Now that we’re cleaning our workplaces more frequently and thoroughly than ever, it’s all the more important to consider the impacts that our products might have on the environment. In this article, we take a look at the most effective, eco-friendly cleaning products for your business. 

What makes a cleaning product eco-friendly?

An eco-friendly cleaning product will usually have at least two of the following characteristics: 

• Non-toxic: they don’t contain harsh chemicals like sodium hydroxide or chlorine, which can pose a risk to our own health and may end up damaging aquatic life in ocean or river ecosystems.
• Biodegradable: they often contain natural and organic ingredients instead of toxic chemicals. This means that they will biodegrade within a short period of time and they won’t harm the environment in the long-term.
• Plastic-free packaging: many eco-friendly cleaning brands have opted for biodegradable alternatives to plastic packaging, like cardboard or sugarcane.
• Reusable, recycled and/or recyclable packaging: in 2015, Britain produced 2.26 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste. Reusing or recycling your cleaning products is an easy way to limit the waste that your business produces and to reduce your carbon footprint. 

Are eco-friendly cleaning products just as effective as mainstream options?

They definitely can be! Products made from non-toxic, natural ingredients can provide a spotless clean without posing a risk to the environment. However, some products might not be able to disinfect surfaces of viruses. It’s a good idea to take a look at the list of ingredients of any product and keep an eye out for hydrogen peroxide, thymol and quaternary ammonium compounds. These are effective disinfectants and are less harmful to the environment than harsher ingredients like bleach and alcohol.

How much will switching to eco-friendly cleaning products reduce my carbon footprint? 

All of the eco-friendly products listed below use recycled, recyclable, reusable or plastic-free packaging. Single-use plastic has a heavy carbon footprint because it has a very short lifespan. As it ends up in the landfill so quickly, it fuels our need to constantly produce new plastic. Plastic production accounts for 85% of its total carbon footprint! The carbon footprints of both recycled and reusable packaging are much lighter because their lives are much longer than single-use plastic and they don’t encourage the production of new plastic at the same rate. 

Packaging type	CO2 per kg	Equivalent in miles driven
Single-use plastic	1.63kg	4 miles
Recycled plastic	1.24kg	3.8 miles
Reusable plastic	0.33kg	1 mile

Though it’s hard to know how much the non-toxicity of eco-friendly products limits their carbon footprint, it’s still worth making the switch to non- or low-toxic products. Toxic chemicals, like bleach, often end up polluting oceans, rivers or streams. They then cause air and water pollution, enter the food chain, and threaten animal species.

Which eco-friendly cleaning products are best for my business? 

With so many options out there, finding the best eco-friendly products for your business might seem overwhelming. Read on for our list of the most effective, eco-friendly cleaning products.

For kitchens & cafes

Degreasing surface spray

Washing up liquid

Dishwasher tablets and rinse aid

Oven cleaner

Coffee machine cleaner

For offices

Desk wipes

Screen cleaner

Whiteboard cleaner

Hand sanitiser

For cleaning companies 

Multi-purpose surface cleaners

Cleaning cloths, dusters and mops

Bathroom cleaning spray

Toilet cleaner

Carpet cleaner

Glass and window cleaner 

Disinfectant sprays

Opting for eco-friendly cleaning alternatives instead of mainstream products is one of the simplest ways to reduce your business’ carbon footprint, and with so many options available, it’s never been easier to make the switch. If you didn’t find what you’re looking for in this article, don’t worry; just make sure that you look for non-toxic, biodegradable products with plastic-free, recycled, recyclable or reusable packaging when your cleaning supplies next run out. You may have to settle for products which fit only one or two of these categories, but this will still help to minimise the negative impacts of your business on the environment.