The Ultimate Guide to Positive Living: Small Swaps, Big Impact, and How to Spot the Fakes

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. That feeling is a common hurdle on the path to sustainable living. Positive Cleaning™ is about overcoming it with realistic progress—small swaps that add up—and knowing which claims you can trust.

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

Let's be real - navigating the world of “green” products can feel like a pop quiz you didn’t study for. You’re just trying to make smart choices as part of a more sustainable living plan, but you're flooded with fuzzy terms like “eco-friendly” and “natural.” It can be hard to tell what’s real and what’s just clever marketing.

That feeling? It often comes from something called greenwashing, which is when a company tries to look more environmentally friendly than it actually is. Fortunately, you can become a pro at spotting it. In the U.S., the FTC’s Green Guides actually explain how environmental claims should be substantiated so they’re not deceptive [1]. For example, if a product that usually ends up in a landfill is labeled "biodegradable," that's considered misleading unless it can completely break down in about a year [2].

Here are a few red flags to watch for:

• Vague Language: Look for specific, verifiable details (like official certifications), not just feel-good words [1].
• Irrelevant Claims: A product bragging about being “CFC-free” might sound impressive, but since CFCs were phased out in the U.S. decades ago, it’s like a new car bragging that it comes with a steering wheel [3].
• No Proof: Real eco-claims are backed by transparent public standards and independent verification. If you can't find proof, be skeptical.

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

With so many logos and labels out there, it’s easy to feel like you need a secret decoder ring. But knowing which certification seals to look for can cut through the clutter and give you real peace of mind. These aren't just pretty pictures on a package; they represent rigorous, independent verification.

• Leaping Bunny Certified – Think of this as the gold standard for cruelty-free products. It means they’ve checked the entire supply chain and can even perform audits [9,10].
• EPA Safer Choice – When you see this, you know that every single ingredient has been reviewed by EPA scientists against seriously tough health and safety criteria [11].
• EWG Verified™ – This one is a big deal. It means a product avoids the Environmental Working Group’s long list of chemicals of concern and provides full ingredient transparency. We're especially proud that our Green Llama Dishwasher Tabs are EWG Verified™ [12,13,14]!
• USDA Certified Biobased – This label shows you exactly how much of a product is made from renewable, biobased materials, verified by a third party using the ASTM D6866 standard [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