Thursday, 24 April 2008
Can we trust organic or natural health and beauty products?
Over the last week, I've been adding a large new shop to griinu Compare - this means around 2000 new products! A particular minefield is the plethora of cosmetic and health products. Ingredients are the greatest concern at this point. But we also want to consider place of manufacture, method of manufacture, working conditions, packaging and social contribution.
What are they really using?
Trust is a big issue in the modern world and a trusted brand name brings a lot of weight. Even so, a product described as organic may contain a few organic ingredients but not 100%. Equally, a product described as natural could contain, well almost anything! To enhance trust, we try to use certifications as a measure. But does that limit the scope of the products available too much? Certainly the number of manufacturers with certifications is low compared to the number selling organic or naturally 'branded' products.
Decisions, decisions!
You can see on the site what sort of products we have added and by their absence perhaps those we have not. Some brands really stand out for their uncompromising devotion to making the product as absolutely environmentally friendly as possible - these are the ones we want! Those merely playing lip service we have tried to eliminate.
What do you think?
We would genuinely appreciate input from our visitors - are there products you would not have included? What's missing right now? You can comments below or privately through our feedback page.
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Henry Says:
25 Apr 2008
Thanks for your thoughts Mary! I agree - if everyone does the same thing then those tiny changes make a huge impact.
It's such a pity that the associations don't support changes like the ones you're making. You'd think they would be applauding these things - surely it's an opportunity for them to become more relevant and useful to their members!
Mary Says:
25 Apr 2008
Hi I work in a Pharmacy in Ireland and a co-worker and I were talking about all the pollution caused by pharmacutical companies. We decided that you could never take away the medication you need to live however you could make a better effort to only order where possible from green compliant manufacturers. Thus began a very difficult to make our pharmacy as green as possible. We removed all stock in the front of shop, replaced it with eco friendly and organic products recycled our fittings creating a natural image, changed our lightbulbs, sourced as much locally as possible to save on carbon footprint, lowered heating temp in shop etc etc and all were getting it trouble. The pharmacutical society think we're faulting on the traditional high image they expect and will not allow us to advertise eco friendly products in our name. The health store association believe we're treading on their toes and some hearbal companies will not supply us at all. Where has it all gone wrong we are a rural pharmacy trying to make an effort to stop dispensing meds to local elderly people would be morally incorrect. I thought we we're all to do our best to help the environment but I've learned that until all of society gov included realises how much needs to be done and manufacturers get off their high horses and put the environment first we are in trouble. I thought if all pharmacies took this stand it would make a big impact but the various organisations make it very difficult. I hope more do I'm sticking to my guns. I better end this rant and finish what I came for to find eco friendly foot care products.