Ecover Reminds Us That A Clean House Is A Safer House For Children With Allergies

Jan 27, 2012 | By Deb

At Ecover we know that allergies of all kinds are difficult and even dangerous to live with. Dealing with allergies can be particularly daunting for parents of young children who are faced on a daily basis with an allergen-filled world. The good news is that one of the best ways to keep children safe from allergens is to keep a clean home.

Whether you’re trying to keep a bedroom free of dust mites or avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen, cleaning regularly and thoroughly can make a huge difference. For example, dusting and vacuuming routinely will help eliminate dust mites. In addition, using special covers for pillows and mattresses—and washing them frequently —helps keep dust mites at bay.

When it comes to food allergies, families cannot be too careful. While some parents keep potentially dangerous foods out of the home completely, others follow strict protocols to make sure that an allergic child is not exposed to the offending food. Keeping a clean kitchen is a must. In addition to keeping foods with the allergen in a specific (and out-of-reach) place, precautions such as washing dishes thoroughly and cleaning counters often are just two ways to help ensure that work surfaces and serving items are safe for children with allergies.

Of course, using ecological products like Ecover is a good choice too, our products have mild or unscented varieties. In fact, many of our laundry products have been dermatologically tested to be safe for sensitive skin. A clean house is a safer house for kids with allergies … and Ecover is happy to be here to help make that happen!

Image by needoptic via Flickr.com

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Ecover’s Liquid Laundry Wash Giving the Words Clean Clothes a Whole New Meaning

Jan 25, 2012 | By Lindsay

No matter what kind of dirt or stain winds up on your clothes, it’s no match for Ecover’s Liquid Laundry Wash. Whether you’re washing a big load or small, colors or whites; our powerful cleaning action, plant-based and mineral ingredients, make Ecover Laundry Liquid ideal. Your clothes will come out so fresh and so clean, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make the switch sooner!

It’s because we utilize  pioneering ingredients which give the words “clean clothes” a whole new look! Our Liquid Laundry Wash does the dirty work by removing the tough stains, but it’s safe and gentle on your family’s skin because of those natural, plant-based and mineral ingredients. It tackles stains and keeps colors bright – without the unnecessary optical brighteners or phosphates, glycerin or borax. So you get an affordable product that doesn’t harm your family’s wellness!

For optimal results, be sure to wash at a temperature of 140 (F) or lower. Of course Ecover’s Liquid Wash is completely biodegradable, minimizing negative effects on aquatic life!  Our low-sudsing, High Efficiency (HE) formulation has always been suitable for HE machines and isalso totally biodegradable which means It is compatible with top and front loading machines.

And our Liquid Wash has a light, fresh scent that is heavenly! With so many laundry products on the market with harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances, it’s great to know that there’s a better and safer option out there that leaves your precious clothes looking and smelling great. Ecover’s Liquid Wash provides peace of mind knowing that its pleasant aroma is natural.

So whether you use a front-loader or you prefer to wash by hand, you can trust that our powerful Liquid Laundry Wash. We’re confident its power and pleasant scent will leave you hooked!

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Ecover Looks At Halle Berry Beautiful Inside And Out

Jan 23, 2012 | By Deb

Halle Berry may be best known as a talented actress and a red carpet showstopper, but Ecover also knows that she’s stunning and special on the inside as well as she is committed to sustainable living and supporting a number of charitable and environmental efforts!

When she gave birth to her daughter Nahla, Halle decided to use organic fabrics, cloth diapers and other ecological products that are safe both for her baby and for the environment. She said, “I’m working on the nursery, but it’s all going to be organic and eco-friendly. There are so many things out now…I’m going to really try hard to make it all organic!”

In 2006 Halle and other celebs including Pierce Brosnan and Cindy Crawford gathered on a beach in Malibu to protest a proposed natural gas facility, arguing that the terminals don’t meet clean air requirements.

