online.
This applies particularly to chemicals whose ability to harm human health or the environment has been recognized by established scientific authoritative bodies.
Under this law, the mandatory disclosure also applies to ingredients in fragrance mixtures, which have been tightly held secrets until now.
Why This Legislation Matters
Over the years, numerous studies have pointed to the hazardous chemicals hiding in our cleaning products.
Due to a federal loophole, manufacturers were not required to disclose the full content of their cleaning products on the label if misuse or mishandling did not lead to immediate physical harm.
Combined with the misleading 'green' labeling by unscrupulous marketers, many consumers were unwittingly exposed to hazardous chemicals, which have been shown to cause a wide range of health issues, including reproductive damage, neurological problems, asthma, and even cancer.
The chemicals used in these products pollute the indoor air, our bodies, the water supply, and the food that we eat--leaving us sick, tired, and unproductive.
With the full disclosure of the hazardous chemicals found in cleaning products, consumers can now make more informed decisions about which products they use, and what they are exposing themselves and their families to.
Ideally, this will lead to a boom in the 'clean for health first' market--leading to healthier schools and workplaces, and potentially saving businesses and taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars per year in lost revenue and health care expenses.
What You Can Do Until The Law Takes Effect
While the legislation is not slated to take full effect until 2021, there are several steps you can take to make smarter purchasing decisions now.
- If you run a school or a business, consult with a certified green cleaning specialist in your area. They will be familiar with the regulations and requirements for your industry and will shorten the amount of time necessary to identify and hazardous chemicals and processes you may currently be using, as well as recommend and implement viable green alternatives.
- Review the EWG Consumer Guides (listed in the resource section) and educate yourself and the individuals in charge of your custodial team as to the potentially deadly issues associated with conventional and trendy commercial and consumer-grade cleaning products, and;
- Look for products that contain the Green Seal or EPA Safer Choice labels.
References & Resources
Takeaway
With the signing of the groundbreaking cleaning product right to know act, consumers now have more power than ever to make informed, healthy decisions that can lead to more productive and profitable education facilities and workplaces.
Disclosure of the chemicals is not the end of the battle--we must take this opportunity to act now to provide a better future and a cleaner world for our children.
If you would like to learn more about the advantages of certified green cleaning services and the importance of using clean, non-toxic, and sustainable cleaning products, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
