Why Sierra Club and Green Works? (updated)

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Dear Sierra Club Member,

I want to let you know about an important new partnership that Sierra Club has launched with Green Works TM, the new line of natural household cleaning products from the makers of Clorox products -- and why we are so excited about this important opportunity.

Promoting the use of environmentally sustainable products and helping people find ways to make their lifestyles "greener" is integral to our mission of protecting the planet. But finding ways to do that on a large scale -- the kind of scale that can really make a difference -- has not always been easy. That's where Green Works comes in. Green Works cleaning products are made from natural, renewable resources such as coconuts, lemon oils, etc. The products are made with biodegradable ingredients and are 99 percent petrochemical free. They contain no phosphorus or bleach. They do not use aerosol and did not involve animal testing.

Green Works makes affordable, natural cleaning products available to millions of Americans. The launching of this product line provides the Sierra Club with an unprecedented opportunity to influence the buying behavior of millions of people who have never really had access to these kinds of products before. It will give a giant kick-start to the market for safe, green, affordable household cleaning products -- already sales have been very successful and have shown great signs of growth. Green Works products will ultimately be found on the shelves of approximately 24,000 stores, giving most of the public access to these cleaners and they are priced from 30 percent to 50 percent lower than the price of other natural products currently available.

This month you will start seeing our name, logo and the statement that "Green Works is a proud supporter of Sierra Club's efforts to preserve and protect the planet" on the labels and packaging. These products offer a way for tens of millions of Americans to get involved in doing something good for the planet -- as well as directly support Sierra Club -- all through their everyday actions as consumers. The financial support from the Green Works product line will help Sierra Club continue our conservation efforts, including the protection of America's clean air, clean water, wildlife, and special places.

The bottom line is that these products are environmentally conscious, affordable, work well, and will be available to millions of people. They can help alter consumer behavior overall and will support the good work of the Sierra Club. This was a chance to use the power of our name to help take natural cleaning mainstream. We believe that makes it a great opportunity for Sierra Club... and the planet.

Sincerely,

Carl Pope
Executive Director

For more information about the partnership or the Green Works(TM) products visit www.sierraclub.org/greenworks.

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Comments

[Victor Ly]

I first saw Green Works a few weeks ago at my local Costco Wholesale store and was surprised that Sierra Club's name was also on the product. More recently, I found the back cover of the latest issue of Psychology Today magazine to be an advertisement for Green Works, and Sierra Club's name also appeared. Although I am happy about this partnership, as many more people will have a chance to purchase an environmentally-friendly household cleaner, I do have some thoughts.

I have purchased household cleaners that are as safe and environmentally-friendly at stores such as Whole Foods for years. And all of the ones I've purchased are made by companies who are determined to help the environment. Green Works, on the other hand, is made by Clorox, a company that does NOT have a good environment record. Furthermore, virtually all of Clorox's products greatly harm the environment through a variety of ways. Does having one environmentally-friendly product make Clorox a good company? Not at all.

[RICK]

This partnership is jarring to me. Since I first joined the Sierra Club 40 years ago, inspired by David Brower, the pristine image image of the group impressed me. Even after the big split when Friends of the Earth was formed (and I joined FOE) did not pull me away from John Muir's vision.

Environmentally "friendly" products are important to me and I use them throughout my life. The careful examination applied to the Clorox connection is certainly appropriate and I believe Carl Pope's evaluation.

As I use and recycle containers of various "green" household products the image of the Mid-Pacific Gyre and nurdels cascading out of the carcasses of seabird chicks on remote island beaches haunts me. Is there another type of container (rather than plastic) that could be used for these products?

[Joy Rebello]

I can't say I'm overly impressed with this partnership. Sure it will make better products available to more people and help fund the Sierra Club, but did it have to be Clorox? The rest of their line is very bleak and hazardous. They can sell it cheaper, because they are Clorox and want to get on the green bandwagon. I'm not buying the products. I feel this is a very insincere gesture. I will either make my own or continue buying Seventh Generation or similar brands. I even bought some Holy Cow cleaner the other day so I didn't have to purchase a Clorox product.

