Archive for the ‘Science Anyone?’ Category

• Prestigious Science Publication Recognizes Ecover’s Phosphate-Free Success!

  Date: 2011.02.16 | Category: Ecover Products, Green Media, News & Politics, Science Anyone? | Response: 3

  

  We’ve gathered, from over thirty years of Ecover customer feedback, that our customers love the way our ecological products work! Most of the feedback, however positive, is not overly fascinated by all the science behind our products; it’s more about efficiency and quality that fits….but that being said, we’d like to share a scientific article about Ecover in the latest issue of Chemical and Engineering News, a publication serving the chemical, life sciences and laboratory worlds.

  The article, “Green Cleaning: Ecover Succeeds Without Phosphates—or Petrochemicals,” addresses something we have often talked about: Ecover has been producing effective cleaning products without phosphates all along. Here’s an excerpt:

  While consumer product giants Procter & Gamble and Reckitt Benckiser were hustling to remove phosphates from their automatic dishwasher (ADW) detergent formulas last year, Ecover was taking it easy. That’s  because Ecover, a Belgian purveyor of “ecological” cleaning products, had never used phosphates in its detergents.

  For Ecover, the years of know-how paid off during Consumer Reports’ recent test of phosphate-free ADW detergents. Ecover’s tablets came in sixth of 24…[this] accomplishment is particularly notable because, unlike the big-name competition, Eco ver’s dishwasher products are made almost entirely from natural or mineral-based ingredients.

  We’re happy that C&EN took the time to learn about Ecover’s history, and to speak with Dirk Develter, our Research and Development Manager. Develter shared the processes and ingredients behind Ecover’s innovative, ecological and biodegradable detergents … as well as plans for future improvements.

  And we’re thrilled that our phosphate-free dishwashing detergents work really well and that the science community is spreading the word! So, whether you prefer our tablets or powder, love the science or the scent, you can rest assured that you will have a dishwasher full of sparkling clean dishes … without harmful phosphates!

• Ecover Helps Build an Organically Frugal World

  Date: 2010.11.09 | Category: Ecover Products, Science Anyone? | Response: 2

  Many people have asked us why our products are not 100% organic, because they associate “organic” with “natural” or “green.”  We’d like to explain why that’s not always the most ecologically sound policy.

  When other companies use organic ingredients in their products, those ingredients tend to come from gardens that grow organic food sources.  As such, it means edible supplies are instead being used for chemical or cosmetic purposes.  We don’t see that as the best use of food products; do you?

  Ecover has a strict stance on sustainability – including how we source our plant-based and mineral ingredients in our products. We do not believe in taking from our food supplies, therefore we use materials that are no longer fit for human consumption – including organic ones when available.   At this time, there are not enough of these waste materials in organic form to use them exclusively.  We do use them whenever possible but in this way, our ingredient choices don’t adversely affect the food supply chain.

  

  Photo via news.medill.northwestern.edu

  by Dori Boneck

  In 1998, the United Nations examined the environmental costs of overconsumption of natural resources.  The report Consumption for Human Development concluded in part that “ever-expanding consumption puts strains on the environment…that pollute the earth and destroy ecosystems.”

  Or, put another way:

  Some apples in the market look nice, have a nice texture, and sell in the produce aisle.

  Some apples are a little beat up, bruised, maybe brown. These can still make apple sauce and apple juice.

  Then there are the apples that are not fit for consumption at any level. These would be the apples Ecover would use.

  We believe that an “organic mindset” involves all aspects of our choices, rather than just the source of our materials. Hopefully, there will someday be enough organic plant waste to enable the manufacture of fully organic cleaning products without disrupting our own food supplies.  Until then, we prefer to keep organically grown food in its rightful place on the food chain.

• Is it Time to Update Your Energy Conservation Thinking?

  Date: 2010.10.19 | Category: Science Anyone? | Response: 0

  Image Via Wikimedia Commons

  At Ecover, much of our energy (besides making the finest line of ecological cleaners for the planet!) goes into research and education for environmentally responsible practices. Yet despite an increase in public awareness, education hasn’t yet overtaken many old notions of energy consumption.  In a new study recently reported in The Infrastructurist (performed nationally by Columbia, Ohio State and Carnegie Mellon Universities) it was found that Americans save energy much like we save money: “cut back and hope for the best.”

