{{short description|Belgian cleaning product manufacturer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = Ecover | logo = Ecover logo.png | type = Private | parent = S. C. Johnson & Son | founded = 1979 | hq_location_city = Malle | hq_location_country = Belgium | key_people = Managing Director: Philip Malmberg | industry = Consumer products | products = Cleaning products<ref name="ethicalcorp-20091012"/> | website = {{url|http://www.ecover.com/}} }}
'''Ecover''' is an American-owned Belgian company that manufactures ecologically sound cleaning products (made from plant-based and mineral ingredients), owned by S. C. Johnson & Son since 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dn.dk/Default.aspx?ID=7961&PID=23010&NewsID=1082 |title=Meet the world's most well-known brand of sustainable household products |publisher=Naturens dag |date=26 October 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719145537/http://www.dn.dk/Default.aspx?ID=7961&PID=23010&NewsID=1082 |archivedate=19 July 2011}}</ref>
==History== The company was founded in 1979 by Frans Bogaerts to create phosphate-free cleaning products to reduce the environmental impact of cleaning agents.<ref name="ethicalcorp-20091012"/><ref name=ecover-timeline>{{cite web |url=https://www.ecover.com/timeline/ |title=A trip down memory lane |website=Ecover |access-date=18 January 2021}}</ref> Following expansion to support sales through supermarkets, it ran into financial difficulties during the early 1990s.<ref name="ethicalcorp-20091012"/><ref name="guardian-20061117">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2006/nov/17/ethicalbusiness.ethicalliving |title=Spick'n'span ethics |author=Hilary Osborne |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 November 2006 |accessdate=9 June 2011 |location=London}}</ref> The business was sold to Bogaerts' son with guidance from Gunter Pauli, a member of the company's board since 1990.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} Pauli, in turn, enlisted in 1992 the financial clout of now-deceased Danish investor,<ref>{{cite news|title=Rich List 2010 6 (10) Jorgen Philip-Sorensen £620m (£630m)|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/richlist/richlist2010/2010/02/03/6-10-jorgen-philip-sorensen-620m-630m-65233-25756411/|accessdate=30 April 2012|newspaper=Birmingham Post|date=3 February 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Jørgen Philip-Sørensen, through the private investment company Skagen.<ref name="reuters-20130611">{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/11/eco-friendly-soaps-method-ecover_n_3419867.html |title=Eco-Friendly Soaps Method vs. Ecover: Which Brand Is Greener? |author=Philip Blenkinsop |publisher=Huffington Post |agency=Reuters |date=11 June 2013 |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> The company's relaunch commenced with the construction of an "ecological factory", followed by investments into research projects for the purpose of developing appropriate plant-based and renewable raw materials for cleaning products.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}}
Ecover is part of the Skagen Conscience Capital,<ref>[http://www.ecover.com/US/EN/Corporate/ecover-international.html Ecover Group] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130122045907/http://www.ecover.com/US/EN/Corporate/ecover-international.html |date=22 January 2013 }}</ref> a global organisation. Aquaver<ref>[http://www.aquaver.com Aquaver] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319033116/http://www.aquaver.com/ |date=19 March 2014 }}</ref> and the Change Initiatives<ref>[https://www.thechangeinitiative.com/ The Change Initiative]</ref> are other companies of Skagen Conscience Capital.
