Breaking News: Tide has agreed to reformulate laundry detergents!
For those of you who have been following Groovy Green Livin for a while you’ll remember that Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) released a report , Dirty Secrets: What’s Hiding in Your Cleaning Products?, which revealed high levels of the cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane hiding out in Tide® and Tide Free & Gentle® . 1,4-dioxane has been linked in animal studies to increased risk of breast cancer. This toxic chemical doesn’t appear on the Tide product label or on the product website, so consumers have no way of knowing it’s even there.
My Petition
Many of you know that I started a petition over at Change.org demanding that Procter & Gamble (makers of Tide) strip this harmful cancer-causing chemical out of Tide Free & Gentle®. As it turned out I wasn’t the only one who wanted these cancer-causing chemicals out of their Tide laundry detergent.
The petition went viral. Over 78,000 of you stepped up to the plate and raised your voice, demanding that Procter & Gamble change the formulation of their Tide laundry detergent. We knew Procter & Gamble could make this change because they’ve done it before. Back in 2010 the company reformulated its Herbal Essences® shampoo to eliminate 1,4-dioxane. We continued to turn up the volume, letting Procter & Gamble know that we wouldn’t stop until they made a change.
Following the WVE report, As You Sow, an Oakland-based nonprofit, filed a lawsuit against Procter & Gamble for violating Proposition 65, the California law governing toxic chemical exposure in consumer products.
Victory! We did it!
The Power of We is a force to be reckoned with. Almost 80,000 of us came together demanding that Procter & Gamble remove this cancer-causing chemical from their Tide Free & Gentle® laundry detergent. After almost a year Procter & Gamble realized they could no longer ignore our concerns.
Procter & Gamble listened!
On January 24, 2013 Procter & Gamble, makers of Tide® and Tide Free & Gentle® detergents agreed in a California court to reformulate its detergents to reduce levels of 1,4 dioxane to below 25 parts per million. Procter & Gamble will complete the reformulation process by September of 2013!
The Power of Our Collective Voice
Yes, I started the petition but YOU made it happen. By taking a few seconds out of your day to add your name to that petition you made a difference.
This victory is a testament to the power of our collective voices. We just moved the biggest consumer product company on the planet to make a change, a big change, in just one short year. Together we not only made a difference in our own health we made Tide safer for the millions of people who use it globally.
Thank you to all the fabulous writers and friends who covered this story on their blogs and/or in other media. There are too many of you to name, but just know that you were instrumental in making this happen. Thank you.
Thank you to WVE for spearheading the report and working tirelessly to make sure Procter & Gamble was held accountable. Cassidy (the star of the victory video above) you rock!
Thank you to Healthy Child Healthy World, with an extra big shout out to Margie Kelly, for the endless support and guidance.
Thank you to As You Sow for adding that extra pressure that helped turn the tables on this issue.
Thank you to Change.org for providing a fabulous petition platform which empowers people everywhere to create change.
Together We Made this Happen
So after September of 2013 when you see a bottle of Tide® or Tide Free & Gentle® sitting on the shelves in the store walk by with your head held high, knowing that you made that product a bit safer for families everywhere. Maybe you’ll even share the story with your children and let them know how powerful we really are.
Congratulations. This victory is yours! Please take a moment to thank Procter & Gamble for listening to our concerns.
Congrats on all your hard work Lori!
Jen @ Go Green recently posted..Dove Body Wash – Greenwashing Extraordinare
That’s awesome, Lori! Really cool that you helped make this happen.
Well done, Lori!
yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i’m so impressed by you!
Congratulations, Lori and all of us who won another victory against big industry’s push to poison our kids!
Ronnie recently posted..Keep MLK’s Dream Alive
Awesome!
Cathy recently posted..Walt Disney World’s Be Our Guest Restaurant {Review}
Incredible! It gives me hope that companies are starting to listen. Although, can’t help but notice that they agreed to reformulate within 8 months – pretty quick. Makes me think they already know how, so why didn’t they do it sooner.
Kristina (The Greening Of Westford) recently posted..6 Oddball Things I Always Save
Woo hoo! Great news Lori!
Micaela @MindfulMomma recently posted..New Healthy Meals eBooks to Try
That’s incredibly good news, it means that the voice of the people CAN make a difference without going through an act of Congress to force the change. The market won today! Thank you for spearheading.
Lori that is incredible! Congratulations on the fruits of your hard work and dedication.
Jennie recently posted..How To Bake Homemade Organic Strawberry Shortcake
On the video she says ‘drastically reduce’, that doesn’t mean ‘remove’ does it? How much of it will still be in there?
