New RVers may find it overwhelming to choose from the wide variety of RV products available on the market! The difference between organic, natural, and safe products is crucial when it comes to holding tank products and RV chemicals. In the first place, why do these terms exist?
Organic
There is an increasing popularity of the phrase “organic” on packaging for food, clothes, and cleaning products. There are times when it can be misleading. USDA regulation does not apply to most cleaning products, which is a big problem. In contrast to food, shampoos, and skin care products, cleaning products are not intended for human consumption. The ‘organic’ label does not have strict regulatory requirements, so cleaning products labelled as organic do not qualify as reliable indicators. Before organic products can be considered legitimate, they must be approved by the USDA. Make sure that organic cleaning products are properly certified, and be cautious of those that claim to be organic.
Often, companies refer to their products as organic because they contain organic ingredients. The fact that something exists on earth does not guarantee its safety! Asbestos, arsenic, mercury, and formaldehyde could even be labeled as natural or organic with a labelling system such as this! A seal from an organization certifying the organic product is a good sign.
Natural
Due to the lack of federal regulation of natural products, the term “natural” is fraught with problems. The term “natural product” refers to something that originates from the earth without having been altered by humans. Although the term is correctly used, there are also traps associated with it since food and non-food items are not regulated. A regulation does not clearly distinguish between natural products and non-natural products. When it comes to a company’s own products, there are no rules that govern what can and cannot be said.
Safe
When considering whether a substance is safe, it refers to its safety for humans, animals, or the environment. This term is clearer than the others because it refers to tangible dangers. For all cleaning products, there is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) which identifies any potentially hazardous ingredients. It is the easiest way to determine whether a product is dangerous or safe.