In 2012 Ecover bought Method Products, a San Francisco, United States, headquartered manufacturer of biodegradable natural cleaning supplies with a focus on minimalist product design, to assist its entry of the North American market. The new group had annual revenues of $200 million at that time and were the world's largest green cleaning products company by sales.<ref name="reuters-20130611"/><ref name="ft-20120904">{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bcacaad6-f681-11e1-9fff-00144feabdc0 |title=Ecover cleans up with US acquisition |author=Jennifer Thompson |newspaper=Financial Times |date=4 September 2012 |accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> Method had been founded in 2001 by Eric Ryan, a designer and marketer, and Adam Lowry, a chemical engineer.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Walker |title=Consumed: Method |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/29/magazine/29CONSUMED.html?ex=1393390800&en=3eb2d28743ce2e85&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND |work=New York Times Magazine |date=29 February 2004 |accessdate=13 July 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.slate.com/id/2299212/| author = White, Martha C.| date = 18 July 2011| title = Eric Ryan, Co-Founder of Method: How he's getting consumers to buy green cleaning products by marrying high-end design with environmental science| website = Slate.com }}</ref> Method opened a factory in the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2015/06/16/method-factory|title = Method Factory}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenbiz.com/article/methods-saskia-van-gendt-honing-operations|title = Method's Saskia van Gendt on honing operations | Greenbiz| date=8 January 2016 }}</ref>
In 2017 S. C. Johnson & Son purchased the Ecover and Method brands on undisclosed terms.<ref name=ft-20170914>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/258928f1-cf88-348c-9cc3-cc90ca4aca09 |title=SC Johnson scoops up Method, Ecover cleaning-product brands |last=Dye |first=Jessica |newspaper=Financial Times |date=14 September 2017 |accessdate=19 April 2018}}</ref>
==Products==
A number of Ecover products - washing up detergent (domestic and professional), fabric conditioner, laundry detergent and multi-surface cleaner - are available from a container refill service (customers reuse the product's original container) to reduce the overall environmental impact of distributing the product. Ecover refill locations have previously been limited to independent health food stores and small local cooperative schemes, with the company having stated that it will expand its reach in this regard.<ref>[http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/Products/Dishes/Refill.htm Ecover United Kingdom – Refill<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091011003911/http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/Products/Dishes/Refill.htm |date=11 October 2009 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/WhereToBuy/ Ecover United Kingdom – Reiniging<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060507102800/http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/WhereToBuy/ |date=7 May 2006 }}</ref>
==Factories== Ecover built the world's first "ecological factory" in Malle, Belgium, with a green roof extending over more than {{cvt|6000|sqm}}. The factory opened in 1992 and was featured on television news programs<ref name="ecover.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.ecover.com/us/en/About/ |title=Home |publisher=Ecover |date=23 July 2013 |accessdate=3 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091010220744/http%3A//www.ecover.com/us/en/About/ |archivedate=10 October 2009 }}</ref> that allowed the company to feature the recycled and recyclable materials that make up most of the structure. In 2007, Ecover opened another factory based on the same "ecological" premise in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Northern France,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ecover.fr |title=Bienvenue sur Ecover! - Ecover |publisher=Ecover.fr |date= |accessdate=3 September 2013}}</ref> and also secured ownership of a factory in Steffisburg, Switzerland, through the acquisition of the private Held AG company (manufacturer and distributor of ecological washing agents) in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bionetz.ch/scripts/news/article.php?article_file=1051689097.txt|title=Zusammenschluss von Held und Ecover|publisher=Held AG|accessdate=18 October 2008|date=17 April 2003|language=German|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050117181910/http://www.bionetz.ch/scripts/news/article.php?article_file=1051689097.txt|archivedate=17 January 2005}}</ref>
==Awards== In 1993, UNEP awarded the "Global 500 Roll of Honour" to Ecover for "outstanding achievements in the protection and improvement of the environment". In 2008, ''Time'' magazine honored Ecover CEO, Mick Bremans, with the title Hero of the Environment together with 29 other eco-pioneers working for a green future.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1841778_1841780_1841784,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001003304/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1841778_1841780_1841784,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=1 October 2008 | magazine=Time | title=Heroes of the Environment 2008 | date=24 September 2008}}</ref> In 2010, Ecover earned a finalist nomination from the European Business Awards for the Environment for a pioneering project in green innovation in the process category.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/environment/awards/nominees_2010.html?panel=2 |title=European Commission - Environment - European Business Awards for the Environment |publisher=Ec.europa.eu |date= |accessdate=3 September 2013}}</ref> In 2018, Method was recognized as one of "the 50 most sustainable companies in the world" at the SEAL Business Sustainability Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sealawards.com/sustainability-award-2018/|title=Most Sustainable Companies Honored At 2018 SEAL Awards|date=13 November 2018|website=SEAL Awards|language=en-US|access-date=12 December 2018}}</ref> For the company's national and international experience in sustainable development, and eco-friendly products, the A.A. Environment Possibility Award conferred the "Award of Green-Trend Leader" to Ecover in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ep-a.org/medal-2021/en/ecover-bio-laundry-liquid|title=Bio Laundry Liquid won the 2020 Award of Green-Trend Leader|website=A.A. Environment Possibility Award|language=en-US|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>