  Image via Paul Cross/Orange Steeler

  For many energy savings seems simple enough: almost 20% of study participants felt that shutting off lights was the most effective means of saving energy. The study’s authors say this path of least resistance doesn’t make the impact that people think – at least when compared to a more precise plan of energy investment. For example, that 20% turning off lights doesn’t have nearly the impact of simply using compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s) in their home; yet surprisingly, only 3.6% of participants correctly identified the need for CFL’s for energy conservation.

  Image via Wikimedia Commons

  However, where this study finds deficiencies in general awareness; Ecover sees opportunity for learning.

  Investment and the use of renewable resources provide a sustainable return; it’s like tuning up your car regularly for better performance; replacing old appliances with Energy Star rated machines; considering the packaging impact of purchases, or even taking ecologically sound vacations!  And of course, our responsible and highly effective cleaning solutions are an excellent answer, providing proof that innovation and efficacy will out.

  

  Some appliances have a 10-fold advantage in energy use.
  Image Via Energy Star

  We can all learn more and take more action. It’s a lesson we take to heart at Ecover as we work to bring better science to our manufacturing, as well as packaging and distribution. Our ecologically responsive choices continue to build a more sustainable future that will serve us all.

• Yes! With Ecover You Can Have Sparkling Clean Dishes And a Clean Environment!

  Date: 2010.10.05 | Category: Ecover Products, News & Politics, Science Anyone? | Response: 2

  Photo via Flickr.com

  We read with interest in a recent New York Times article about the poor perception of the science behind the cleaning power of phosphate free detergents, providing us with a little good news and a little bad news. We were happy to read about the conventional detergent-makers response to new laws requiring reduction of phosphates in their dish machine products to just a trace amount; great news for the health of many lakes and reservoirs in those 17 states, where the regulations went into effect this last summer.

  Unfortunately, the article also leaves an impression from a lot of people that without phosphates, cleaning products cannot do their job adequately.  This is simply not the case. At Ecover, we know that phosphates are not necessary to turn dirty dishes sparkling clean. In fact, our Dishwasher Tablets and Automatic Dishwashing Powder, both 100% phosphate-free, have been proven to degrease, cleanse and even remove dried-on food and tough stains. What’s more – as we blogged back in July – a recent Consumer Reports on “Best Performing Green Products,” rated Ecover’s dishwashing tablets as “Excellent” for both food removal and grease cutting.

  We have shared a survey on our blog showing that over half of U.S. consumers don’t think “green” cleaners work well (and articles like this one in the Times certainly don’t help with that impression). But we also know that people who have tried Ecover products have found that they are effective, and our devoted customers would say that people simply need to try Ecover.

  So the word will continue to be spread, to help convince American consumers that phosphate-free equals spot-free for your dishes and glasses. It is possible to have cleaning efficacy while also respecting our environment … and that is exactly what Ecover is all about.

• Ecover To Pioneer The Use Of Sugar Cane Based Materials To Create More Sustainable Packaging!

  Date: 2010.08.24 | Category: Ecover Products, News & Politics, Science Anyone? | Response: 6

  

  Sugarcane Image via wikipedia/commons

  In the area of sustainability and environmental ethics, Ecover has long been an industry leader. Now Ecover continues to pioneer as it becomes one of a very few companies to use a sugar cane based form of polyethylene (PE) in its packaging. Starting next year Ecover will use this new form of high‐density polyethylene as packaging for its liquid products—and this new PE is based on completely renewable raw materials!

  The material comes from Brazilian plastics manufacturer Braskem, the first company in the world to produce certified “green” polyethylene. Using sugar cane as a bio resource helps Ecover to minimize its ecological impact even further, as PE based on sugar cane is believed to emit at least 75 percent less greenhouse gases during its life span than traditionally produced PE.

  Ecover will be the first brand of cleaning products to use this material on a large scale. (As of January 2011 all Ecover bottles will contain a minimum of 30 percent sugar cane based PE.)

  “We are investing more and more in product and process developments, where we assess every aspect of our business to see where we can implement a positive change,” says Tom Domen, Marketing Manager at Ecover. “Our packaging is an obvious part of this. The venture with Braskem will have a considerable positive impact on our CO2 emissions. We look forward to launching the new packaging on the market next year.”

  What can we say but “sweet!”

