Green it!: Earth-friendly dry cleaning

By Becka Cremer

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Thanks to Eco-Logic Dry Cleaners, which opened last month, Lawrence has a green way to dry clean.

Eco-Logic, 2540 South Iowa Street, uses the GreenEarth Cleaning process to dry clean your duds. The only solvent used in the GreenEarth process is liquid silicone, says Eddie Ocampo, whose parents own Eco-Logic. Liquid silicone is not harmful to the environment and it breaks down into sand, water and carbon dioxide, Ocampo says.

The GreenEarth process preserves the softness and color of clothing, and it doesn’t have the usual just-dry-cleaned smell. And, Ocampo says, the average cost of dry cleaning the GreenEarth way is about the same as taking your clothes to a traditional cleaner.

photo

Photo by Becka Cremer

Green sense: Eco-Logic Dry Cleaners uses an environmentally friendly process to dry clean your clothes.

But do we really need a greener dry cleaning process?

The Environmental Protection Agency thinks so.

About 85 percent of dry cleaners use a toxic chemical called perchloroethylene, or perc, to treat stains, according to the EPA. Perc must be disposed of carefully, and can pollute the air, water and the ground. Perc is also dangerous for people. Overexposure to the chemicals can cause liver damage and, early studies show, may also lead to cancer.

So, when you’re deciding where to take your dry clean-only clothes, consider the process used by your dry cleaner. Eco-Logic might be the best choice for you—and the earth.

For more information, visit www.greenearthcleaning.com or www.epa.gov.

Comments

commuter (anonymous) says...

When the D-5 (GreenEarth) is manufactured it creates tow of the most toxic chemicals know to man, Dioxin and Chlorine. So from it origins it isn't "green" in the sense that you think it means. Secondly, it is a know bio accumulator. This means as it is released in to the environment it accumulates in the animals that it comes in contact with. DDT did this too. What this means is that it may not be toxic in its original amounts, but as it accumulates in the environment, it may become toxic. Canada, has already begun the process to limit D-5 use.
It is manufactured by Proctor and Gamble and General Electric. You know GE they polluted 100 miles of the Hudson River with PCBs.
Now do you really think it is green or maybe you have been duped by some smart MBAs with better marketing degrees?

April 23, 2009 at 7:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

timmax (anonymous) says...

I believe that there are a number of inaccuracies in the comments posted by commuter to the story on Eco-Logic Cleaners.
Here are a number of the statements that I believe require clarification.
1) The liquid silicone manufacturing process does not produce chlorine.
2) If there were a cataclysmic event in the silicone manufacturing process, there is the possibility for the release of dioxins ( similar to the outcome of a cataclysmic event in many industrial processes ).
3) Environment Canada issued a statement on January 30/2009 that the silicone used in the GreenEarth Cleaning System does not pose a risk to human health. A similar statement was made by the California Air Resources Board in February of 2008. Both statements are a matter of public record.
4) There is no regulatory agency on earth that currently regulates the use of this silicone product due to it being " a known bio-accumulator".
5) Neither General Electric nor Procter and Gamble manufacture silicone.

The inference drawn from the post by "commuter" is that replacing perc ( listed by the EPA as a Toxic Air Contaminant ) with GreenEarth's patented silicone process ( used by more than 1400 of the world's most progressive drycleaners due to it's non-regulation by the EPA) is not beneficial to humans or the environment...hmmmn, I think I smell a perc cleaner !

April 23, 2009 at 4:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

steelejd (anonymous) says...

reply to TIMMAX response to COMMUTER posting. For the record I am a drycleaner who uses Carbon Dioxide(not Solvair)and wetcleaning. I have come to the conclusion that it is best to provide the consumer with accurate information (which I hope I am about to provide) and allow the consumer the opportunity to define "green" for themselves. While TIMMAX smells a perc cleaner in COMMUTER, I smell a PR guy for Green Earth in TIMMAX. There are several obfuscations in the response that require clarification. I’ll take it according to his points.
1)True, but it requires chlorine, the manufacture of which produces dioxins
2) yup, just like any other industrial chemical. Green Earth is a manmade industrial chemical using decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) as it's active ingredient. Dow Corning makes D5, GE and P&G are involved in the Green Earth venture I am not sure which (or if both) is/(are) responsible for producing the exact formulation of Green Earth.
3) True - Green Earth should be commended as a safe alternative to perc. However, there is a not so small ommision here. "The government of Canada has determined D5 is harmful to the environment". That is a direct quote from the Government of Canadas website on chemical substances. www.chemicalsubstances.gc.ca, select chemical substances, scroll to challenge 2, pick D5.
4) Final rules from Canadia were due April 1, 09, don't think they have been completed, so, you betcha TIMMAX is technically correct, though deceptive. The Canadian Government has, in fact, adjudged a bioaccumulation potential of D5 and will regulate it.
5)right again D5 is manufactured by Dow Corning (I know you'll sleep better at night knowing that). GE and/or P&G participate in the formulation of D5 into Green Earth.

Now here's my personal gripe with Green Earth claims. "It breaks down into sand, water and CO2". After what period and by what means. The half life of D5 in the Canadian aquatic environment is upwards of 1 and 1/2 years That's how long it takes half of a given quantity to break down and I doubt that if the byproducts are sand, water and CO2. It's analogous to saying gasoline breaks down into CO2 and water since it is comprised of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
I have seen the response that will no doubt be forwarded by GE marketing about how bad CO2 and wetcleaning are for the environment and expect them as a response to this. I will respond to them at that time.
Anyhow, I think GreenEarth is a great replacement for the industry standard products for drycleaning. Current research indicates it's safe, economical and has a substantially reduced potential for impact on the environment. It also has a very large corporate backing with sophisticated marketing capabilities that will try to define green to the consumer. Be informed and develop your own definition.Check out green drycleaning at Occidental College's website and Co-Op America Real Money on your search engine for unbiased information.

April 25, 2009 at 7:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

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