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no nasty chemicals
Not all chemicals are bad - water is a chemical after all but because it can be difficult at times to decide what is safe and what is not, we practice the precautionary approach.
This means that if there is any doubt about the safety of an ingredient for people's health or the environment, we will look for a safer alternative. We've listed some of the chemicals we do not use below.
No triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent used in personal care products such as soaps, toothpastes, cosmetics, deodorants, shaving creams and first aid. Our research suggests that it is:
- Toxic to aquatic species, with algae being the most sensitive species.
- May bioaccumulate and persist in the environment.
- There are reports that suggest incineration of textile products containing triclosan may result in the formation of dioxin-like substances (any of a number of mostly poisonous chemical by-products of the manufacture of certain herbicides and bactericides).
- Both animal and human data indicate it is a skin irritant
No toxic petrochemicals
Indiscriminate exposure to petrochemicals can contribute to health problems like skin irritations, eczema, allergies, weakened immune system (children with developing immune systems can be even more susceptible), chronic fatigue, endocrine system upsets and even cancer. Many petrochemicals persist in the environment and do not biodegrade. Petrochemicals are an unsustainable resource.
No enzymes in our laundry products
If residual enzymes are trapped in your clothing/sheets/underwear they are up against your skin day and night.Enzymes can be reactivated by sweat and moisture - and start doing the job they were designed for, which is removing fats and protein - on your skin and potentially causing allergic reactions or other health complications.
NO optical whiteners
These are added to laundry powders to make clothes appear whiter and brighter by absorbing UV light and reflecting to make whites appear bluer. In order to work they need to stay in your clothes after washing. ecostore does not use optical whiteners because we believe they can cause an allergic reaction with your skin when exposed to sunlight.They also do not readily biodegrade and are toxic to aquatic life.
NO synthetic perfumes or dyes
Dyes are typically used to make a product look more ‘appealing’ while perfumes are added to disguise odours and to impart a pleasant scent. We do not use these ingredients as they are a common trigger for those who are chemically sensitive. Instead we use ingredients such as lemon verbena in our cream cleanser or certified organic eucalyptus oil in our laundry liquid and wool wash – as it not only gives a fresh clean smell to clothes it is also an active ingredient.
- In 99% of instances the colours and perfumes are not functional.
- They are almost always made from petroleum.
- They do not readily biodegrade and are toxic to fish and mammals.
NO sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)
SLS is a surfactant which is widely used in cleaning detergents and body care products, including toothpaste, shampoo, flowing soaps, shower gels and dishwashing liquid. It imparts foam and viscosity and is a strong detergent to remove soiling (it strips oils and fats efficiently). SLS can be irritating to the skin. We believe that if SLS is absorbed through the skin then penetration can include systemic tissues such as the brain, heart, spleen and liver. SLS in your hair products could be increasing the rate of skin absorption of other chemicals used – like detergents, preservatives, fragrances and colour additives
NO phosphates added
Analysis may sometimes reveal minute traces of phosphates in some of our products. We never add phosphates as an ingredient but they are sometimes used to aid production during the processing of raw materials by our suppliers, i.e. to soften water. Unfortunately some phosphate is then chemically bound into the final product, which is then supplied to our factory as a raw material. This means that there may be a trace amount of phosphate in our laundry powder during the wash cycle. This would be no more than approximately 0.1 grams which is significantly lower than many leading supermarket brands.
- Phosphates can stimulate excessive growth of plants and algae in our waterways.
- Phosphates can build up and endanger aquatic life.
- Even though we have very low levels of detectable phosphate, we are always reviewing ingredient options with the aim of eliminating the phosphate content.
NO chlorine bleach
As a result of chlorine production and use, many highly toxic organochlorines have been created which can persist in the environment for decades.Many orgnanochlorines are known endocrine disrupters, some mimic oestrogen and are linked to certain cancers.
NO ammonia
- An irritant that can affect the skin, eyes and respiratory passages.
- Adds nitrogen to the environment which can be harmful to plants, fish and animals
NO TEA or MEA
Triethanolamine or Monoethanolamine are ammonia derivatives.
- These are thought to have hormone disrupting effects.
- They are possibly carcinogenic when combined with nitrates present in other products.
NO parabens
Parabens are chemical preservatives used in skin care, hair care and cosmetics to stop mould by preventing normal biological activity. Methyl, Ethyl, Propyl and Butyl parabens were found to be mildly oestrogenic which means they have the ability to mimic female hormones in your body when applied to the skin. Parabens occur in so many products that they could have a cumulative effect.
NO propylene glycol
This ingredient can be irritating to the skin. Having a small molecular weight it can be absorbed through the skin.Has been shown to cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage in laboratory animals.
NO nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE)
- Nonylphenol Ethoxylates are surfactants that are added to many cleaning agents.
- NPE breaks down into Nonylphenol which can harm the reproductive abilities and survival of fish.
- This ingredient is not easily removed by waste water treatment facilities.
ecostore is far from Perfect
We are very proud of what we do but despite this every product that we make has qualities that we want to improve.
One of our biggest challenges is sourcing viable plant based or sustainable alternatives to commonly used ingredients.
It's a difficult task but rest assured; we're up for it! Everyone that works here is dedicated to improving the lives of people and the planet through the work that we do and we are continually challenging ourselves to push the boundaries.
Petrochemicals
The chemistry of our formulations is based on ingredients derived from plants and minerals (versus petrochemicals).
However, in a few specific instances, a plant or mineral based ingredient does not exist, so we use a synthetic or petrochemical ingredient which meets our health and environmental criteria and is deemed safe (i.e. would meet the standards of third party eco certifiers such as Environmental Choice NZ, or the EU Flower).
For example, we use Tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) bleach activator in both our Oxygen Whitener and Laundry powder products as currently there is no plant or mineral based alternative.
Enzymes and Your Skin
Enzymes are very effective cleaning agents. The problem is that they are used indiscriminately across a wide range of household cleaners particularly laundry products. We don't use them in our laundry products as they don't meet our health criteria, however they are in two of our products which don't touch the skin, our Autodish Powder and Autodish Tablets.
Ecostore products are made in New Zealand, GE free, are not tested on animals, and come in recyclable packaging.