==Controversy== In 2007, the Vegan Society withdrew their Vegan Trademark registration from Ecover products due to the company's use of daphnia (water fleas) to test the effects of its products on aquatic life, plus rabbit blood to test stain removal. Daphnia are not vertebrates and therefore are not classified as "animals" according to EU animal-testing rules. However, the Vegan Society's definition incorporates the entire animal kingdom, which is inclusive of invertebrates, as part of its Vegan Trademark registration criteria.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/ecover-loses-green-backing-over-animal-tests-on-a-0-2mm-flea-6605274.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421125356/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23408038-ecover-loses-green-backing-over-animal-tests-on-a-02mm-flea.do |url-status=live |archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=Ecover loses green backing over 'animal tests' on a 0.2mm flea |date=11 August 2007 |newspaper=Evening Standard |access-date=28 September 2011 }}</ref> Ecover continues to use the Daphtox acute toxicity test that observes daphnia behaviour to calculate the EC50 values of their products, so it can assess the environmental quality of its products.<ref name="ethicalcorp-20091012">{{cite news |url=http://www.ethicalcorp.com/communications-reporting/big-interview-mick-bremans-ecover-%E2%80%93-cleaner-cleaning |title=The big interview: Mick Bremans, Ecover - Cleaner cleaning |author=Neil Jaques |newspaper=Ethical Corporation |date=12 October 2009 |accessdate=15 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116072109/http://www.ethicalcorp.com/communications-reporting/big-interview-mick-bremans-ecover-%E2%80%93-cleaner-cleaning |archivedate=16 January 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://au.ecover.com/faq/aquatic-toxicity |title=Frequently Asked Questions - Aquatic Toxicity |publisher=Ecover |accessdate=28 September 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424231354/http://au.ecover.com/faq/aquatic-toxicity |archivedate=24 April 2012}}</ref>
In 2010, a ''Which?'' study of 14 household products, including laundry tablets, toilet cleaners and nappies, reported that Ecover was among a number of companies where each was believed to have exaggerated at least one "green claim" or was not proven by the manufacturer's evidence.<ref name="guardian-20100428">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/apr/29/green-cleaning-products-lack-evidence-which |title=Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ecover products 'lack evidence' for green claims: Which? |newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 April 2010 |accessdate=9 June 2011 |location=London}}</ref> The panel of experts found, for instance, no convincing evidence to show the chemicals found in standard toilet cleaner and market-leading laundry tablets would have a significantly worse impact on aquatic life than their "eco" equals.<ref name="guardian-20100428" /> Which? said: "When companies make clear green claims it helps consumers make eco choices with confidence. But our experts concluded that many of the companies did not provide enough evidence to back up their claims and thought that some were exaggerated. This makes it hard for people to choose."<ref name="guardian-20100428" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.which.co.uk/home-and-garden/home-improvements/guides/the-greenwashing-files/green-cleaning-products/ |title=The greenwashing files - Green cleaning products |publisher=Which |date=28 April 2010 |accessdate=14 January 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901044207/http://www.which.co.uk/home-and-garden/home-improvements/guides/the-greenwashing-files/green-cleaning-products |archivedate=1 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ecover responded several days later.<ref name=greenwisebusiness>{{cite news | url=http://www.greenwisebusiness.co.uk/news/ecover-hits-back-at-greenwash-allegations-1361.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123210613/http://www.greenwisebusiness.co.uk/news/ecover-hits-back-at-greenwash-allegations-1361.aspx | url-status=usurped | archive-date=23 November 2010 |title=Ecover hits back at greenwash allegations|date=4 May 2010 |accessdate=20 October 2013|location=London}}</ref>
Ecover had previously been criticized for not subscribing to the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection's "Humane Household Products Standard", which requires a "fixed cut-off date" on animal-tested ingredients. Ecover stated that "a fixed cut-off date [means] that we wouldn't be able to improve our products on what we have today. We do not believe that it is necessary to carry the 'Humane Household Products Standard' to uphold our core values of transparency, honesty and integrity."<ref name="EthicalConsumer-2008">{{cite news |url=http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/CommentAnalysis/EthicalSceptic/Ecover.aspx |title=Ecover |author=Simon Birch |newspaper=Ethical Consumer |date=Sep–Oct 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref> However, in October 2012 Ecover's products were certified into the Cruelty Free International (formerly BUAV) "The Leaping Bunny Program" and awarded the internationally-recognised Leaping Bunny logo for products certified free from animal testing and which comply with the comprehensive criteria of the Humane Household Products Standard.<ref name="ECEAE1">{{cite web |url=http://www.eceae.org/en/category/latest-news/293/ecover-boosts-commitment-towards-cruelty-free-cleaning-with-leaping-bunny-trademark |title=Ecover boosts commitment towards cruelty-free cleaning with Leaping Bunny trademark. |publisher=ECEAE (The European coalition to end animal experiments) |date= October 2012 |accessdate=21 January 2018}}</ref> Ecover CEO Philip Malmberg said "Being accepted into this program is an absolute privilege for Ecover and a great way to show the world that we care. Ecover has been animal friendly since the day it was founded in 1979. The decision to align with Leaping Bunny and provide our customers with household cleaning and laundry products that are certified as safe and cruelty-free was an obvious next step."<ref name="ECEAE1" />
