Sierra Club Endorses Clorox- Not an April Fools Joke People

Most would not associate the terms ‘Clorox’ and ‘environmentally friendly’ on a daily basis. In fact, if two terms were ever polar opposites, they would be prime candidates. However, in an attempt to catch on to the “green movment,” Clorox has recently started marketing their new line of “environmentally friendly” cleaning products, called Clorox Green Works.

Consumers really shouldn’t be surprised, as the environmental movement continues to grow in strength and numbers, corporations can’t help but want to go where the consumers are. However, with Clorox’s past record of using anything and everything harmful to scour the kitchen counters of the planet, there are obviously some problems with their new “green stance.”

So what makes Green Works green? According to Clorox, 99% of the ingredients used in the cleaning products are natural. Yes, yes, that is all well and good, but what about that other 1%?

According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, that 1% of unnatural ingredients are derived from petrochemicals. Namely, the preservative Kathon, and the Milliken Liquitint Blue HP dye and Bright Yellow dye X. The dyes give several of the products a light green color. Because apparently the solution needs to be green in color as well as in name. Clorox claims that the preservative, Kathon, will biodegrade within 28 days. According to the MSDS for Kathon, the substance by itself carries the following risks: “irritating to skin, risk of serious damage to eyes, may cause sensitization by skin contact, harmful to aquatic organisms, may cause long term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.”

Clorox also claims that their new Green Works products will not be tested on animals. Yes BUT all of their conventional products, which still make up a great majority of what they produce, continue to be tested on animals. Apparently this does not seem hypocritical to Clorox.

What is particularly baffling is that the major “clout” behind the new Green Works products is an on-product stamp of approval from none other than the nation’s oldest grassroots organization, The Sierra Club. Indeed, the Sierra Club is hard pressed to turn down whatever massive sum of money (they would not disclose) Clorox gave them, but isn’t doing what is right over what is most financially sound what the grassroots is all about?

Therefore, while we applaud Clorox for starting to move in the right direction environmentally, there are some very big potholes on their way toward greening that they need to fill.

In the meantime, we suggest Seventh Generation brand of cleaning supplies, made with water, natural plant oils, hydrogen peroxide (you can swallow the stuff and still be fine) and NEVER tested on animals. They can be found online or at your local whole foods co-op, grocery store, and even at Walgreen’s.