• Ecover: 30 Years in the Phosphates-Free Frame Of Mind

  Date: 2010.07.27 | Category: Ecover Products, History Channel, Science Anyone? | Response: 5

  Pond Choked with Algae

  Image via Wikimedia Commons

  Phosphates are a prime pollutant of streams and lakes, even damaging The Historic Chesapeake Bay. Although phosphorus is an important nutrient found in nature, excessive phosphates in bodies of water spur the growth of algae and aquatic weeds. When algae decompose, toxins are released, using up oxygen available for aquatic life and destroying the health of those lakes and streams. Consumers primarily know phosphates as a traditional ingredient in detergents.

  Ecover has known for years that waste from detergents with phosphates turn beautiful clear lakes and rivers green and cloudy making them unfit for swimming and making drinking water more expensive to filter. Excess algal also leads to devastation called Eutrophication, where dead organic matter eventually turns vital water-ways to dry land.

  Lake with Excessive Algae Growth

  Image via treehugger.com

  In 2004 legislation was passed in Great Britain to prevent the use of more that 0.5% phosphates in laundry powder; in the USA sixteen states have mandatory regulations regarding phosphates in dishwasher detergents, but both laws are short of an outright phosphates ban, and Ecover knows it’s not good enough. So we continue to lead the way with our range of washing powders, liquid soaps and cleaners––all phosphate-free (as well as chlorine-free).

  Of course, elimination of phosphates is only one aspect of Ecover’s mission. Low aquatic toxicity is important, but our products must also compete with the leading brands in terms of effectiveness. We navigate many environmental, social and scientific considerations: selecting the best raw materials to facilities and production excellence and distribution standards––right to the end job, where Ecover products completely degrade.

  As one of the world’s best known brands for ecological cleaning products, our strict criteria provides a powerful model as we balance responsibility with efficacy.  And no phosphates. It’s how we do business.

• Ecover Goes the Distance On Biodegradability

  Date: 2010.06.22 | Category: Ecover Products, Science Anyone? | Response: 2

  Photo via (Epa.gov)

  Pollution. It’s the anathema of our planet, tainting the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land which bears our crops. At Ecover, we are constantly striving to find ways to help eliminate pollution. Quick and complete biodegradation is a critical process by which this can be accomplished.

  According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) products are legitimately biodegradable if they contain materials which “break down and decompose into elements found in nature within a reasonably short amount of time when… exposed to air, moisture and bacteria or other organisms.” But the FTC also acknowledges that even biodegradable products may not biodegrade easily when restricted from air, sunlight and moisture; for example when buried under a landfill.

  Current European legislation on detergents mandates that 60% of the surfactants found in cleansers be completely decomposed within twenty eight days – after which the remaining water, CO2 and minerals go back into the ecosystem.  These biodegradability requirements refer to the surfactants (only a portion of the total detergent ) and then only when the product is exposed to oxygen. Essentially this means that when determining whether products meet the legal biodegradability requirements, only the surface-active ingredients are being tested.

  Ecover takes biodegradability compliance to new levels. By using only raw materials that are also degradable in oxygen-poor conditions, we ensure that the entire product is fully degradable, with nothing remaining except for minerals. Conducting rigorous testing in our extraordinary laboratory, we make certain that our products contain ingredients which decompose under both oxygen-rich (aerobic) and oxygen-poor (anaerobic) conditions.

  Ecover’s core DNA of Ecology drives us to these developments in the laboratory, and underlines our commitment to the environment, a commitment that is unwavering. We continually strive to make our products more effective and respectful to our planet. It’s the Ecover way.

• Smarter Science At Ecover Produces World’s First Eco-Surfactants Used in Washing & Cleaning Products

  Date: 2010.06.08 | Category: Ecover Products, Science Anyone? | Response: 1

  Yeast Photo via (Theecologist.org)

  At Ecover, we develop cutting edge ecological cleaning solutions.  Our ongoing effort to improve the quality of our sustainable ingredients and manufacturing processes has developed the world’s first Eco-Surfactant used in washing and cleaning products.

  Surfactants are the surface-active ingredient found in most household cleaners. Typically, they are produced through a petrochemical process, through a high-energy, high-pressure process that is, unfortunately, toxic to the environment.

  However, sustainable cleaning products contain surfactants produced from plant-based alternatives. Plant-based surfactants are biodegradable and rely wholly on renewable resources, rather than fossil resources.  Sounds like an ideal solution, right?  Well… almost.

  The problem is, plant-based surfactants use the same energy-intensive process as the petrochemical-based surfactants.  We needed to improve on that aspect, too.

