by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Ecover took the opportunity that Treehugger offered it to reply to the accusation as regards to the high amount of 1,4 Dioxane that was found in tests and a study done by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), much higher than any other dish wash detergent, none of which claimed, unlike Ecover, to be green.
However, remembering the initial reply that was given by Ecover directly after the OCA's study was released I must say that this whitewash or should we say greenwash in Treehugger does not cot any ice whatsoever with this author.
The reply that was sent to and published by Treehugger appears to be nothing but a damage limitation exercise and no more than that.
Also, once again I have performed a test, and this is in how far Ecover goes as regards to cleaning your dishes in comparison to other, maybe not touted to be environmentally friendly, such as Fairy Liquid and I must say that, unfortunately, Ecover dishwash required about 5x as much as does Fairy. In comparison, therefore, I would put a lot more soap or sorts, as residue, down the drain with Ecover than I do with the other(s).
Therefore, I find it rather astonishing that Ecover can make all those claims as to sustainability and get away with it.
The way I see it is that Ecover is just another product that was hyped to start with and to keep up with demand, in the end, it went the route of using maybe not so environmentally friendly substances (and/or not so friendly to the human health either). I used to buy Ecover, simply because I believed in its green credentials, but must say that, even though it is now cheaper in supermarkets in the UK, especially in Sainsbury's where I do most of my shopping, than other brands, being someone who has very sensitive skin I have found that the other brand mentioned earlier does not attack my skin as does Ecover. Probably this is also doe to the fact that I need less of the other product than I need of Ecover; about 3 to 4 times less. Will I still buy Ecover dishwash? I am afraid to say that my answer is NO.
While 1,4 Dioxane is not dioxin, it, nevertheless, unlike what has been claimed by Ecover to save it's reputation, is harmful to human (and environmental health). Instead of doing the “damage limitation exercise” they are doing Ecover should, rather, see to phasing out the use of 1,4 Dioxane. That would be the way to go. Come clean, say, yes, we have this substance in it and yes, it may be a problem and, therefore, we are now going to use something else, period. But not this kind of “damage limitation exercise” where they are trying to bamboozle the public.
It would appear that Ecover has gone the same way as did Body Shop and others like it. Commercial interests now rule.
I will quote one statement here from that letter, the rest is, im my opinion, irrelevant:
“Ecover has ranked in the upper echelons of product comparisons time and again while remaining competitively priced. We do this all while manufacturing our products in the world’s FIRST ecological factory. Our factories are made from sustainable materials, making products from sustainable sources in a manner that is energy efficient.”
Ecover says that its factories are made from sustainable materials (honest?) and that they are making products from sustainable sources in a manner that is energy efficient. Right. Not a single mention of the fact that the stuff comes in plastic bottles that, theoretically, could be refilled but that, while many years ago refills were available, they no longer are. Then again the refills cam in plastic “sacks” and here Ecover is no better than other dish detergent manufacturers.
While the green ingredients are being touted, including things like Marigold, Aloe Vera, etc. having used all of their washing up liquids I can but say that all of them affect my skin much more adversely than does Fairy Liquid, for instance.
I must say that I do not care whether or not the folks at Ecover regard this comparison as right and proper or not; the truth is that I do have problems with Ecover when washing up. When using the other brand, on the other hand, those problems are virtually non-existent.
I rest my case...
© M Smith (Veshengro)
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This is nothing new and just a reinvention of the wheel fleecing the green consumer. We must get away from this and give the environmentally conscious consumer some real proper goods that last. 
