Eco Safety and Ethoxylation

In mid March, the Organic Consumer Association (OCA) called Seventh Generation to the floor because their dish liquid was found to contain traces of “ethoxylate 1,4-dioxane”.  In short, ethoxylation is a process that modifies plant oils to work as surfactants.

The OCA researched a large number of personal care and household cleaning products currently on the market, noting that, “Dishwashing liquids are particularly hard to keep free of 1,4-dioxane because they require surfactants that are powerful grease cutters.” Liquid laundry detergents also require surfactants for stain removal.  The amount contained in Seventh Generation’s dish liquid is so small that it is actually “deemed safe” by the FDA.

While surfactants without ethoxylation can be made, the tradeoffs are potentially more dangerous.  One alternative is to use petroleum-derived materials, which are less sustainable than using renewable plant oils (not to mention more toxic and less biodegradable).  A second alternative is to not ethoxylate the plant oils, but the resulting surfactants can be irritating (i.e., sodium lauryl sulfate).

Every single dish liquid tested by the OCA contained ethoxylates and they admitted no viable alternative currently exists.  Ethoxylates help deliver products that work.  Seventh Generation promptly responded that they are working to eliminate ethoxylates from all future products.  In general, consumers seemed to appreciate Seventh Generation’s quick and thorough response.  I believe the company handled it honestly and openly.

Seventh Generation has been in the business for a very long time, way before it was considered cool to be green.  Part of being green / eco-conscious (or whatever you wanna call it…) is the realization and acceptance that these sorts of snafus are part of the learning curve associated with making safer products.

As the industry moves towards a new and improved way of creating healthier products for everyone, consumers should make an effort to involve themselves in the education process too.   Those who respond maliciously to a company committed to making safer, cleaner products for our earth are, in my opinion, not conducting themselves in a socially conscious manner, which is equally important…

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