As The variety of RV products available on the market can be overwhelming for new RVers! In terms of holding tank products and RV chemicals, it is crucial to understand the differences between organic, natural, and safe products. Why are these terms used in the first place?
Organic, Natural, & Safe Products
Organic
The phrase “organic” is increasingly popular on packaging for food, clothing, and cleaning products. Sometimes, it can be misleading.
Most cleaning products are not regulated by the USDA, which is a big problem. As cleaning products are not intended for human consumption, their regulation differs from that of food, shampoos, and skin care products. Consequently, cleaning products labelled “organic” do not have strict regulatory requirements and are not reliable indicators. The USDA must approve organic products before they can be considered legitimate. You should be cautious of cleaning products that claim to be organic, and make sure they are properly certified if they claim to be organic.
A company may refer to its product as “organic” simply because it contains organic ingredients. There is no guarantee that something is safe just because it exists on earth! A labelling system such as this could even provide a way to label asbestos, arsenic, mercury, and formaldehyde as organic or natural! It is best to avoid organic products that don’t have the seal of the organization that certified them.
Natural
Because natural products are not regulated by the federal government, the term “natural” has a lot of problems. A natural product is one that comes from the earth without being manipulated by humans. Despite its correct use, the term also has its traps because food and non-food items are not regulated. Natural products aren’t clearly differentiated from non-natural products by regulation. There are no rules governing what can and cannot be said about a company’s own products.
Safe
The term “safe” refers to whether or not the substance is not harmful to humans, animals, or the environment. Since this term is based on tangible dangers, it is a little clearer than the other terms. There is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS or formerly MSDS) for all cleaning products, which identifies potential hazardous ingredients. If a product is dangerous or safe, this is the easiest way to determine it.
