| When we think about things that damage the | | | | consumer's questionable perception of the new |
| environment, it's common to envision billowing | | | | products. |
| smokestacks perched atop a metal factory or | | | | For the development of new products to be |
| industrial drainage pipes that gush mysterious liquids | | | | financially feasible, companies must ensure that |
| into rivers and bays. Due to their visual impact, these | | | | customers who purchased the old product will |
| things seem far more heinous than, say, a bottle of | | | | purchase the new product, which is harder than it |
| non-organic cleaning solvent. But when we examine | | | | sounds. Even though the new product might be just |
| environmental damage in terms of scope, we find | | | | as effective, consumers tend to favor the former |
| that small, commonly used toxic products play a | | | | product because of its history of producing results. |
| significant role in changing the environment for the | | | | Complicating this perception is that fact that most |
| worse. | | | | advertising campaigns tend to romanticize the |
| From personal beauty supplies to radioactive exit | | | | consumer into believing that a product's |
| signs, there are several small products that damage | | | | effectiveness is inseparable from its "tradition". To |
| the environment in a big way when we consider their | | | | market a new version of an old product, companies |
| frequency of use, but perhaps no small product is as | | | | must find a way to express "tradition" in terms of |
| culpable of causing environmental havoc as toxic | | | | "quality", and do so without totally absconding from |
| cleaning solvents. Unlike toxic beauty supplies and exit | | | | the historical aspect of the original product. |
| signs, cleaning solvents are used in almost every | | | | Ultimately, what seems like the simple choice |
| indoor environment around the world on a daily basis. | | | | between a cleaner environment and a dirtier |
| What seems like the small infraction of just one | | | | environment is actually a difficult decision between |
| aerosol cleaning solvent is actually part of an epidemic | | | | striking out in a new direction and "sticking with what |
| of millions of cleaning solutions simultaneously spewing | | | | works". For companies and consumers who would like |
| toxic chemicals. | | | | to support a cleaner environment but feel nervous |
| Removing the environmental threat of toxic industrial | | | | about switching to a new version of an old product, |
| solvents depends on two factors: the willingness of | | | | it helps to remember that organic cleaning solvents |
| cleaning solvent companies to replace their toxic | | | | are not less effective than toxic solvents. For |
| products with new, organic products, and the | | | | example, industrial organic degreasers offer the same |
| willingness of consumers to buy the new products. | | | | degreasing power as toxic degreasers, the only |
| Given the scope of the green movement, it would | | | | difference being that organic industrial degreasers are |
| seem like companies and consumers would be ready | | | | environmentally safe. Before you purchase another |
| to make the switch from toxic solvents to organic | | | | toxic solvent, try to remember that it's no less |
| solvents without thinking twice, but there are two | | | | dangerous than a billowing smoke stack or toxic |
| significant problems that stand in the way: the money | | | | waste pouring into rivers and bays. |
| required to develop new products and the | | | | |