[Evan Craig]

Green manufacturers that helped create the market for these products should share the rewards as it goes mainstream. It's great that one manufacturer is now finally offering green products that compete aggressively with brown alternatives based on price. But Sierra Club should not disqualify other green manufacturers from our favor based on price, especially now that EPA has introduced the DfE standards to level the playing field. That's the role of the market. Besides, it signals to other environmental entrepeneurs that Sierra Club will help BAU competitors eat their lunch if they are ever successful. That hurts our future success in inspiring the strength of American ingenuity to generate solutions to problems created by the industrial age.

[GreenGirl]

I was skeptical about the Clorox Green products myself, until seeing the endorsement by Carl Pope. I'm still a little uneasy about these products simply because the Clorox company has had many environmental infractions in the past. But, hey, we should all get a chance to clean up our act right? And if Sierra Club can endorse these products, then I feel a little better about using them. I believe we have to be wary of what we purchase that is labeled as "green", it's become the marketing bussword of the decade and just because it's on the label doesn't make it so. Just as when WalMart started marketing Organic produce that turned out not to be organic, we as consumers have to be conscious of marketing efforts, what's real and what smoke and screen.

[Linda Truskoski]

I think this is a fabulous partnership! Although Clorox may not have had the best record in the past, the company's willingness to invest in the GreenWorks line shows a desire to change that image. It is a reality of the current environmental situation that unless we get corporate America involved in "green" initiatives, nothing will get better. Kudos to the smaller companies like Seventh Generation who have been carrying the torch for years; however, until the price of these products come down, you are not going to get the buy-in of the average American. Most people are only going to do what they know is right if it will not be detrimental to their pocketbook. Look how long it took for the average Joe to buy into the idea of compact fluoresant lightbulbs! Taking an elitest viewpoint and refusing to support large corporations' efforts to to the right thing because they ARE large corporations is what has hindered pro-environment efforts in the past. I will buy the GreenWorks products, and actively market them to my family and friends - most of whom would never buy the more expensive "green" products, but who probably will buy these!

[Christoph Wienands]

I fully think the Sierra Club is on the right track with this decision. As Carl Pope wrote (something along the lines), it is certainly not the most ideal(istic) solution but in my opinion it is a good and practical one. We live a consumption-based society dominated by large manufacturers and even larger distributors. Unless you change the whole system, which I think is impossible, your best shot at making the biggest difference is by playing along the market's rules. Change, not revolution :-)

[Camille Truchel]

I'm all for "green products" but are they cruelty free? Have any been tested on animals or use any animal by products?

[Leonard B Griffiths]

Mr Pope,

My group is concerned that the SC has joined forces with a company that is less than squeaky clean with respect to environmental polution.
The new so-called "green" products contain corn-based ethanol. A use for corn that has, inter alia, contributed to world-wide food shortages with the very real possibilitiy of famine in some places.
There are very strong feelings here that the SC has embarked on a less than honorable pathway.

Were any groups, the volunteer grass roots of the SC and its backbone, consulted by the National Office prior to embarking on this course?

Thank you for your attention.

Len Griffiths,
Chairman, Pisgah Group,
NC Chapter, SC.

[Monica Pierce]

I found these products at Target just a few weeks ago and have used several of them. They perform superbly! I have purchased other more expensive green products in the past but have been very disappointed with the performance of many of them. With most Americans feeling the "pinch" on their wallets as the economy worsens, many are looking for little ways to save money. Since these items are right next to the non-green products at many big chains and since they cost about the same as the other products, I think consumers who may want to "go green" but haven't because of convenience and cost will now choose Green Works. This is exactly the point that Sierra Club made in the letter--we are trying to make environmental-friendly choices more mainstream instead of limiting them to those who have a Whole Foods within driving distance and have the money to spend on the more elitist products. I have already notified my friends and family about this partnership and expect many of them who are currently "clean" friends will now become clean, "green" friends.
For those of you questioning Clorox's commitment and record, please be sure to read all the information at http://www.sierraclub.org/greenworks/

[ELLIOTT HAINES III]