Amazing! It just proves that WE can all make a difference! So proud! 🙂
Good Girl Gone Green recently posted..Mini hazelnut butter filled chocolates
WOW … CONGRATULATIONS!! This victory brings tears to my eyes … it’s just awesome when we pull together and make a positive change. Thank you for initiating this movement and keeping it alive! While I wish that we wouldn’t have had to nudge Tide in the right direction, I’m so glad that they are willing to listen and make a change. It might not have been for the right, environmental reasons but … the end result will be positive indeed!
Small Footprints recently posted..Guest Post: Lowell Milken Center – Finding Hidden Heroes
I am thrilled beyond belief about this! Way to go eco-warrior!
Brenna @ Almost All The Truth recently posted..Protect Wild African Lions
Lori – that is SO AWESOME – YOU ROCK!! Just saw the story on the news!!!
lynn @ Maven of Savin’ recently posted..Printable coupon roundup – Bagel-fuls, Turkey Hill Ice Cream, Alexia & more
We are so proud to have you as our member. We are so fortunate to have network members with honorable goals like this! Let’s make more changes like this done through sisterhood!! Strength in numbers speak volume! Congratulations!
karen recently posted..Welcome to the Green Sisterhood
I didn’t even know about that! Wow!
Scarlet of Family Focus Blog recently posted..Win Or Loss: How To Talk to Your Child After A Sports Game
You are such a rock star! And I’m so humbled to know you! Congrats!
karen recently posted..10 Tips on Buying Fuel Efficient Car for Women
You are so sweet and supportive Karen. I’m honored to be a part of the Green Sisterhood. Together our voices do make a difference!
I feel the same about you Karen. Thanks for all your continued support.
There’s no way you would have known. Labels aren’t required to list ingredients. Even more reason we need to pass the Safe Chemicals Act.
Thanks so much for your support Karen! Right back attcha!
Thanks for stopping by-always happy to share info that will help us all make educated decisions.
Thanks so much Lynn. I completely missed the story on the news!
Thanks Brenna! Your support helped make this happen!!
Thanks so much. Yes, it’s a step in the right direction. Many more steps for P & G and other companies to take.
WE can make a difference! Thanks, as always, for your support Stephanie.
Diana, that’s a great question and one that I asked as well. The response I received was that it is possible that P & G through new manufacturing processes could bring the level down to 0 but they are only legally bound to reduce it to 25ppm. The good news is that have the technology to reduce the amount of 1.4 dioxane to below 10-they did it with their Herbal Essences products.
Thanks so much Jennie. I truly appreciate your support!
Yes Mary-our collective voices DO make a difference!
Thanks Micaela-yes, it’s fantastic news!
Hi Kristina-P & G does know how to reformulate their products! They did the same exact thing with their Herbal Essence products back in 2010. They know exactly what their doing. Good question- why didn’t they do it sooner??
Thanks Cathy!
Thanks so much Ronnie. Every small step makes a big difference. This is a big win for the consumer! Our collective voices can make a difference.
Thanks sweet Jen 🙂
Thanks Anna! Now we have your petition to push forward.
Thanks so much Betsy!
Thanks Jen!
Wow! Great work, Lori! It’s always hard to fight consumerism and corporations, but you fought the good fight and won–congratulations!!!
Joy @ Joyfully Green recently posted..Enjoying the Great Outdoors…Without Leaving the House?
Thank you so much for your support Joy. It means a lot.
Hi Lori !
Wow! well done! you/we got P&G to back off! amazing!
take care, Kathy
Kathy Morelli,LPC recently posted..Postpartum Depression – Stand Up for Mental Health Blog Hop
Wow, awesome job, what laundry detergent do you suggest using?
DId I say “WOOT!”? If not then WOOT!! Love ya! Great job!!
[email protected] recently posted..Coastal Green Living at It’s Southern Best Could Be Yours: Welcome to the HGTV Dream Home 2013
My question is why did they even have it in there in the first place? Why do we trust a company that puts it’s profits ahead of it’s customer’s safety? I’ve committed to not shopping from them at all! I’ll let my redirected shopping dollars do the talking! Join me in boycotting P&G!
Great question Lisa!I find it hard to imagine a company keeping a chemical in its products that could cause cancer. Clearly I’m not alone.
This is an awesome way to help all those who still want to use traditional (sorry, but “toxic”) laundry detergents. But hopefully we can keep moving forward with greener detergents or eliminate detergents altogether with the new ozone laundry systems coming out.
Honestly, getting people to vote with their dollar, and choosing another brand (Oasis being one) all together would be my vote and MUCH better for the planet. I have never used Tide (for one reason the fragrance) and would not. This is a small victory albeit a step in the “better” direction.