Why are natural home care products important?
Cleaning products are released into the environment inside your home and down the drain to the outdoors.
• 37% of Americans suffer from chemical sensitivities, skin rashes and allergies. Many of them provoked by chemicals in cleaning products.
• Reactions can include; eyes watering, breakouts, skin rashes, coughing or sneezing uncontrollably.
• Asthma is the leading cause of emergency room visits and absenteeism in schools.
• Children breathe faster in proportion to their body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to chemical exposure.
• Warm baths and showers open pores so that what we have cleaned with is more readily absorbed.
Why is indoor air quality important?
• 90% of our time is spent indoors.
• Triple pane windows and high efficiency insulation make it harder for indoor air to escape.
• EPA reports that air pollution in our homes is up to five times worse inside than outside.
• Indoor pollutants come from all sorts of chemicals we use to make our lives easier every daycarpets, furniture, household cleaners and personal care.
The EPA ranks indoor air quality among the top five risks to human health.
Why dont J.R. Watkins plant-based cleaners disinfect?
Experts believe using disinfecting cleaners creates super germs.
Research suggests that disinfecting enables germs to build a resistance and come back even stronger/bigger.
Health experts believe the chemicals used in the products to kill the germs are just as harmful as the germs themselves.
90% of people who use antibacterial cleaners don't allow the formula to penetrate the surface. By spraying and immediately wiping, consumers don't get the disinfecting properties of the cleaner. Disinfectants need to sit 10 min.
•
The best way to keep germs at bay is with regular soap and water. Regular cleaning is the best ways to disinfect your home.
What are Synthetic Compounds?
Common synthetic compounds found in traditional chemical-based cleaning products include:
Petro Chemicals: Production of petro chemicals releases more than 492 million pounds of air pollutants into our atmosphere a year. Includes petroleum distillate and naphtha.
Trihalomethanes: Toxic by-products of chlorine disinfected water, may cause more than 10,000 cases of cancer a year.
Polychlorinated biphenyl's (PCBs): A chlorine based chemical
compound that has been banned by the Department of Health and EPA because they are carcinogenic.
What’s the difference between cleaners that are plant-based vs. petroleum based?
Studies have shown that making household cleaners from plant-based materials uses less energy than making the same cleaners from petroleum.
Using less energy helps reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses.
If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 24 oz. petroleumbased
dishwashing liquid with our 24 oz. plant-based product, we could save 85,886 barrels of oil!
That is enough to heat and cool 4,941 U.S. homes for a year!
When you see the DFE logo, what does it mean?
The DFE logo means that the EPA’s scientific review team
has screened each ingredient for potential human health
and environmental effects.
The product contains only those ingredients that pose the
least concern among chemicals in their class.
This logo allows consumers to quickly identify and choose
products that can help protect the environment and are safer for families.
Many stakeholders consider DFE partnerships the forum of choice for pressing issues in chemical sustainability and an important agency tool for implementing green chemistry.
The EPA’s Top Ten Cleaning Ingredients To Avoid:
1. Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APEs): common in detergents and disinfectants and are suspected hormone disruptors.
2. Ammonia: poisonous when swallowed, extremely irritating to respiratory passages when inhaled and can burn the skin on contact.
3. Indiscriminate use of antibacterial cleaners containing Triclosan may be contributing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant germs.
4. Butyl Cellosolve (aka butyl glycol, ethylene glycol monobutyl): poisonous when swallowed and a lung-tissue irritant.
5. Chlorine Bleach (aka sodium hypochlorite): an all-purpose whitening agent, can irritate the lungs and eyes and in waterways can become toxic.
The EPA’s Top Ten Cleaning Ingredients To Avoid: (continued)
6. Diethanolamine (DEA): can combine with nitrosomes (often-undisclosed preservatives) to produce carcinogenic nitrosamines that penetrate skin.
7. Fragrances frequently contain Phthalates, chemicals linked to reproductive abnormalities and liver cancer in lab animals and to asthma in children.
8. Phosphates: soften water for detergents but contribute to algae blooms in our waterways, which can kill off fish populations.
9. Sodium Hydroxide: found in drain, metal and oven cleaners, is extremely irritating to the eyes, nose and throat, and can burn those tissues on contact.
10. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: a common sudsing agent, can penetrate the skin and cause contact dermatitis.
• J.R. Watkins Natural Home Care “Freedom Code”
Our products are free of the following chemicals:
Ammonia Free
• Benzene Free
• Biodegradable
• Boron Free
• Butyl Cellosolve Free
• Chlorine Free
• Diethylene Ether Free
• Dye Free
• Ethyl Cellosolve Free
• Formaldehyde Free
• Isopropanol Free
• Kerosene Free
• Mineral Spirit Free
• Non-toxic
• Petrochemical Free
• Phosphate Free
• Phosphoric Acid Free
• Propylene Glycol Free
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Free
• Sulfuric Acid Free
Never Tested On
Animals
Contains No Animal
Ingredients
Boron is a water softening agent and performance booster.
Commonly found in:
Liquid Laundry Detergents
Stain Removers
The Facts:
The pH of boron produces a basic solution in
water, thereby increasing the effectiveness of
bleach and other cleaners. Borates bond with
other particles to keep ingredients dispersed
evenly in a solution, which maximizes the
surface area of active particles to enhance
cleaning power.