In addition, she supports the Shaster Foundation’s Indlovu Project in Africa. The Shaster Foundation supports the Monwabisi Park community, helping build an eco-friendly clinic, youth center and soup kitchen. Eco tourists who stay in a dorm or guesthouse can volunteer with the Indlovu Project during their stay, and funds from those accommodations support the community project. When Berry visited in 2010 she was “so impressed with all the work that’s being done here. It makes my heart feel good. There’s sadness too…but I’m also inspired because I see that people care, and I think that’s what makes a difference in the world – that people really care and show up.”

It’s wonderful to see this actress use her talents and financial standing to help make the world a little better. Just gives us another reason to smile when we see her in the movies or gracing the cover of another magazine!  

Photo: Halle Berry visits the Shaster Foundation’s Indlovu Project, a squatter community turned Eco-village.

Image via ShaneshirleySmith.blogspot.com

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Ecover Watching Growth In Sustainable Construction Practices In Business And At Home

Jan 20, 2012 | By Ski

A large part of being a manufacturer of products designed to make your home spotless (and your life easier) is assessing our own operations – evaluating the impact of our production facilities as well as the strength of our cleaners.  Our factory is a model of efficiency and efficacy, and we use our Diamond Model or Sustainable Cycle to analyze the lifecycle of our products. Ecover takes care of business so that you don’t need to worry about anything but a sparkling clean house for you and your family!  Such comprehensive building, manufacturing and waste guidelines drive our business, and you can rest assured you have some of the best cleaning agents on earth.

We wish that our business model was followed in every industry. Today we’re looking at the case in the construction industry, where fluid economics and demanding schedules can conspire to make building a haphazard process. Commercial building projects can chew through raw materials, consume great amounts of our resources and waste energy and send a seemingly endless parade of waste to landfills.

Fortunately it appears that there’s growth in some ecologically-sound building practices, thanks to the efforts of environmentally savvy (and LEED certified) architects and trade groups. Along with government incentives and education, developers now get greater input relating to the use of sustainable materials and practices.

 LEED Gold certification is a goal for projects seeking sustainable building.

In addition, it’s consumers at home that may be fostering more change than trade groups or government regulations – because of the growth of home projects among DIY’rs.  Popular media outlets like HGTV and Planet Green, and other educational information  provides a wealth of integrated solutions for efficient remodeling in your home.  Big-box retailers like Home Depot and Lowes also help ecologically friendly remodeling and insulation construction more accessible to DIY.

Perhaps this consumer driven effort at home will provide a “trickle-up” effect, with commercial construction following the buzz to less wasteful building practices, and more earth-friendly standards.

Image via Wikimedia Commons: excess or damaged building materials often go straight to landfills.

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Selected Ecover Products Tested And Approved For Sensitive Skin!

Jan 18, 2012 | By Maureen

The cleaning aisle is a minefield of potential irritants when you have sensitive skin. So many laundry and dishwashing products contain chemical fragrances and dyes that us sensitive types need to avoid! Ecover knows many of you trust our plant and mineral based products to be gentle on you and your family. But hey, there’s no need to just take our word for it – we put a whole range of Ecover products to the test – and an external team of dermatologists found them suitable for sensitive skin!

The following products were tested and passed with flying colors:

• Dishwashing Liquids
• Laundry Liquid
• Laundry Powder Zero
• Bleach Powder
• Fabric Softeners
• Delicate Wash

In conducting the tests, specially trained dermatologists recruited 22 men and women with sensitive skin, who then used Ecover products in their everyday lives for three weeks while washing dishes and doing laundry. During this testing, dermatologists closely oversaw the participant’s reactions, thoroughly monitoring their skin for any development of abnormalities. The men and women were also asked to score the products on several criteria, such as skin irritation, redness, and itching. All the Ecover tested products were found to be “gentle to the skin.” Yesss!

We are proud of these results of course, and we want everyone to be confident with our products and their skin sensitivity. So we took a look at the many confusing logos pertaining to sensitivity currently on the market, and decided to develop one that had a clear and direct message – simply: dermatologists found our products suitable for sensitive skin, nothing less. So look for the new “Dermatologically Tested For Sensitive Skin” logo on the Ecover website. Rest assured that Ecover will always be tough on dirt, but always kind to your skin … naturally!

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Ecover Shares The Story Of “The Moneyless Man” And His Dedication To Getting Closer To Nature!

