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In Defense of Seventh Generation: Dioxane in Dishwashing Liquid
Janelle Sorensen
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A recent report by the Organic Consumers Association found the presence of 1,4 dioxane, a potential carcinogen, in two Seventh Generation dishwashing liquids. It was pretty damning evidence against one of our favorite companies, so we had to do a little research and find out what was going on. Here’s what we learned after reading their response, calling them, and doing a little digging:
1. The sampling in the report is misleadingly random. They tossed dishwashing liquids and cleansers in with personal care products. It’s like trying to compare apples to oranges. Even comparing dishwashing liquid to spray cleansers can lead to false assumptions. Clorox came out clean in this report making it look preferable to Seventh Generation, but if Seventh Generation spray cleanser would have been tested, it would have been clean, too.
2. The report indicts companies for fraudulently using the term “organic” and “natural”. But, Seventh Generation dishwashing liquid does not claim to be organic and their specifications for “natural” are far above industry standards.
3. The amount of dioxane found in Seventh Generation dishwashing liquid was the lowest level reported among similar products and at the press conference, OCA admitted that there was not an effective alternative for dishwashing liquid currently available.
4. There have been statements that dioxane indicates that the product is petrochemically derived, but 1,4 dioxane is also a by-product of the manufacturing process of the coconut based surfactants used by Seventh Generation (and others). The dioxane is formed when the coconut oil is modified with a petroleum-derived material.
5. Seventh Generation, like all of us, is not perfect but is constantly trying to improve. Before this report was even released, it was already a company priority to eradicate the presence of dioxane. It’s an evolutionary process that began five years ago when they drastically cut how much dioxane was in their products. The company plans to achieve their goal of elimination by the end of the year. Change doesn’t happen over night.
Seventh Generation has been an industry leader for decades and works tirelessly to shift business and policy in healthier, safer, more sustainable directions.
- Back in 2003, there was only one plant-based surfactant manufacturer that would agree to Seventh Generation’s demand for a massive reduction in the presence of dioxane. Today, there’s a half a dozen responding to the growing demand for safer ingredients.
- Seventh Generation has given testimony at hearings across the nation in order to tighten regulations on toxic chemicals and has promoted creating strict definitions for green product labeling since their inception.
- Pick up a copy of What Matters Most: How a Small Group of Pioneers Is Teaching Social Responsibility to Big Business, and Why Big Business Is Listening, the book by Seventh Generation’s founder, Jeffrey Hollender, and you’ll find countless examples of the greater good this company is working for.
- At the OCA press conference, Jeffrey applauded the report and donated $10,000 to expand the research.
It’s about a lot more than dioxane. Healthy Child is working to create a healthier, sustainable world for our children and Seventh Generation is doing the same. So is the OCA, so is David Steinman, and so is Dr. Bronner’s Soaps. We believe in Seventh Generations continued efforts to provide safe products for consumers and the environment. We’re all in this together and we’re all doing our best.
If you have any questions about our decision to continue to support Seventh Generation or about the study, please blog it here. We’re happy to talk.
Posted by anna getty on 03/27 at 10:46 PM
I for one am a huge fan of Seventh Generation. They are a company with integrity, respect for the planet and they are always striving to ameliorate their products. Get off their backs. Why not get onto Clorox’s back and see what they are actually striving for.