Ecover
Ecover Cleaning Range- The company whose ethics are as squeaky clean as their products
The Belgium company Ecover ‘strive to provide effective, sustainable solutions for the hygienic needs of people’. They offer a range of ecological cleaning products, including everything from bathroom cleaners and limescale remover, to washing powders and dishwasher tablets. The company was established back in 1980, when Frans Bogaert, learning that phosphates were having a damaging effect on the environment, aspired to creating a phosphate-free washing powder. He aimed to create a product that was not only good for your home, but the environment too. After much experimentation, Ecover was born.
The products, all of which are based on renewable plant and mineral resources, are gentle on the environment from the beginning of production to the end. The company seeks to use as little packaging as possible during the transportation of their products, and all of the packaging materials are easily recyclable. The products themselves quickly and completely biodegrade, leaving no traces behind them on the environment or your home. All of the products have gained approval by the Vegan society (with the only one exception being the Camomile and Marigold Washing up liquid), and are also suitable for vegetarians. Not only are they phosphate free, but chlorine free too. Their natural qualities make them a popular choice for those who suffer from allergies to other detergents and cleaning agents.
The creation of the products themselves is a green process. The factories operate entirely on green energy, meaning all of the electricity is produced by wind generators, tidal generators and other types of natural sources. No heating or air-conditioning is used in their factories as the company instead opted for an insulated living roof. This ‘green roof’ is green in both senses; upon it grows plants which soak up the sun as well as the rain, and throughout the year this unique insulation system ensures the temperature of the factory never falls below 4c or rises higher than 26c. In addition, the rainwater collected from the roof is used for the bathrooms in the factory. Alike to Joshua’s, the factories rely largely on natural light. Last month a new factory was built in Boulogne-sur-Mer, thereby substantially reducing the miles the products must travel to England. The shorter the distance a product must travel, the less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
Ecover are always seeking to improve their products, and are continuing to make changes to the process of production in order to ensure the highest of ethical standards. Ecover's chief executive, Mick Bremans, remarked: "We ask our consumers to make a conscious choice for a product, rather than just choosing the cheapest, so we have a responsibility to make a conscious choice. That is the backbone, the mission of our company." (The Guardian, Friday November 17, 2006)
Further information on Ecover’s policies can be found on the Ecover website: www.ecover.com/gb/en/
To find the Ecover products stocked here at Joshua’s, please click here