It’s Earth Day Every Day at BKF  

April 19, 2023

Yes, it’s Earth Day every day at Bar Keepers Friend. Saturday, April 22nd, 2023, is the 53rd Earth Day. The first was 1970. I was a freshman in college. Every Wednesday, our school held a religious convocation. I was asked on that Wednesday, 4/22/1970, to give grace. My prayer was titled “Prayer to the Apathetic.” I talked about the first Earth Day, pollution, and our collective responsibility. It went well with fellow students but not with all the staff. Earth Day was a new idea that some considered radical. Today, it is accepted, needed, and revered.

Earth Day Every Day

At Bar Keepers Friend, environmental stewardship is more than words, it’s part of our mission. We believe in Earth Day every day. For example, have you ever heard of Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs? I hadn’t until the Bar Keepers Friend Team informed me. I knew all BKF products were environmentally friendly, but I had no idea how important it was to be VOC-free and how dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds can be.

“Volatile organic compounds (VOC) in cleaning products can affect indoor air quality and also contribute to smog formation in outdoor air.” —  EPA.gov — Identifying Greener Cleaning Products

What are VOCs? 

Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs are compounds that have a low water solubility and are highly likely to create gases or fumes that can be toxic. Many products, such as paint, paint thinners, pesticides, and cleaners, contain VOCs. You might think VOCs would be easy to discover by smell, but not all VOCs can be smelled, such as many used in cleaning products.

“Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large group of chemicals that are found in many products we use to build and maintain our homes. Once these chemicals are in our homes, they are released or “off-gas” into the indoor air we breathe. They may or may not be able to be smelled, and smelling is not a good indicator of health risk.” — Department of Health MN –Volatile Organic Compounds in Your Home

What Are the Health Hazards of VOCs?

I have Chronic Bronchitis, so knowing about VOCs is important to me. Anyone with breathing challenges or lung disease is highly susceptible to VOCs. Years ago, I stopped painting indoors due to the fumes. I avoid the cleaning product aisle in grocery stores and have always thought it was due to bleach and ammonia, but it could also be VOCs.

“Exposure to VOC vapors can cause a variety of health effects, including eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches and loss of coordination; nausea; and damage to the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system. Some VOCs are suspected or proven carcinogens.” —  MN Pollution Control Agency.

How Do VOCs Affect the Environment?

“Almost all VOCs directly contribute to global warming by absorbing infrared radiation from the Earth’s surface, and the more complex a VOC is, the greater its ability to absorb infrared radiation…

Certain VOCs were identified as greenhouse gases, which can absorb radiated energy from Earth. Their concentrations increase in the atmosphere has been correlated with global warming. Furthermore, VOCs from wastewaters decrease the possibility of water reuse, such as in irrigation, thereby placing a higher demand on the limited existing primary water resources ” National Library of Medicine.

When VOCs are studied and understood, it becomes clear that they should be avoided. Yes, Bar Keepers Friend takes environmental stewardship as well as the health and safety of our customers seriously. Because for BKF, it is Earth Day every day. All BKF products are VOC-free, but that’s not all. Bar Keepers Friend products don’t contain bleach or chlorine. We recycle, and we reuse extensively, such as Rainwater Harvesting. How do you celebrate Earth Day? Do You honor Earth Day every day?

About the Author

Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends (after COVID-19), he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two educators; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook, a crash course in effective management.

Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash