Good Housekeeping’s Green Seal of Approval
For 100 years, the Good Housekeeping seal of approval has adorned reliable household products, representing a standard of product quality for consumers. While the seal continues to represent quality everyday items like irons, vacuums and skin care, the need to address the multitudes of green home products and appliances associated with a more eco-conscious consumer became apparent to the publication. Enter: the Green Good Housekeeping Seal of approval.
The Good Housekeeping seal of approval has become a hallmark for reliability since 1909. The new green seal hopes to become the same for green products. Photo: GoodHousekeeping.com
The Green Good Housekeeping Seal will debut later this year, after the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and a consultancy firm complete development of product evaluation criteria. To be eligible for the green seal, a product must meet the criteria for the original seal of approval, as well as meet standards related to product composition, manufacturing and packaging.
The first categories to undergo the green review will likely be beauty and cleaning products, with other household products to follow. Good Housekeeping hopes the green seal will join in the effort to combat “greenwashing,” the environmental misrepresentation of a product by a company.
Products adorned with the green seal of approval will carry the same warranty as original seal products: “If the product proves to be defective within two years of purchase, Good Housekeeping will replace the item or refund the consumer.”
Between 2004 and 2006, consumer spending on natural foods, cleaning products, body care and vitamins grew by 28 percent to $22 billion, according to Mintel, a Chicago-based market research group. However, as the demand for “green” products grew, companies were quick to publicize the green aspects of their products or launch new green products, often leaving consumers confused by the claims. Good Housekeeping hopes their new green seal will allows consumers to sort through all the claims, ensuring they are purchasing a reliable and environmentally-friendly product.
- Ilana DeBare. San Francisco Chronicle.(04/19/2008). Green product seals are gray area http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/18/MNHGVQQIC.DTL.
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mike sibley
posted on May 13th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
We have a water based product that kills and protects against bacteria (MRSA and VRE), mold, mildew, yeast,fungus and some virus like Swine flu H1N1 type. This is the only chemical that not only kills on contact, but has a very long lasting residual kill…up to months on some surfaces. Can be used on a soft surface like a carpet on hard non porous surface like a counter top. Very unique product that’s been EPA approved already.
Need to know what steps are required for your “green” seal??
Thanks, Mike