Read about the advantages with GreenEarth and answer some of the more frequently asked questions. Discover why existing drycleaners are converting to GreenEarth and new operators are selecting it as their cleaning solution of choice.
2. Why is it better for the earth?
3. Why is it better for clothes?
4. Why is it better for dry cleaners?
5. How many GreenEarth Affiliates are there?
6. What is the regulatory outlook for dry cleaning and GreenEarth?
7. Has there been much testing done on GreenEarth?
8. I’ve heard that GreenEarth causes cancer, is that true?
9. What are the facts of the research?
10. I am seeing a lot of “organic” dry cleaning claims, is GreenEarth organic?
1. What is GreenEarth®? GreenEarth is the brand name for liquid silicone solution. It is an exclusive, patented dry cleaning process whose name and logo are trademarked (there are no “generic” forms of GreenEarth). The scientific name for liquid silicone is decamethylpentacyclosiloxane, or D5.
For more information on the manufacturing process of silicone, click here.
2. Why is it better for the earth? Eighty-five percent of dry cleaners use a solvent known as perc, short for perchloroethylene, a chlorinated hydrocarbon classified by the US EPA as a Toxic Air Contaminant. Use of perc is highly regulated because indiscriminate disposal of perc can seriously contaminate soil and groundwater, and exposure can irritate eyes, nose and throat, as well as cause headaches, dizziness or fatigue. Perc is also classified by the US EPA as a possible to probable human carcinogen.
In contrast, GreenEarth is so safe the US EPA has chosen not to regulate it, its safe for the air, water and soil. What’s more, the GreenEarth solution is not a VOC , it’s non-toxic, and non-hazardous. It is a liquid made from sand not oil. If you wanted to, you could safely rub it on your skin. In fact, you probably already do. That’s because GreenEarth’s solution is pure liquid silicone—essentially liquefied sand. It’s the same base ingredient found in baby shampoos, shampoo conditioners, sunscreens, and skin creams. Plus, when released to the environment, liquid silicone safely degrades back into its three natural components: sand (SiO2), water and carbon dioxide.
For more information on the manufacturing process of silicone, click here.
3. Why is it better for clothes? GreenEarth solution is different from dry cleaning solvents in that it is chemically inert, meaning it does not interact with the textile fabric or dyes during the cleaning process. This helps preserve the quality of garments, eliminate problems with fabric wear or color loss, maintain a soft “hand” and prevent shrinkage. Delicate silks, suede, leather, beads, sequins, painted garments, special trims, couture, heirloom fabrics and other "problem" items are no problem at all. And, unlike petroleum based solvents like perc or hydrocarbon, GreenEarth is odourless, so there is no lingering chemical smell on your clothes.
4. Why is it better for dry cleaners? Dry cleaners face a difficult dilemma: it can be very expensive to purchase and operate an environmentally responsible cleaning system. GreenEarth is the one truly “green” system that is affordable for dry cleaners. The cost for a machine capable of using GreenEarth is similar to the perc machines most dry cleaners currently use. And, because it requires less labor to process and finish items cleaned in GreenEarth and can be configured to use less energy than traditional systems, dry cleaners using GreenEarth enjoy better operating efficiency. Best of all, because it produces a noticeable difference that customers can see, touch and smell, GreenEarth helps dry cleaners attract and keep loyal customers.
The only other truly “green” alternatives in dry cleaning are CO2 and 100% wet cleaning. The problem for dry cleaners, especially the small “mom and pop” cleaners who are the back bone of the industry, is that it is very difficult to make a living operating exclusively with either of these eco-friendly systems. CO2 machines can cost three times as much as the perc machines they are used to; and 100% wet cleaning systems, because they require more labor to produce and finish wet cleaned garments, are very expensive to operate with. Less than one-third of one percent of dry cleaners operates with CO2 or 100% wet cleaning.
5. How many GreenEarth Affiliates are there? There are more than 1000 active licenses world wide. Locate the GreenEarth Affiliate closest to you by using the store locator on the GreenEarth Cleaning web site.
6. What is the regulatory outlook for dry cleaning and GreenEarth? Dry cleaning is under increasing regulatory scrutiny. California’s ban on the use of perc and the purchase of perc machines is widely regarded as the beginning of the end of perc solvents. New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York and Toronto, Canada are all considering similar bans. If the industry continues to drag its feet when it comes to adopting “more environmentally-friendly alternatives”, regulators can be expected to grow increasingly concerned and increase legislative pressure. GreenEarth continues to meet and exceed all regulatory requirements and regulations.
7. Has there been much testing done on GreenEarth? GreenEarth is the only alternative solvent to perform and openly report extensive testing on its health, environmental and safety profile. Over $30 million worth of independent testing and research has been done on D5 solvent to confirm that it is ecologically friendly and safe to use in all of its many applications, including dry cleaning. GreenEarth also underwrote a comprehensive, 2002 IFI Fellowship Study, which compared the GreenEarth system to the industry standard “perc system”. The IFI declared it to be “as effective as perc with no environmental concerns”. Independent waste stream and air exposure testing confirmed that D5 as used in daily dry cleaning operation exceeds all federal, state and local requirements for water and air safety.
8. I’ve heard that GreenEarth causes cancer, is that true? Absolutely not. This rumor dates back to 2004-2005 news coverage around the release of a voluntary 2-year bioassay study commissioned by Dow Corning, a manufacturer of D5. News reporters like to create controversy, and a preliminary finding of this study allowed them to do just that. Follow-up research was conducted that determined that D5 liquid silicone poses no risk to human health; however this research finding did not receive widespread news coverage. Here is what matters:
. The EPA does not recognize D5 silicone as a potential carcinogen or toxic air contaminant
. The EPA does not regulate the use of D5 in dry cleaning or any other application
. The California Air Resources Board conducted an extensive 18 month review of the health and safety research and ruled that use of D5 in dry cleaning does not pose an adverse health risk for the public
. More than 30 different studies on D5 demonstrate there is not a human health concern
. D5 is one of the most extensively studied materials in consumer applications
. D5 has been used safely for more than 40 years in many different applications
. D5 can be shipped without any "hazardous handling" requirements
This solvent is one of the most heavily studied products ever used; it is a modified liquid silicone similar to the base ingredients used in underarm deodorant, cosmetics, shaving lotion, etc.
9. What are the facts of the research? As part of its commitment to the safe use of silicone, Dow Corning commissioned a two year Combined Chronic/Carcinogenicity Study on D5 liquid silicone. The study tested the effects of chronic inhalation of D5 at various levels of exposure for varying lengths of time, on male and female lab rats. None of the rats in the study were affected except for a small number of female rats in the test cell exposed at the highest possible exposure level for the longest possible time. Some of these rats developed pre-cancerous indicators, they did not develop cancer. The rats affected were the female rats exposed to the highest achievable vapor concentration of D5-160 ppm (parts per million)-six hours a day continuously for two years. By contrast, people who work in a dry cleaning plant are exposed at the lowest measurable vapor concentration of D5-1 ppm-during an eight-hour workday. What is important to understand is that the study was designed to test the potential effects of D5 as a chemical, not its safe use in a dry cleaning application.
10. I am seeing a lot of “organic” dry cleaning claims, is GreenEarth organic? No. And that is a good thing. "Organic", as it relates to chemistry, refers to anything with a carbon backbone. Gasoline and asphalt are organic. Dry cleaners who market themselves this way are misleading the consumer.
If you are interested in speaking with a GreenEarth representative to discuss the specifics, please click here for our contact information.
FABRIC CARE TIPS & TRICKS
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