September 13th, 2010
It’s a good sign that I don’t have to go out of my way lately to find more environmentally friendly household products. I don’t deem them all to be perfect or their makers to be eco angels, but it’s encouraging to see more products like these in everyday shopping places.
Here are a few new products I’ve come across recently:
Reynolds 100% Recycled Aluminum Foil
I bought this wondering if it would be as strong as regular aluminum foil. I’m not disappointed, and can’t tell the difference. Feels just as strong as ever to me, but I didn’t perform any superhuman, tornado-strength tests on it.
Details
Reynolds makes this foil with a mix of pre- and post-consumer aluminum, but they don’t reveal what percentage is post-consumer. The packaging uses water-based inks, and the paper is 100% “recovered” according to the company’s website. You should find it alongside all the other foils at your local store.
Cedar Microfiber Flip Mop
Finally, mop makers have come to their senses. It seems that the days of disposable mopping pads are numbered. At Target, I 
counted several brands getting in on the machine washable, reusable mop game: Rubbermaid, Libman, Clorox and Cedar.
It’s true these may not be the greenest-minded companies on the planet, but they’re offering an alternative to those wasteful paper mops that were popular for so long. Even if these mops don’t come from recycled materials, they’re still a welcome change.
Details
I haven’t tried these mops yet, but there’s plenty for the shopper to consider. Some of the mops like the Rubbermaid Reveal come with an empty attached spray bottle allowing you to fill with your own solution. Or you can just opt for the more simple (and cheaper) ones like Cedar and put cleaner on your floor with a separate squirt or spray bottle.
Seventh Generation OR Method cleaners with CleanWell
I’ve been carrying CleanWell’s hand sanitizer in my purse for years. Love that it’s naturally antibacterial with stuff like thyme.
Now, CleanWell has joined up with both Method and Seventh Generation to offer their botanical goodness in kitchen or bathroom cleaners, said to kill 99.9% of germs. Since I like all three of these companies, I’m happy these products are now out there, providing natural alternatives.
However, for those of you who aren’t shy about making your own cleaners in your own reusable containers, please don’t switch (or avoid starting) now. And it’s eco-wise to say no to those disposable wipes — CleanWell or not.
Details
Both Seventh Generation and Method disclose all their ingredients on their website. Don’t buy an “eco” product from a company that won’t tell you what’s inside.
Have you tried any of these products?
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