'Green' washing machines, detergents from next year
STARTING next year, you can shop for environment-friendly detergents and energy-efficient washing machines which carry the Environment Ministry’s Green Label.
The qualifying criteria for these products were released by the ministry yesterday.
This is the third batch of products for the label since the scheme was launched in May last year.
So far, some 97 products carry the label. They range from batteries with a low mercury content to recycled paper products like envelopes, photostating paper and tissue paper.
Although consumers were cool to the label at first, retailers and manufacturers now say that awareness is growing.
A survey of 15 companies carried out by the Environment Ministry earlier this year showed that sales of Green Label products had gone up, some by up to 60 per cent.
Miss Ong Phaik Huan, the product manager with Shriro Paper, said: "Recycled paper products now make up one-third of our entire portfolio of paper products from art paper to letter heads. Sales have gone up and clients are also more aware of environment-friendly alternatives."
The latest qualifying criteria for powdered, concentrated and liquid laundry detergents, and dishwashing liquids and floor cleaners require:
• Biodegradability of the detergent of at least 90 per cent.
• A pH value, which measures the acidic nature of the detergent, of not more than 11.
• The detergent must not contain substances hazardous to the environment.
• Certain chemical substances be excluded or limited to specified limits in the formulation.
"Green" washing machines should not use more than 0.05 kilowatt/hour of electrical energy and not more than 35 litres of water per kilogramme of wash-load.
Feedback on these criteria can be sent to: The Secretariat, Waste Minimisation Department, 40, Scotts Road, Environment Building, #02-00, Singapore 0922 or fax: 735-4297, before Nov
1. For enquiries on the Green Labelling Scheme, call 731-9434.
Source : The Straits Times, September 29, 1993
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