The EcoLogo and TerraChoice team are supporting Green Cleaning in Chicago this week at ISSA (International Sanitation Supply Association), North America’s largest janitorial and cleaning tradeshow.  Along with more than 20 clients with EcoLogo certified products, our team will be demonstrating the benefits of green cleaning and third-party certification to visitors from all across North America. read more

As more and more swimmers and bathers are spending time in the millions of pools and spas found across North America, necessary attention is being paid to the chemical products used to treat these waters.

The EcoLogo Program is in the process of inviting individuals to participate in the development of a new environmental leadership standard for Pool and Spa Chemical Products by reviewing its preliminary research. read more

The latest standard under review by the EcoLogo Program has everything to do with cleaning products used regularly in homes, buildings, schools and hospitals. As these products can have an impact on human health, green cleaning is even better than traditional methods as it can lead to healthier indoor air quality. With the rise of infectious diseases and the attention sanitation is receiving, cleaning products are an essential part of the solution. Given these concerns, the EcoLogo Program is pleased to announce the review of its environmental standard for hard surface cleaners. read more

The issue of hand sanitation has been all over the news lately and is not only important to practice in hospitals and restaurants, but in schools, office buildings and public places. As news of the H1N1 Flu pandemic spreads, so does the important message about keeping hands clean. read more

Since the launch of the Seven Sins of Greenwashing report, TerraChoice has received many questions about what consumers can do to avoid being greenwashed.

Even though governments in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia discourage greenwashing, these efforts are clearly not enough.

If the good intentions of consumers and the environmental benefits of their choices are to be leveraged, consumers themselves must play a role.

Here are four ways consumers can make a real impact on greenwashing: read more

Last week, TerraChoice Environmental Marketing launched its 2009 Seven Sins of Greenwashing report, revealing that more products on store shelves are claiming to be green. However, don’t let those shampoo bottles and baby wipes fool you. Many of those ‘all-natural’ and ‘organic’ products are likely committing at least one of the Seven Sins (see below).

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As institutions that deal with infectious diseases, hospitals and food service establishments rely on hand sanitizers to disinfect hands without the use of water. The EcoLogo Program is initiating the development of a new environmental standard for hand sanitizers and is looking for stakeholder participation. read more

“Change your environmentality” is the tagline on Cascades Simplegreenaction.ca website. Here, visitors can find eco-tips, an eco blog and tests that score a person’s “environmentality.” This site, which has been up and running for more than a year and a half, remains fresh with helpful environmental tips and topics for the everyday consumer. read more

A recent announcement by Samsung Electronics Canada is making the laundry room green (not your clothing, or course).

Samsung is giving away a year supply of environmentally preferable ATTITUDE fabric detergent with the purchase of a 27” Samsung washer and dryer.

Both Samsung and ATTITUDE are making large strides when it comes to the environment. Samsung has a full line of laundry products that are energy efficient and carry the Energy Star rating and ATTITUDE household products are the largest line of home cleaners in the world that are EcoLogo-certified. read more

North America’s largest cleaning show, ISSA, took place in Las Vegas, NV, last week and the attention “green” cleaning received was incredible.

Eco-labels were out in force at the Las Vegas Convention Center and exhibitors included Green Seal, Design for the Environment (DfE), Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA) and our very own EcoLogo.

Scot Case, Vice President of TerraChoice, was a speaker at the show and his presentation on how to sell “green” cleaning without greenwashing really hit the mark. A look around the tradeshow floor revealed many companies making green claims without any supporting evidence.

Attendees at ISSA also got a sneak-peek at the August 2008 EcoMarkets Janitorial & Sanitation Products Study, which is full of highly relevant findings to assist manufacturers, suppliers and marketers of “green” cleaning products to properly position their products in the marketplace to win customers and increase market share.

For more about the EcoMarkets Janitorial & Sanitation Products Study, contact ecomarkets@terrachoice.com.