Smart Buying
A Shopping Guide to Eco-Friendly Products
From appliances to home decorating, we tell you what to buy and where to find it.
By Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate Editor
Amy Esbenshade Hebert, Reporter
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, October 2007
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HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS
Problem: Laundry detergents, general-purpose cleaners and other products may contain nonylphenol ethoxylates, or NPEs, which can break down into a form that's toxic to aquatic life. Phosphates, found in dishwasher detergents, promote harmful algae growth. Petroleum-based cleaners, which make up a majority of the market, use up a nonrenewable resource.
Better choices: Companies don't have to reveal their secret formulas and may list slightly altered chemicals under other names. Look for cleaners that have survived tough scrutiny, such as Ipax's Green Unikleen multipurpose cleaner (www.ipax.com). Unikleen is a Green Seal-certified cleaner (www.greenseal.org), which means it's biodegradable, plus it contains no carcinogens and isn't toxic to humans or aquatic life. Green Seal has approved few consumer cleaners so far, but it will add more to the list by year's end. For cleaners free of NPEs, phosphates, chlorine and other problem chemicals, also try the Ecover (www.ecover.com), Seventh Generation (www.seventhgen.com) and BioKleen (www.biokleenhome.com) brands.
The EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) seal has less-stringent requirements, so more products meet its standards. A chemical's effectiveness is key; if alternative products don't work as well, a risky chemical may still be used. Several products in the Method line of cleaners (www.methodhome.com) that are sold at Target stores are DfE-recognized. To qualify for the Home Depot Eco Options line, products must be DfE-recognized.
Trade-off: Most grocers, except some organic specialty markets, do not stock green-certified cleaners, and you may pay more than for conventional cleaners. But as more certified products enter the market, prices should come down.
Comments: EPA is starting a voluntary program that encourages companies to use safer alternatives to ingredients known as surfactants, such as NPEs. Some companies, such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever, have stopped using them altogether. And remember that the absence of a chemical smell doesn't mean a product can't do the job.
HOME DECORATING
Problem: Many things in your home are made with adhesives, solvents or finishes that emit volatile organic compounds, or VOCs (the big offender in adhesives is urea formaldehyde). VOCs contribute to smog outdoors and may be highly concentrated indoors, aggravating allergies and respiratory ailments.
Better choices: Most paints and stains, including some oil-based ones, already have low VOC content, per federal standards that are becoming more stringent. VOC-free paints, such as Yolo Colorhouse paints (www.yolocolorhouse.com), cost about the same as conventional manufacturers' premium paints ($39.95 per gallon).
For cabinetry and furniture, look for products constructed with solid-wood panels or engineered wood (particleboard or medium-density fiberboard) made with low- or no-VOC finishes and water-based adhesives. Woods should come from reclaimed or sustainable sources and preferably be FSC-certified. One recommendation for cabinets is Neil Kelly Cabinets (www.neilkellycabinets.com). Ikea, which claims it is committed to the environment, uses at least some FSC woods (www.ikea.com).
Cisco Brothers (www.ciscobrothers.com) uses only FSC woods in its upholstered furniture, sold primarily through small design shops and retailers. The Q Collection (www.qcollection.com), available through interior designers, offers high-end, environmentally friendly furniture and fabrics.
Trade-offs: Residential furniture is just starting to go green, so your choices may be limited. Plus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confers organic certification only on cotton and wool fibers, not fabric (standards are coming). Textiles made from natural fibers or dyed with natural pigments may be treated with toxic substances, such as heavy metals or fire retardants.
Comments: For an alternative to petroleum-based countertops, such as Corian, consider IceStone (www.icestone.biz; $90 to $140 per square foot). It's made from concrete and recycled glass, and you can use it for countertops, backsplashes or floor tiles. Or check out PaperStone (www.paperstoneproducts.com), made of 100% recycled, FSC- certified paper and water-based resins. Cost: $33 to $61 per square foot.