  So, after seven years and over 50,000 hours of research, our scientists invented a new biological, energy-efficient process derived from yeast that could take the place of petrochemical and plant-based surfactants.   This is not just any yeast, but the kind that was discovered in bees’ nests. This particular variety is uniquely capable of combining water-soluble sugar (glucose) and non-soluble fatty acid (oil) to produce a completely natural emulsifier – an Eco-surfactant!

  Once we understood how to create the Eco-Surfactants, our next challenge was to produce the Eco-Surfactants on a scale large enough to match our rapidly growing production needs.

  We’re happy to say that we did it, and we’ve now launched a new generation of ecological hard-surface cleaning products. No other cleaning product can claim to use the truly ecological surfactants that Ecover does.  But note that our scientists won’t stop here. Their understanding of the potential of Eco-Surfactants is steadily growing as they further explore its solubility, foaming power and stability so that the Eco-Surfactants may be applied to many other Ecover products in the future.

  Smarter Science at Ecover has allowed us to build ecological cleaning solutions that in turn help everyone build a sustainable future.   Please join us on our journey as we continue to further our commitment to creating economical, ecological and social change within our society for everyone, now and for future generations!

• Earth Day’s 40th and Ecover’s 30th Celebrations: Driving Sustainability and Ecological Efficacy

  Date: 2010.04.20 | Category: Ecover Products, News & Politics, Science Anyone? | Response: 1

  

  Image Courtesy of NASA

  In April the world celebrates its 40th Earth Day, a worldwide celebration of our resolute planet! The first Earth Day in 1970 found a broad spectrum of support from citizens and political leaders—eventually leading to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the passage of the Clean Air, Water, and Endangered Species acts. Earth Day 2010 events across the globe continue to celebrate our planet and encourage ecological behavior.

  Ecover was founded in 1980 in Belgium, where we began our environmental journey with a phosphate-free washing powder (before phosphates were identified as a problem). For thirty years now, Ecover has honored Earth Day every day, by combining the best in cleaning products with an environmental policy that focuses on keeping our planet healthy. And we continue to improve our efficacy!  For instance, in 2008, we reduced the weight of each Ecover spray bottle by 3 grams each: a small change to be sure, but this packaging reduction now saves 4.8 tons of plastic produced a year!

  For Ecover, Earth Day is intertwined with our fundamental ecological principles, extending far beyond our products. Our vision of sustainability takes ecological, economic and social aspects all into account—from the origins of raw materials—to the complete biodegradation of the final products. We see Earth Day as a pivotal opportunity for people all over the planet to make a change—even switching to an ecological cleaning product—that will lead to a cleaner, healthier planet for us all.

  Earth Day is a clarion call to join and support a global green economy, highlighting efforts to respect and preserve our environment, from energy efficiency, recycling, water pollution, to forest preservation. There are many challenges for us to address at home too (why not Pick 5) so every one of us can be part of the solution.

  Ecover—where business practices follow our progressive environmental policy—is proud to be part of the more than one billion people in 190 countries who are taking action for Earth Day!

• Ecover Founder Frans Bogaerts – Envisioning a Phosphate-free Future

  Date: 2010.04.06 | Category: Ecover Products, History Channel, Science Anyone? | Response: 1

  Photo Credit: Jean Guyaux

  “Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species – man – acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world.”

  ~ Rachel Carson

  In Belgium circa 1980, long before words like “sustainability” and “eco-friendly” became part of our daily vocabulary, Frans Bogaerts (pictured above) had a Dream. At the time, fish were dying and rivers were foaming. Frans observed, firsthand, the serious damage that cleaning products were causing the environment. And he imagined a future in which these products no longer contained harmful chemicals. He dreamed of a phosphate-free future.

  Why are phosphates such a big deal? When phosphates are released into our water systems, they cause a growth in algae which, in turn, causes Eutrophication or algal bloom. This blocks oxygen and light from the water, without which aquatic life cannot survive.

  Pond with Algal Bloom

  (Image Courtesy of Wikipedia.com)

  After much trial and error, the tenacious environmentalist successfully created a Washing Powder and Dishwashing agent that was phosphate-free.

  Thirty years later (an anniversary we celebrate with pride!), Ecover is widely known for its superb eco-friendly products, sold worldwide.  And Frans Bogaerts’ Dream?  It’s alive, well and thriving. It’s Ecover.