Jan 16, 2012 | By Lindsay

Mark Boyle, an economics grad and former businessman, gives the adage “less is more” a whole new meaning! Inspired by Gandhi’s call to be the change you want to see in the world, and being disillusioned by society’s emphasis on materialism and consumerism, Mark set out with empty pockets and resourceful ambitions to become “The Moneyless Man.”

He sold his houseboat to live closer to nature without a penny to his name. He found a place to live where he could barter labor for accommodations; he set up a “rocket stove” made from two old catering tins, feeding it with old wooden boxes. Then Mark made his own solar shower – a black plastic bag suspended from a tree and warmed by the sun — and his meals consisted of produce from his organic farm and wild food he foraged. Mark even created his own compost toilet!

Money, in Mark’s opinion, is the proverbial root of all evil. “The degrees of separation between the consumer and the consumed have increased so much that people are completely unaware of the levels of destruction…in the production of the food and “stuff” we buy. The tool that has enabled this disconnection is money,” Mark maintains. Mark’s lifestyle allows the opportunity to reconnect with “life,” and he discovered that not only could he eliminate bills and burdensome accoutrements of modern day living, but that he was healthier, happier and more productive without money.

In his book “The Moneyless Man,” Mark shares his journey, useful tips, and relays the philosophical lessons he learned. Profits from the book are invested in buying land to create a “Freeconomy community,” where people can experiment living close to the Earth and far from finances. At Ecover we admire Mark’s simple and sustainable philosophy on life…we think he’s onto something!

Image via Wikipedia

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Ecover Fabric Softener Helps Laundry Day Loads Smell Sweeter

Jan 13, 2012 | By Maureen

When it comes to laundry, we all want clean, luxuriously soft and static-free clothes – and a flower-fresh fragrance that won’t overpower. Ecover is all that and more, making laundry day less of a chore in your busy week. The surfactants in our Sunny Day and Morning Fresh fabric softeners have been chosen carefully for their ecological qualities; they get the job done by actually making the textile softer, which reduces drying time – and even makes your clothes easier to iron! They’re suitable for septic tanks, are never tested on animals and have been tested and noted to be safe for sensitive skin .

Many conventional brands in contrast rely on chemicals derived from animal fat that are highly toxic to aquatic life.  You don’t need that! All of Ecover’s products have a minimal impact on aquatic life and of course are quickly biodegradable.

To ensure you get the same great results with every load, our technical specialists at Ecover remind you that because Ecover’s fabric softeners contain only carefully chosen plant-based and mineral ingredients, you should not store it at extreme hot or cold temperatures.

And the quality of Ecover’s Fabric Softeners extends to our PlantPlastic packaging as well! Our 100%PlantPlastic packaging is 100% renewable, reusable and recyclable. And it’s made from sugarcane! It’s ecology and innovation meeting science, and laundry day never smelled so sweet!

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Ecover Says ‘Happy New Year’ with a Sweepstakes Featuring Sheets from The Clean Bedroom!

Jan 11, 2012 | By Maureen

Ecover is celebrating a sustainable new year with a fantastic new sweepstakes! We’re thrilled to feature our friends at The Clean Bedroom, who produce the finest organic mattresses and bedding, and have store locations all across the country. You have until January 16th to enter to win one set of 220-thread count organic cotton percale sheets by Coyuchi, which uses only handpicked certified organically grown cotton, without harmful chemicals, dyes or fabric finishes. Now these are the kind of sheets we like to slip between!

And we love the fact that The Clean Bedroom carries such a wide assortment of hard-to-find organic products, including those for the bath and baby nursery. Also among the offerings are air purification systems and even a line of organic pet beds! Hey, our beloved pets deserve a sustainable place to lay their heads, too!  The one lucky sweepstakes winner gets to choose one of the following:

1 Coyuchi Organic Cotton Percale Sheet Set, Queen: 60 in. × 80 in. × 15 in. (1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet and 2 queen pillowcases); color options: ivory or white.
Total value: $232

OR:

1 Coyuchi Organic Cotton Percale Sheet Set, King: 78 in. × 80 in. × 15 in. (1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet and 2 king pillowcases); color options: ivory or white.
Total value: $264

To enter, “like” us on Facebook, then click on the sweepstakes tab to the left under our profile picture and follow the instructions. The sweepstakes ends at midnight, January 16th. The winner will be selected at random on January 17^th! Good luck … and as The Clean Bedroom says, “You deserve a healthier night’s sleep!”

