The flip-side of that same mentality is Simple Green. Now here is a company that uses the green spin at such velocity, I’m surprised it doesn’t blow trailer parks away in Oklahoma. They peddle their cleaners as “Environmentally Safer”. Safer? As opposed to what? You know what makes them “safer”? They only use a 4% concentration of a poison in their products, instead of the 5-6% everyone else uses. That’s like saying that jumping off of a bridge with a bed sheet in your hands to use as a parachute is “safer” then just jumping off of the bridge.
So once again, we revisit the idea of consumer responsibility. If you ask 1000 people if they want to have less impact on the earth and the environment by using green products, I’d be willing to bet that at least 997 (there are always a few weirdos) would say unequivocally, “YES”. Then those 997 people will reach right past the item that has been certified, “Green” because “I want to save the planet, but not at the cost of dishwashing soap that doesn’t work”. Perception is reality 100% of the time. So let’s fix the perception. Next time you are at the store, replace one item that you normally buy with one that is “green”. If it works, great, replace your old product. If it does not work, try a different replacement. I’m not suggesting that you spend more money, or go to some crazy apothecary in a sketchy back alley in a bad part of town to get everyday household products. I’m simply suggesting that you try something new. If enough people caught on to the products that worked, then the ones that don’t work will weed themselves out. The “un-green” product lines will eventually phase out as well. Ahh, the simple joys of a consumer-driven market. If you want what you say you want, you have to do what you have to do to get it. I know that sounds like something straight out my cliché machine, but it’s the truth. Unless shopping habits change, neither will the manufacturer’s habits that produce the goods. “Oh, we create toxic sludge to make this, but you keep buying it-so why stop?” That is their exact mentality. So show them what you want in your buying choices, and let’s see what happens.