Let’s be honest. Have you ever stood in the cleaning aisle, staring at a wall of plastic bottles screaming “NEW!” and felt overwhelmed? Or felt that small pang of green guilt when tossing another jug into the bin? You’re not alone. Positive Cleaning™ is about realistic progress — small swaps that add up — and knowing which claims you can trust.

What is “sustainable living” really? (and how to spot greenwashing)

Marketers often use broad terms like “eco‑friendly” or “natural” without context. In the U.S., the FTC’s Green Guides explain how environmental claims should be qualified and substantiated so they’re not deceptive [1]. For example, an unqualified “biodegradable” claim for items customarily sent to landfills is considered deceptive unless the entire item will completely decompose within about one year after customary disposal [2].

• Vague language: Look for specifics you can verify (e.g., standard + certification), not feel‑good words [1].
• Irrelevant claims: “CFC‑free” sounds great, but production and import of most CFCs were phased out decades ago in the U.S. [3].
• No proof: Trust programs with public criteria and independent oversight.

Zero‑waste starter toolkit: easy swaps that matter

In the kitchen

• Reusable cloths instead of paper towels — reduces ongoing single‑use waste; paper & paperboard are a major share of U.S. municipal waste [4].
• Solid dish soap bars in place of bottled liquids — skip shipping heavy water and extra plastic; typical spray cleaners are ~90% water [5].
• Compostable loofah/coconut scrubbers in place of plastic sponges — some synthetic sponges (melamine foam “magic” sponges) shed microplastic fibers when abraded [6].

In the bathroom

• One refillable, all‑purpose system instead of many single‑purpose bottles — concentrates/tablets avoid shipping water and cut packaging [5,7].
• Toothpaste tablets and paper/bamboo‑stem swabs to reduce plastic bits.

Safety basics that never go out of style

• Never mix bleach and ammonia — can create hazardous gases; follow CDC guidance [8].

Decoding labels: certifications that actually mean something

• Leaping Bunny Certified — the gold‑standard cruelty‑free program with supply‑chain monitoring and audit rights [9,10].
• EPA Safer Choice — every ingredient in a labeled product is reviewed by EPA scientists against rigorous criteria [11].
• EWG Verified™ — avoids EWG’s chemicals of concern and requires full ingredient transparency; now covers household cleaners [12,13]. Our Green Llama Dishwasher Tabs are EWG Verified [14].
• USDA Certified Biobased — label indicates third‑party verified biobased content per the USDA BioPreferred program (ASTM D6866) [15,16].

The PVA question (pods, films, and what the science says)

Many laundry and dishwasher pods use a water‑soluble film made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA/PVOH), a polymer derived from petrochemical vinyl acetate monomer [17,29]. Some brands — including Blueland — publicly campaign for tighter scrutiny of PVA and market PVA‑free tablets [26,27,28]. Studies disagree on what fraction of detergent‑grade PVA films fully biodegrade across diverse wastewater systems: some analyses estimate incomplete biodegradation and potential environmental release [18,19,20], while industry groups and expert panels report ready biodegradation under specific test protocols and treatment conditions [21]. Net‑net: outcomes may depend on PVA grade and local treatment conditions. It is indisputable, however, that PVA is formed from petrochemicals and there is currently no sustainable alternative source material. This is one reason our Dishwasher Tabs are naked — no dissolvable film.

Join the Movement: From Consumer to Changemaker

Here’s the secret: this was never just about selling soap. It’s about building a community of people who believe, like we do, that our small, daily actions can add up to a massive, positive impact.

Every time you choose a refill over a new plastic bottle, you’re casting a vote for a healthier planet. Every time you opt for plant-based ingredients, you’re creating a safer home for your family.

This is the Power of Positive Cleaning™. It’s the joyful feeling of a sparkling sink, knowing you didn’t have to compromise your values to get it. It’s the pride in knowing your choices are protecting our shared home for future generations.

If you’re ready to ditch the Green Guilt and join the refill revolution, we’re here to make your first step easy.

The power of ingredients: cleaning without compromise

We avoid ingredients of concern like phthalates (endocrine‑disrupting chemicals) [22] and phosphates (nutrient pollution driver) [23,24], and focus on proven essentials like citric acid, sodium carbonate, and plant‑derived surfactants that clean effectively. When we make performance claims, we publish third‑party test data you can read for yourself [25].

Join the movement

Every refill you choose cuts plastic and transport emissions. Every ingredient you scrutinize makes home safer. That’s the heart of Positive Cleaning™ — small swaps, joyful wins, science you can verify.

