Household Hazards Report points the finger at dirty ingredients

I read a recent article  in the San Francisco Chronicle citing a report put out by the Montana-based NGO Women’s Voices for the Earth. The Household Hazards report released July 24th described five hazardous ingredients typically found in common cleaning products (naturally, not method!) and their potential negative effects on people and the environment. It did a great job of talking about why to avoid conventional cleaning products.  

method applauds the group for this report, and is happy to see that it has resonated well both with consumers and in the media (eg. San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, Seattle Post Intelligencer, etc). More people questioning the paradox of why to they use hazardous chemicals to make their homes cleaner can only bring good.

The report identified MEA, alkylphenol ethoxylates, phthalates, the glycol ethers EGBE and DEGME, and quaternary amine disinfectants as hazardous chemicals linked to the development of asthma and reproductive defects in the people that use them and their families. Naturally, method uses none of these compounds in its products.

Great to see people looking to make better choices about the way they clean their homes.

>> read the full report

Comments

[Theresa]

So, what's in Method?

[Kiara]

Hi Method! I love your products. The Chronicle made me realize that I need to look into the ingredients in all the products I use.

What exactly are your ingredients? Your all purpose spray lists

biodegradable surfactant
corn and coconut derived surfactants

Why not give us the specific chemical you use in your products? I'm guessing you are using ethanol (a quick google showed me that it's highly flammable and may cause liver, kidney and heart damage) and cocamidopropyl betaine (google shows it is considered a moderate hazard with aquatic toxicity). Aren't there safer ingredients that you can use that aren't flammable, won't target your organs or hurt the fish in our oceans?

By the way, the chronicle listed all the companies that did respond to the Women's voices for the environment survey - and you weren't one of them. Why not?

Thanks! =)

[caroline]

I also was wanting to know what ingredients are in your air fresheners. I corresponded a few times and did not get anywhere other than to be told you would be providing this info on your website within a month (which has not happened). I think if you are claiming to offer such non-toxic products you have an obligation to back this up with facts. When I contacted another company about the ingredients in their air freshener at least they told me. In fact, I thought this was required.

[mike uher]

please advise what ingred is in your air freshners,ex, pill, its very important to us as we bought it thinking your products are natural . and much debate lately on the hazards of some products.

[Brodie]

I think people should be careful Googling any ingredients because chemistry is a tricky subject. Ethanol is definitely flammable and toxic if ingested. Just like strong proof liquor. But the amounts required to be harmful in the human body are pretty high. And in fact the human body can catalyse oxidation of ethanol on it's own. If Method in fact chose ethanol it's because it's a good solvent for picking up dirt and grime. Much better than harmless stuff like water. What's most interesting to note is that once oxidized ethanol turns unto Acetaldehyde which is naturally occurring in many foods like ripe fruits and coffee. Further oxidization, which occurs when you spray it on a surface, turns ethanol into acetic acid or what we know better as Vinegar.

Responsible chemistry is about pros and cons. And ethanol is one of the better choices as a solvent as it's both plant derived, safe as part of a solution and degrades into things that are totally harmless.

If you're uncomfortable with that I'd suggest sticking to vinegar, water, baking soda and a lot of elbow grease. But as somebody with only a passing understanding of chemistry I think Method has done their homework and made stuff that's responsible and capable and a convenience.