Leveraging life cycle assessment to evaluate environmental impacts of green cleaning products

The green cleaning industry continues to pursue products that reduce or eliminate impacts on human health and the environment; however, these impacts over the life cycle are not well understood. This study assessed environmental impacts of four green cleaning products from Method Products, PBC (all-purpose cleaner, hand wash, dish soap) and Ecover (dish soap). A life cycle assessment from cradle-to-grave was performed using ReCiPe and IPCC GWP methodologies. Results correlated greatest impact contributors to ingredient composition and identified the need to improve data quality. Based on the findings, a prioritized list of actions for green cleaning companies was developed. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.