References

1. [1] Federal Trade Commission — Green Guides overview. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/topics/truth-advertising/green-guides
2. [2] 16 CFR §260.8 — Degradable claims; one‑year rule for customary disposal settings. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-260/section-260.8
3. [3] U.S. EPA — Phaseout of Class I ozone‑depleting substances (CFCs phased out by 1996). https://www.epa.gov/ods-phaseout/phaseout-class-i-ozone-depleting-substances
4. [4] U.S. EPA — Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts & Figures (paper & paperboard in MSW). https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/advancing-sustainable-materials-management
5. [5] Ellen MacArthur Foundation — Typical spray cleaners are ~90% water; reuse/refill examples. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-examples/replenish
6. [6] American Chemical Society — Melamine sponges shed microplastics when scrubbed (ES&T, 2024). https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2024/june/melamine-sponges-shed-microplastics-when-scrubbed.html
7. [7] Ellen MacArthur Foundation — Dissolvable cleaning tablets reduce transport volume by 80–90%. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-examples/dissolvable-cleaning-tablets-everdrop
8. [8] CDC — Guidance on safe bleach use; never mix bleach and ammonia. https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/publications/cleaning-and-disinfecting-with-bleach.html
9. [9] Leaping Bunny (Cruelty Free International) — Program overview and audit requirements. https://crueltyfreeinternational.org/leaping-bunny/leaping-bunny-faqs
10. [10] Leaping Bunny — FAQs and myths; supply‑chain monitoring. https://www.leapingbunny.org/frequently-asked-questions
11. [11] U.S. EPA Safer Choice — Every ingredient is reviewed; Safer Choice criteria. https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/frequently-asked-questions-safer-choice
12. [12] EWG Verified — What the mark means (avoids chemicals of concern; transparency). https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/what-is-ewg-verified.php
13. [13] EWG — Cleaning product standards for EWG Verified. https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/standards-cleaning.php
14. [14] EWG Listing — Green Llama Dishwasher Tabs (VERIFIED). https://www.ewg.org/ewgverified/green-llama-dishwasher-tabs
15. [15] USDA BioPreferred — Program overview and consumer meaning of the label. https://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/
16. [16] USDA BioPreferred — Certification criteria (ASTM D6866 biobased content). https://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/pages/CertificationCriteria.xhtml
17. [17] Britannica — Polyvinyl alcohol: production from vinyl acetate monomer; petrochemical origin. https://www.britannica.com/science/polyvinyl-alcohol
18. [18] MDPI (IJERPH, 2021) — Degradation of PVA in U.S. wastewater treatment; modeling analysis. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/6027
19. [19] Washington Post (2025) — Microplastic sources in cleaning; PVA pod fate varies by conditions. https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2025/02/20/household-cleaning-products-microplastics/
20. [20] ASU news (2021) — “Are laundry and dish pods biodegradable? Not exactly,” debate summary. https://news.asu.edu/20210726-discoveries-are-laundry-and-dish-pods-biodegradable-not-exactly-asu-study-shows
21. [21] Industry/Expert references — Safer Choice criteria and expert panel statements on PVA biodegradation under test conditions. https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/debunking-myths-about-pva-and-detergent-pods ; https://scipinion.com/panel-findings/scipinion-expert-panel-reinforces-pva-in-laundry-products-is-readily-biodegradable/
22. [22] Endocrine Society — Phthalates as endocrine‑disrupting chemicals. https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/endocrine-disrupting-chemicals
23. [23] U.S. EPA — Nutrient pollution overview. https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/issue
24. [24] USGS — Phosphorus and water quality. https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/phosphorus-and-water
25. [25] Placeholder — Link to Green Llama third‑party performance report (insert lab report URL once published).
26. [26] Blueland — Pods Are Plastic campaign page (brand position on PVA). https://www.blueland.com/pages/podspollute
27. [27] Modern Retail — Blueland petitions the EPA to evaluate PVA in pods. https://www.modernretail.co/operations/blueland-urges-epa-to-wade-into-debate-over-pva/
28. [28] Packaging Dive — NYC bill and Blueland’s campaign regarding PVA in pods/sheets. https://www.packagingdive.com/news/new-york-city-pods-plastic-bill-blueland-pva/707088/
29. [29] FAO/WHO JECFA — Polyvinyl alcohol monograph (production and identity). https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/agns/pdf/jecfa/cta/61/PVA.pdf