'purify the drinking water' ...???? disinfect maybe However, where is it that DBP's in the drinking water is a 'good thing' to drink as 'purified water' from the tap??? "POTENT carcinogens" per McGill university Jan 2000 published article on drinking water "contaminents"and childhood leukiemia [ title of report on chlorintated tap water....NOT purified water after using chlorine to 'clean' ...disinfect the liquid for people and pets to DRINK ... tis NOT purified drinking water....EITHER one has the MOST EFFECTIVE point of use filter with highest levels of standard # 53 [ratings by www.nsf.org ] or ONE ...IS the filter} MOreoveR the company Clorox is in my humble opinion, BLATANTLY ABUSING the public with the sale of it's plastic pitcher brita that is 2 maybe 3 cents of plastic and charcoal selling for $18 to $ 45 depending on the model... This does little IF ANYTHING to make the water healthier when the DBP'S are still present bombarding the mammalian cells with a potent carcinogen EACH TIME THEY drink the taste and odor filtered clorox water... purified water...NOT !!!! P.S. Journal of National Cancer Institute, 6/18/97 , page 848 to 856 article on study done in Finland... NINE cancers " contributed to... or caused by exposure to " chlorine by products....the more chlorine added to the water with organic material the more the multiple sites of malignant tumors.... ALL SUBJECTS HAD GOTTEN >>>> LEUKEMIA...... control group with same water and NO chlorine added had ......NONE ....NADA ....ZIP.... NO >>>>CANCER !!!!! clorox bought brita ...markets the 'product' heavily and makes an obscene profit selling something that is not worth the gun powder to blow it up IMHO.... Call them on this piece of %^$#&&&!!! ask them how many of their families are using the taste and odor plastic pitcher to protect their children and families FROM the POTenT DBP's , cancer-causing CONTAMINENTS in the "purified water" from the municipal water district... MY strong belief is that the scientist and management "human" resources have 'plastic water' delivered or even a www.mulitpure.com most effective point of use drinking water filter working to protect the loved ones from the DBP's... after all either they have a most effective water filter ....or they are the filter....

[Cathy Harrelson]

I believe Sierra Club's partnership with a large corporation to bring green products to the broader marketplace is a necessary, valuable step to promoting green products on a large scale. I will use the products and will recommend them.

I understand Chlorox is a corporation and doesn't have a perfect environmental record. But this is a way to introduce green, less toxic products at an affordable cost, which is a critical step in the paradigm shift to green.

I, too, however, am disappointed that the packaging options are limited to (mostly) individual plastic bottles. Seems to me that the dilutable option and larger containers to provide refills should be part and parcel of any "green" product. I hope that Sierra Club's endorsement also brings us some leverage to make further green recommendations to Chlorox.

Thanks you,
Cathy Harrelson
Coastal Chair - Suncoast Group
St. Petersburg, Florida

[Whatever]

Clorox tests on animals and I do not purchase products from companies that turture animals. You don't have to do that in order to create safe products, and anyway, animal testing hurts the environment.

Check PETA website for companies that do not conduct animal testing.

Thank you,

Ronit

[Sara Steinbroner]

I use all enviormentally safe products, I am a member of Green Peace, I have actually bought safe products for family and friends and they were amazed how well they worked, I believe that we have to protect the enviorment for future generations, I have grand children, and I try to teach them that they have to work to protect the enviorment, and that is not totally the job of the government, but it is our resonsibility to prtect ourselves, thanks for all you do.

[Insider Host]

In response to some of the comments and questions folks have had, please visit our website for answers to questions like What is Clorox's overall environmental record?" and Isn't Clorox a big dumper of chlorine into the environment?"

In addition, the Sierra Club undertook a comprehensive screening and approval process of the Green Works products before approval of the partnership. The Green Works products were reviewed by a broad number of Sierra Club volunteers and staff.

The Green Works products have not been tested on animals. The Green Works bottles are recyclable and available for purchase in industrial-sized quantities to minimize waste.

[Snakelady]

Although I rarely use any cleaning products besides borax powder and tap water, this sounds like a well-researched partnership with good potential. My main concern is that there seems to be no regard for the packaging of the product. What can you do to encourage the company to use recycled plastic in its containers? Also, is the company involved in urban renewal and the re-use of already 'developed' land?