In 2014, Ecover confirmed that it was trialling oil derived from algae.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/31/business/biofuel-tools-applied-to-household-soaps.html |title=Companies Quietly Apply Biofuel Tools to Household Products |newspaper=The New York Times |author=Stephanie Strom |date=30 May 2014 |accessdate=9 June 2014}}</ref> In response, 23 environmental, consumer and farmers groups called on Ecover to drop the algae.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.etcgroup.org/content/open-letter-ecover-method |title=Open Letter to Ecover / Method re: decision to use ingredients derived from Synthetically Modified Organisms|date=June 2014|accessdate=9 June 2014}}</ref> Some of the groups launched a petition and web site, declaring that "Synthetic is not Natural", in reference to Ecover's marketing, which relies heavily on words like "natural" and "eco-friendly". The petition collected thousands of signatures calling on Ecover to stop using synthetic algae, citing a lack of regulation and knowledge about synthetic organisms, and effects on farmers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.syntheticisnotnatural.com/ |title=Synthetic is Not Natural: Keep extreme genetic engineering out of "natural" products|accessdate=9 June 2014}}</ref> Ecover claimed that the algal oil it is using employs the natural mutation process of algae and standard industrial fermentation<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.ecover.com/en/why-ecover/algal-oil-the-alternative-to-palm-oil|title=The genetic modification process used by the supplier of our algal oil employs the natural mutation process of algae and standard industrial fermentation|accessdate=27 June 2014|archive-date=1 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701132305/http://uk.ecover.com/en/why-ecover/algal-oil-the-alternative-to-palm-oil/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and would be less destructive than the palm kernel oil it currently uses,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.ecover.com/en/why-ecover/algal-oil-the-alternative-to-palm-oil/|title=Algal Oil - the alternative to Palm Oil|publisher=Ecover|accessdate=9 June 2014|archive-date=1 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701132305/http://uk.ecover.com/en/why-ecover/algal-oil-the-alternative-to-palm-oil/|url-status=dead}}</ref> a claim disputed by some of the opposing groups because the algae was fed sugarcane which is also associated with biodiversity destruction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.syntheticisnotnatural.com/ecover-petition/synthetic-algae-not-solution-palm-oil/ |title= Synthetic Algae Doesn't Solve Palm Oil Problems|accessdate=9 June 2014}}</ref>
Due to the open refusal of owner SC Johnson to abandon its use of animal testing, the Naturewatch Foundation revoked Ecover and Method's ''Compassionate Shopping Guide'' accreditations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://naturewatch.org/blog/article/profits-from-ecover-and-method-now-go-to-animal-testers |title=Profits from Ecover and Method now go to animal testers…|date=June 2018 |publisher=Naturewatch Foundation|accessdate=28 October 2020}}</ref>
In January 2021 the company issued a product recall on its Ecover Zero % Non-Bio Laundry Liquid, as it had been discovered that the liquid contained hazardous levels of potassium hydroxide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Product recall: Ecover Zero % Non Bio Laundry Liquid recalled due to safety issue |url=https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/01/product-recall-ecover-zero-non-bio-laundry-liquid-recalled-due-to-safety-issue/ |website=Which? News |access-date=20 February 2021 |date=27 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Tim |title=Eco-friendly detergent recalled over 'hazardous' chemicals |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/eco-friendly-detergent-recalled-over-hazardous-chemicals-1.4474452 |access-date=20 February 2021 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=2 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
==Sponsorship== Ecover sponsored yachtsman Mike Golding.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Golding to retire from Velux 5 Oceans race |url=http://www.sail-world.com/UK/index.cfm?SEID=0&Nid=29306&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0 |work=Sail-World |date=4 December 2006 |accessdate=18 October 2008 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719042009/http://www.sail-world.com/UK/index.cfm?SEID=0&Nid=29306&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Golding skippered the Ecover Sailing Team in the 2009 iShares cup, a selection of races all over Europe, sailing catamarans in competitive races against world-leaders in the sport. The races took place in Venice, Hyères, Cowes, Kiel, Amsterdam and Almeria.<ref name="ecoversailingteam">{{cite web |url=http://www.ecoversailingteam.com/ |publisher=Ecover Sailing Team |title=Ecover Extreme 40 Sailing Team |date=30 July 2009 |access-date=30 July 2009 |archive-date=27 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727043033/http://www.ecoversailingteam.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * [http://www.ecover.com/ Ecover] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120922062922/http://www.aquaver.eu/ Aquaver] * [https://www.thechangeinitiative.com/ The Change Initiative]
Category:Belgian companies established in 1979 Category:Cleaning products Category:Companies based in Antwerp Province Category:Malle