Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Attitude Eco-Friendly Fabric Softener – Product Review


Hello.

So, following my post on the hidden dangers of dryer sheets from a few weeks ago, we went looking for an eco-friendly alternative in a fabric softener. I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of options that were presented to me, until suddenly I caught a little glimpse of a print on one of the bottles :

“Driven by an ideal : To live and consume responsibly. Our future depends on the choices we make today”

Bio Spectra is a Montreal company that believes in fighting global warming, responsible consumption and good quality, eco-friendly products. Their ATTITUDE line of cleaning products is based on their “CO2neutral” approach which is quite interesting :

What is ATTITUDE® doing?

ATTITUDE® not only offers quality products that are third-party certified eco-friendly, but also contributes actively in the fight against global warming by offering Carbone Neutral products: products that have GHG emissions equal to ZERO. Thus, by using ATTITUDE® products, you are reducing your personal environmental footprints.

The carbon neutral approach can be translated into three big steps:

  • Calculating GHG emissions based on the life-cycle analysis;
  • Reducing general emissions;
  • Compensating for emissions that cannot be avoided.

The carbon neutral approach quantifies the whole company’s emissions and not only the emissions associated with the production of ATTITUDE® products. The report is a great tool to identify weak areas where emissions are at their highest. Thereafter, these areas are analyzed to determine the most effective ways to reduce the emission rates. We believe that it is possible to reduce our carbon footprint, all the while reducing operational costs, and believe that all self-respecting businesses should adhere to a similar model.”

The product I will be reviewing today is their Ylang-Ylang & Tangerine Fabric Softener. (It also comes in Lavender & Grapefruit). First a few facts : This product is certified EcoLogoM (an Environment Canada program), CO2 Neutral, natural, eco-friendly and biodegradable. It comes in HE formula (of course) so it is specifically designed for high-efficiency machines.

The ingredients are water, essential oils and soy based surfactants. That’s IT! The product is vegan (free of animal tallow derivatives), non-carcinogenic, hypoallergenic, non-tested on animals and free of artificial dyes and fragrances.

We’ve been using it for a week now and it has proven itself wonderful on both clothes that went in the dryer and clothes that were hung to dry. The fragrance is barely noticeable once the clothes have dried. All that is left is a very mild and pleasant smell. I found that 1/3 of a cap is more than enough more a normal sized load which leads me to believe that the bottle will last me way beyond the 52 loads it advertises. And at 7$ a bottle, it is a steal and can make your laundry cycle completely safe for you and your family.

They sell everywhere in North America, many countries in Europe and over in Japan so I really hope all of you will get your hands on these products because they are well worth a try! I’m looking forward to trying their entire line!

What are some of your favorite eco-friendly brands?

5 comments:

Wade said...

Love to see items that won't hurt the environment. I found other eco friendly stuff at this site:
http://www.doecofriendlyproducts.com/

Thomas Winther said...

I recommend Sonett dishwasher detergent. It has no chlorine, phosphates, enzymes, petrochemical tensider or artificial scents. It's also completely biodegradable - although I don't know how long it takes to break down. Sonett also makes a good laundry detergent, but I've started using soap nuts instead - even more environmentally friendly :-)

Unknown said...

Thanks for this post ... I've stopped using dryer sheets and have been looking for something that is earth friendly and actually works. I'm going to look for and try this product!

Take Care!

Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com

Yanic said...

Wade : Thanks for stopping by. I checked out the site you posted, great ideas! I especially loved the "Good 4 pets" section. Lots of great eco-friendly and non-toxic products to keep your pets healthy!

Thomas : Thank you for the idea. (Here is the website for those who want to check it out : http://www.sonett.co.uk/) I'll have to keep an eye out for them here. Hopefully I can find them on this side of the world :-)

Small Footprints : It is a really great product. If you want to see where to buy it in your area, here is the link to sellers in the states. Hope you enjoy it!

Anonymous said...

Global warming is caused by the fact that the sun is emitting more heat. All the bodies in the orbit of our sun are heating up.