When exposure to small amounts of boron
takes place, irritation of the nose, throat or
eyes may occur. It takes 5 g of sodium borate
to make a person ill and 20 grams or more to
put its life in danger.
Butyl Cellosolve is a colorless
solvent and disinfectant.
Glass Cleaners
Oven Cleaners
Degreasers
Spot Removers
Air Fresheners
Carpet Cleaners
Also known as butyl glycol, butyl cellosolve has made it onto the list of California’s toxic air substances.
Butyl cellosolve is a neurotoxin that depresses the nervous system and can cause a variety of health problems. When airborne it can irritate mucous membranes and cause liver and kidney damage.
Phthalates are a colorless, odorless liquid used as a carrier
to make fragrances last longer.
Artificially Scented Cleaners
Room Fresheners
Fabric Fresheners
Scented Odor Eliminators
Phthalates are being phased out of many
products in the United States and European
Union over health concerns.
Phthalates are known as "endocrine disruptors" because they mimic the body's hormones and have, in laboratory animal
tests, been shown to cause reproductive and neurological damage.
California will ban the use of phthalates in toys and baby products as of 2009.
J.R. Watkins Natural Commitment
• Safe and environmentally responsible formulas
• A premium natural cleaning experience:
• Anxiety Free
• Doubt Free
• Guilt Free
• Conscience Clearing Power
• We are always evaluating how to better:
• Reduce our environmental impact
• Increase performance and safety
• Create a more sustainable supply chain
Natural Home Care
Educational Guide.pdf (1723kB)
Click to download full version
DFE Certification
Flyer PDF ()
Why is natural personal care important?
There is a concern for the environment
We strive to use renewable ingredients with less impact on mother earth
Natural products are equally as effective as
non-natural products and can offer more
benefits
Utilizing natural ingredients allows for the
elimination of ingredients that can potentially
cause health risks
Be label savvy!
Be leery of labels that claim ‘made with natural .
. .’, ‘contains natural . . .’, ‘all-natural’
Steer clear of products that contain parabens,
chemical sunscreens, petro chemicals, propylene
glycol, DEA/TEA, phthalates and more
Begin looking for the Natural Products
Association (NPA) seal
NPA certification of J.R. Watkins Natural
Apothecary is currently in progress
We have made the commitment to be free of the following:
Parabens
(Methyl-, Propyl-, Ethyl-, Butyl-)
Chemical Sunscreens (Oxybenzone/Avobenzone)
Petro Chemicals
(petrolatum, mineral oil, paraffin)
Propylene Glycol
Phthalates
DEA/TEA
Formaldehyde
1,4 Dioxane
Acrylates
Carbomer
PVP
Chemical Preservatives
Silicones
Quats
Talc
Purpose: Common chemical preservative used in the cosmetic industry to lengthen the shelf life of a product.
Problem: Studies suggest that this preservative may be a possible endocrine disrupter, potentially causing birth defects and certain types of cancer.
Our Alternative: We preserve our natural products
with phenoxyethanol. This preservative is found in
nature and can be extracted from essential sage oil.
Purpose: A preservative found in numerous personal care products.
Problem: Strong skin irritant that is known to cause eye, nose & throat irritation. The EPA* has also classified
this ingredient as a probable human carcinogen.
Our Alternative: Our natural products contain preservatives that don’t release formaldehydes or any other harmful irritants. Among others, peppermint oil is
used for its antibacterial properties.
*Environmental Protection Agency
Purpose: Used in personal care products to kill any imposing bacteria.
Problem: These chemical preservatives can contain formaldehyde and some are known irritants.
Our Alternative: We choose to use natural and less irritating preservatives, for example vitamin E and some
select essential oils. It has been found that vitamin E and essential oils also act as preservatives.
Purpose: Talc adds softness to cosmetic products and acts as an absorbent.
Problem: Talc is closely related to asbestos. Talc poses a health risk when exposed to the lungs and genital areas. Talc has been linked with lung and ovarian cancer.
Our Alternative: We use corn starch, which is 100%natural.
Natural Hand & Body Lotion
More than 10 oils and extracts, including coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, babassu oil and apricot kernel oil
Shea and cocoa butters, which are natural fats that work to soften and condition skin
All hand & body lotions are 99.00% natural and above
Works to relieve chapped and dry skin
Non-greasy formula is perfect for everyday use
Natural Hand & Cuticle Salves
Formulated around a premium beeswax base
All essences include many oils such as, canola oil, olive oil and sweet almond oil
Provides a protective barrier from nature’s harsh elements
Ideal for dry hands and cuticles
All hand & cuticle salves are 99.00% natural and above
Natural Facial Care
Divine Day Cream hydrates all day with
Natural sea salts work to soften the skin
Vitamin E moisturizes while you bathe
Fragranced with essential lavender oil
Does not contain dye
The research and development of natural personal care products is continuous!
With the continual research comes change, and Watkins is committed to providing
products that are truly natural.
Ultimately, we want ourline to be 100% natural and that is the goal we strive
towards everyday!
Thank You!
Natural Personal Care
Education.pdf (923kB)
NPA Certification
Flyer PDF()
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