In store: Caldrea
Heard on NPR's Morning Edition on June 14, 2005: San Francisco is about to become a little greener. The city is expected to pass a law requiring all official agencies to buy products that pose only minimal health risks. That includes everything from toilet bowl cleaner to playground equipment. The "green" purchasing law would be the first of its kind in the country. Sarah Varney of member station KQED reports.
(not the full transcript:) Hailed as the nation's first green purchasing law, it is designed to limit the health risks associated with the chemicals widely employed in commercial cleaning solutions from toilet bowl cleaners to glass cleaner.
The city of San Francisco spends $600 million a year in cleaning supplies (288 gallons of toilet bowl cleaner, 5100 gallons of disinfectant and 882 gallons of glass cleaner) and in the pilot program conducted by the city of SF over the last three years, alternatives were found that could significantly reduces the toxic load dumped, as it were, into the environment.
What is a safe amount? The city of SF is adopting the zero toxin approach (spokeswoman for the city says "better safe than sorry") and places the onus on the industry's "inovative manufacturers" to place adequate bids on its $600 million/yr contract & provide fitting alternatives.
Toxic synthetic chemicals can be found in blood, fat, semen and breast milk and are linked to cancer, autism and infertility. Quoted is Dr James Lucky, Enviromental Engineering and Science, Stanford University who blames contamination and body burdens on aerosols and just about every surface the skin comes in contact with.
The new law will also require that ingredients be disclosed on the label.
-The House proudly carries "Caldrea", made in the USA, an aromatherapic solution to mainstream's mostly toxic offerings. The House also offers a number of links on its website to other consciensous manufacturers, please visit www.abouthehouse.com
