They provide a complete list of ingredients on the container. However, as you’ve likely already realized, Grove is not a bare-bones firm. Nevertheless, the EPA mandates that active disinfectants and potentially hazardous chemicals be stated properly. Since cleaning products are not regulated by the FDA, the ingredients do not have to be listed on the package. I want you to think about the effects that businesses and products like Grove Collaborative have upstream and downstream.

On Grove Collaborative’s website, there are dozens of examples of single-use products that try to look like they are good for the environment. They are essentially identical to paper towels.Įven though they say their sourcing is better, they try to hide the fact that their product must be shipped hundreds of miles (which has a big carbon footprint) and is then thrown away through marketing (greenwashing). They are discarded and sent to a landfill. Grove Collaborative fails to comprehend that its products are ultimately disposable. The issue is that, as a consumer, you must consider not only “upstream” (source) but also “downstream,” i.e., where does this product go after its lifecycle? They say that by not using trees, they are more environmentally friendly. They sell alternatives to paper products and household supplies, such as toilet paper and paper towels, produced from bamboo. The ideal example of greenwashing is Grove Collaborative. And remember, if you believe it does not work, you can return it for a full refund. The idea that natural products are inferior to their chemical-laden equivalents has been debunked for some time, but Grove may have placed the final nail in that coffin.įrom their cleansers to their vitamins, they place significant emphasis on ensuring that the products they sell are effective. Perhaps most significantly, their products are of high quality.īecause they only work with high-quality brands and make their own products, they don’t have to compromise on quality to offer such a wide range of products. They are also producing their own environmentally beneficial and sustainable goods.Įxamples of products sold by Grove include: The bright side is that Grove is increasing the number of products in their portfolio with eco-friendly packaging. However, they continue to ship plastic products to many of their customers. On their homepage, Grove Collaborative writes, “Only 9 percent of plastic is recycled in the United States, and 24 billion pounds of plastic reach the ocean each year.” If a product’s packaging is made of plastic, its production may not be sustainable. The issue with this claim relates to their third criterion point. Grove Collaborative asserts that its goods adhere to a four-point standard: they must be uncompromisingly healthy, aesthetically effective, sustainably manufactured, and cruelty-free. Native Energy and Natural Capital Partners are two of the partners with whom Grove Collaborative collaborates to carbon offset its shipping. In this way, they lower the amount of carbon dioxide in the air to make up for the carbon dioxide released when their boxes are shipped. Many claims are made by Grove Collaborative, such as offering carbon-offset shipping for every box.Ĭarbon offsetting at Grove is accomplished by purchasing credits to fund technologies that reduce atmospheric pollution, such as solar systems, wind farms, and more. Monthly Grove packages appear to be the most appealing due to the convenience of having natural products delivered directly to your home. Some of the items are also derived from plants.

In addition to this claim, they revealed their new plastic-free soaps and cleaning products. Under the heading “Imagine a World Without Plastic,” Grove Collaborative wrote on their homepage, “By 2025, Grove will be completely free of plastic.” How accurate is their claim that they are sustainable, strong, and healthy if the majority of their products are packaged in plastic? Many of the things they ship are packaged in plastic. They assert that their collection is resilient, potent, and wholesome. Grove Collaborative also produces its own goods. Some of the things that come in their monthly boxes are deodorants, toothpaste, laundry detergent, and floor cleaners. Grove Collaborative is a firm that sends monthly shipments of natural home care items to your home.

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