[Ira J. Schildkraut]

I may have missed it among all the hype for the products, but I didn't see the exact relatioinship between Clorox and Sierra Club. How much annual monetary support are you talking about? Give us the FACTS!!!!!!!!!!

[Louis J. Finkle]

There is a difference between accepting ongoing donations from a "green" company and getting a "fee" to use the Sierra Club affiliation! The former is an acknowledgement the the money received was through good faith support whereas the latter reflects the image of "selling endorsements."

Perhaps Sierra Club should disclose the actual contract between the parties so that all members will have a chance to see the relationship. Even EXXON-MOBILE could justify its affiliation with Sierra Club if the proposal is well worded. As to whether the MEMBERS are willing to view such affiliation, however, needs to be more transparent.

[Lois S]

This kind of arrangement with a big corporation seems like a good way to push for greening all kinds of other things. Sure, green companies that have far superior records to that of Clorox deserve attention and kudos too, but they reach a relatively small number of consumers, and it's like preaching to the choir. What we need are more collaborations like this with the giants that want and need to reform. Since everything comes down to dollars and cents, if Clorox makes money on this deal, it may become a model to other corporations. Putting money in the pockets of Sierra Club is not such a bad idea either. This may not be the perfect partnership, but it may open the way for more greening of consumer products.

[Dr. Jill Berman]

While I applaud Clorox for offering the Green Works line and feel it deserves recognition for creating and marketing these products, I am concerned about the impact that the Sierra Club's endorsement of and partnership with Clorox will have on smaller companies that have had a longer history of developing environmentally sound products. I fear this new partnership will threaten the continued viability of these smaller operations. These companies also deserve support from the Sierra Club.

[A. Cristina]

Sounds good, Sierra Club. Perhaps too good to be true! Frankly, I'm not convinced! Of late it seems that the passenger load aboard the "SAVE-this-that-and-the-other" bus has mushroomed out of sight! Everyone who can is out for free donations and donors are out for the freebies offered. No, I don't trust any of it! Now Sierra comes along with a new idea--partner the baddies and turn them into goodies for the good of everybody! Well, truth will out. If you're truly on the level, we consumers will eventually get it; and if you're not and this is one more gimmick or con, then we will get that too. Meanwhile, I wait and see what the environmental watchdogs such as OCA and others have to say about this partnership and its real purpose and intention.

[A. Cristina]

One concern I have. Of all the US government agencies, few have a worse track record than the EPA. Yet it is the EPA whose approval you sought, got and now list and uphold as standard of validity. That you do so I find highly dubious to say the least. Indeed, no government agency under the Bush administration merits any level of confidence. Their credibility is non-existent in my book!

.

[James Boone]

Sounds like a good idea. I think organizations like the Sierra Club should work with established companies where possible and where both can profit (win-win). The Nature Conservancy does it with great success.

[Tom]

While I admit Clorox sounds suspect, I trust the Sierra Club to only partner with corporations that meet strict environmental standards. I have not used the products yet, but I've seen them in stores and will give Green Works a try when I need cleaning products. I probably would not have done so without the SC endorsement... which, as I said, I TRUST.

[sstewart]

I have to say that I am glad that the Sierra Club is endorsing the Clorox "Green Works" products. While I'm concerned about the smaller companies like Seventh Generation getting the market squeeze, at least perhaps Green Works will forge a new path for getting more of these products on the shelves of big mainstream markets. As of now Green Works is the only green product on the shelves of Walmart and the price is accessable to most folks. Maybe some not so green people will give them a try and give the environment a second thought afterall. I use these products and they smell good, work very well and I feel that they are safe around my pets. I also use other green products and I really wish they were easier to find in the grocery store. For example, I can only find Seventh Generation products at Target! Also, maybe with the Sierra Club label on the Green Works products Clorox will now be forced to be more accountable to the environment.
Also one other note: If you read about how Clorox produces well...clorox I really think it is the least of some very evil household products out there. Heck we used it to purify water on our backpack and river trips down the Grand Canyon and really I'm thankful it worked! It also helps keep safe drinking water available for many people living in third world conditions around the world.