Detecting Green-washing: top three tips from Koala Eco

Detecting Green-washing: top three tips from Koala Eco

You browse the household cleaning materials section of the supermarket, looking for natural remedies: you want products that don’t contain toxic ingredients and fake fragrance, won’t harm the planet, and won’t make you or your family feel ill. Yet you also want cleaners with powerful antibacterial properties and formulas that clean swiftly and effectively without you having to put in extra work.

You pick up a cleaner that promises to smell ‘naturally’ fresh and lemony while it is blitzing 99% of germs from your kitchen or bathroom surfaces. You pick up another that vows it cleans the ‘natural’ way and contains ‘plant-based’ elements…yet what is this Coco-betaine listed in the ingredients? And is that lemon fragrance really natural?

If you feel confused, you are not alone. There are so many choices in the so-called ‘natural’ categories today, how do you wipe away the green-wash, and avoid bringing potential skin and respiratory irritants into your home?

Hopefully the following three tips from Koala Eco can help:

 

1. Check the ingredients label for these culprits (you won't find them on any Koala Eco product labels by the way):

    • Any petroleum-based ingredients
    • Nitrates, ammonia, chlorine, sulphates
    • Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Ether Sulphate (SLES)
    • Sodium Coco Sulphate (SCS) (a slightly less processed version of SLS)
    • Cocamidopropyl betaine (Coco-betaine) (a foaming agent often used in ‘natural’ products which sounds plant-based but isn’t)
    • Fragrance: anything that has to be added will be synthesised from chemicals
    • Parabens (used as preservatives) 
    • TEA (Triethonalomine) and DEA (Diethonalomine) (surfactants potentially causing skin reactions)
    • Triclosan (originally a hospital-grade antimicrobial, banned in the US but is still legal in Australia) 
    • Phthalates (chemical compounds used to make plastics more durable)

    2. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Products may say they’re biodegradable for example, but do not provide any specific backing for this claim. Koala Eco can, and we don't mind being asked about it.

     

    3. Check any ‘eco-friendly’ certification because some are fake and just created for marketing purposes. Yes, really! Certifications should be issued by independent, third-party organisations whose business it is to ensure companies conform to their standards. For example, Koala Eco products are independently certified as toxic-free by Safe Cosmetics Australia Toxic-Free, independently certified by Safe Cosmetics Australia Made Safe, Australian Allergy Certified and Vegan Australia Certified.

        ← Older Post Newer Post →

        A Koala Eco Clean - tackling the trickiest household appliances

        A Koala Eco Clean - tackling the trickiest household appliances

        We’ve all come to love natural, eco-friendly products for everyday cleaning—benchtops, sinks, shower glass. But when it comes to heavier household tasks, there’s still a...

        Read more
        Pure and essential - what other products miss

        Pure and essential - what other products miss

        Nature’s cleaning and healing superpowers. For many thousands of years, humankind has made both an art and a science out of discovering and working with...

        Read more
        Why clean windows make everything brighter

        Why clean windows make everything brighter

        There’s something quietly transformative about clean windows. It’s not just about appearance—it’s about how a space feels. Let the Light In Clean glass invites more...

        Read more
        Quiet intelligence and emotional texture

        Quiet intelligence and emotional texture

        An Hour in Nature with Danielle McEwan  Danielle McEwan is the founder and artistic director of design studio Tigmi Trading, inspired by a deep appreciation...

        Read more
        How to Feel Better This Summer (Hint: Start With Your Home)

        How to Feel Better This Summer (Hint: Start With Your Home)

        When the light lingers and the days stretch long, our biology responds. We crave ease, openness, and lightness. But we also need grounding, clarity, and...

        Read more
        Nature’s alchemy: What goes into the making of an essential oil?

        Nature’s alchemy: What goes into the making of an essential oil?

        An appreciation of the farms where we source our essential oils  Sunlight. Gentle breezes. Rainwater. A soil that’s rich in nutrients and free from any...

        Read more