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Ecover Meets a Mom Who Knows that Veggies & Kids Belong Together!

Jan 09, 2012 | By Deb

Getting kids to make healthy food choices is not always easy, but it can be accomplished by taking small steps in the right direction.  Sarah Creighton, who writes the Veggie Kids blog, is a mother of three (ages 2, 5 and 7) whose passion is “coming up with plant-based recipes that my kids (and husband) will eat!”

A vegan who eats “lots of raw fruits and vegetables,” Sarah believes that modeling healthy eating for your kids is the number one thing parents can do to encourage healthy food choices. “There are numerous studies and articles written about the amazing effect a parent has when they choose to grab a handful of raw veggies versus a handful of chips,” she told Ecover recently. “Our children watch us more intently than we think. It’s important to strive to become better role models in the eating habits and health of our kids. Getting the entire family involved in a healthier lifestyle is even more beneficial.”

So Sarah recommends teaching children where their food comes from: plant a garden, start composting and buy locally. “I know with my own kids, they are always amazed when they plant a tiny seed and out grows a tall plant bearing food that they can pick and eat!”

Other ways to encourage healthier eating? Sarah suggests cooking meals together and making fun and appetizing foods like these Crispy Veggie Curls! It’s all about taking small steps, she says. “If parents can get their kids to replace one piece of junk food with one piece of raw fruit or veggie, that’s a step in the right direction!”

Sarah was inspired to start blogging on this topic when she had her first child. He loved his veggies, and broccoli in particular. So she wrote a book called The Boy Who Loved Broccoli, which was just published. Bottom line, says Sarah, “instilling good habits in our kids when they’re young will not only give them a better start on life but they will become healthier adults.” Ecover couldn’t agree more!

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Ecover Tantalizes the Palate with a Sustainable Delight from the City of Angels

Jan 06, 2012 | By Heather

Amidst a panorama of palm trees, ocean, skyscrapers and chic shops, Ecover  is thrilled to report that the sustainable food revolution is alive and well in Los Angeles! One of the “green culinary revolutionaries” is none other than Chef Victor Casanova of Culina Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

The Culina was designed and built with materials such as reclaimed wood, and nature is the driving decorative element throughout the space…and the food is, well, simply sustainable! Here’s a great and tasty example for you to try out yourself –

Panzanella Salad

Ingredients:

Rustic country loaf, exterior removed then cut into 1/2 inch dice
3 heirloom tomatoes cut into ½ inch dice
2 cups fresh ripe watermelon, cut into ½ inch dice
½ red onion, julienne
½ bunch basil, torn into ½ inch pieces
½ cucumber, cut into ½ inch half-moons
4 oz. ricotta salata, coarsely grated
4 vine-ripened tomatoes, passed through a food mill
4 oz. DaVero Champagne Vinegar (can substitute)
3 oz. DaVero Extra Virgin Olive Oil “Dry Creek Estate” (can substitute)
Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

1.  Toast bread in preheated oven at 375°F, until well-colored but not brown.
2.  Reserve bread.
3.  Take the 4 vine-ripened tomatoes and pass through a food mill, then combine in mixing bowl with vinegar & oil.
4.  Season to taste with salt & pepper.
5.  Reserve vinaigrette.
6.  In a large salad bowl, combine all ingredients;  toss well.
7.  Season to taste.
8.  Divide into 4 small salad bowls.

Yield: Serves 4

Note:  Pair that with passion fruit-infused iced tea or 100% organic Arabica coffee and dark chocolate truffles! 

Photos via Travel.nationalgeographic.com (courtesy of Catherine Karnow) and Yourdailythread.com (courtesy of Culina Restaurant)

Recipe via Culina Restaurant (courtesy of Chef Victor Casanova)

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