The truth about chemicals
Natural products can be great, but simply being from nature doesn't automatically mean that something is good for us or our planet; some of the world's most toxic chemicals are natural – curare, snake venom and belladonna.
Natural or man-made?
A lot of people nowadays are opting for 'natural' products, but how do they differ from synthetically manufactured materials? At an atomic level, the molecules of natural products are often stuck together in exactly the same way as man-made materials.
Some people choose natural products for around the home because they believe these products are safer - for them, the environment and their family. But which is safer – running the risk of food poisoning through having bacteria in the kitchen, or appropriately using chemicals like bleach to keep it clean? And is it better to use a 'natural' product that causes rainforests to be cut down to plant crops, or a synthetic one that doesn't?
Knowledge is power
Millions of consumers every day are making risk/benefit decisions like this in a few seconds in the supermarket on an emotional basis. The truth is there are no hard and fast rules for choosing between natural or synthetic products. Your best weapon, when faced with these choices, is knowledge and common sense.
When it comes to how environmentally-friendly a product we use is, the only reliable guide to sustainability is the total life-cycle impact of a product, including factors such as deforestation or the impact of fertilisers in producing the raw materials, all the way through to how the product is used and disposed of.
Communication is key
Unilever cares about the safety of its products, both for people and the environment, and believes manufacturers have a duty to communicate to consumers the benefits and risks of their products. We want you to feel confident that when you choose any Unilever product, such as house hygiene brands Cif and Domestos, that they are safe and effective to use. In addition, it is our objective always to ensure that our materials are derived consistently with our sustainability and CSR commitments and policies.
Today's consumers are constantly bombarded with a mountain of information and scare stories about product safety and environmental friendliness, and it can be difficult to know the full story when making buying decisions.
That's why Unilever believes in transparent communication with consumers – providing the right information at the right time and place, so they know exactly what impact their choices have on themselves and our planet.
