Sales of environmentally friendly products for home and office use are soaring. at the same time, manufacturers continue to introduce ecologically sensitive items ranging from baby and pet supplies to office paper, light bulbs, and appliances. Here's a sample of what's on the market today:

• Lever, which part of the Unilever group, just introduced a super-concentrated, phosphate-free detergent in Denmark called Radion Micro. The new product requires less packaging than ordinary soaps and, the company claims, is just as effective.
• Post-it notes made from recycled paper are now available from 3M. The company is also developing emission free substitudes for the solvents used to suspend coatings on the company's sandpaper, video and sticky tapes, and other products.
• If you want to save water, consider the Swedish Ifo toilet, which flushes clean with just 3 litresof water (comparing to 20 litres for most conventional varities.) The japanese-made Nepon Pearl toilet uses just 235 millilitres of water, thanks to a foam generator that eliminates friction in the toilet bowl during the flush. japanese toilets not yet available for export do even better by incorporating a handwashing sink in the tank top: waste water from the sink is reused for flushing.
• Proctor & Gamble Co.has introduced refill pouches and cartons for liquid cleaning products that come in large plastic jugs. Available In Europe since 1988 for Lenor fabric softerner, Vizir detergent and Mr. Proper household cleaner, P&G refills are now marketed refill cartons for Downy fabrics softerner arrived on U.S and Canandian supermarket shelves this year.
• Fuji Film now packages its 35mm film cannisters made mostly of paper, replacing the plasctic contaniers previously used. The company is also using film boxes that are manufactured from recycled paper.
• In Japan, Daiei, Inc makes chopsticks from woodscraps an alternative to the more common type of disposable chopsticks made from virgin lumber.
• Soft, recently introduced by Golden Australia Paper Manufacturers, is a highly degradable bathroom tisues substitude made entirely from recycled cotton. The copmpany makes napkins, facial tissues and industrail rolls as well.
• Canon Inc, the camera and electronic equipment manufacturer, has inaugurated an internatonal "Clean Earth Campaign" to collect replacable toner catridges from its pc copiers, laser printers and fax machines for recycling. Each catridge carton contains a collection kit and a postpaid mailing label. For each catridge returned. Canon contributes $1 to be shared by the National Wildlife Federation and the Nature Consvervancy.
• Skin and hair-care products fromt the Body Shop are natural and features minimal packaging. This worldwide chain practises its "TRade Not Aid" creed by nurturing trade relationships with local sources in developing countries. New products including notepaper and gift boxes handmade from banana fiber and water hyacinths in Nepal. Under developing is a line of Brazilian rain forest products, including bath beads and Brazil nut hair conditioner made from crops grown by local Kayapo Indians.
• High speed digital duplicators by Riso, Inc, of Jaoan, provide top quality multicoloured images using solvent-free links and a cool temperature process. The copier is particularly tolerant of recycled paper, which often clogs copiers.
• Luxury-car makers BMW and Rolls-Royce have joined forces to rpoduce an advanced aircraft engine for medium size passenger planes. The new engine produced by BMW Rolls-Royce Gmbh in Germany, will consume less fuel and produce fewer emissions than other engines. The first test run of the prototype engine is planned for early 1993.
• Nontoxic one coat emulsion paint is now on the shelves of DIY(Do IT Yourself) shops in U.K. The paint, from Britain's Arch Consumer Products, comes in white and can be used indoors and out. it contains no hazadous solutions, added lead or formaldehyde. Ark also plans to introduce earth-friendly paint strppers and adhesives.
• Marcel Paper Mills of New Jersey makes all its products, including napkins, bath tissue, roll towels and facial tissue, from 100 percent recycled paper, including office waste paper.  

Mary S. Glucksman

Source : Newsweek 17 June 1991

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