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Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose Green Bee?

Green Bee is doing more than any other company to provide affordable, environmentally friendly, non-toxic and cruelty free cleaning products, whilst taking responsibility for their packaging by collecting, cleaning and reusing it in a circular business model. 

Effective - Our products work, consistently and easily, utilizing the power of probiotics instead of toxic chemicals and dispelling the myth that eco-friendly products don’t work as well. 

Affordable - Priced to compete with big brand supermarket staples, we believe being environmentally responsible does not have to break the household budget.

Refillable - We are committed to generating zero waste from your consumption of cleaning products, so we collect and reuse our packaging indefinitely, in partnership with you (Cape Town).

Beautiful - Our products are beautiful inside and out. Minimal and beautiful packaging, and mild botanical scents make the arduous task of cleaning that much more enjoyable!

Accessible - Sold directly online in sets that contain beautiful countertop bottles with a refill container, so you can do your refilling in the comfort of your own home.

How does the refill process work?

We know that our customers have busy lives, so we facilitate refills from the comfort of your own home! We offer product sets that include beautiful countertop bottles together with simple bulk refill containers. On delivery of your subsequent Green Bee orders, you can hand back any empty bulk containers to our delivery services. We then clean and reuse these containers for future customers. This service is currently included if you are in the Cape Town Area, with plans to roll out to other cities. 

If you are outside the Cape Town area, we can offer R15 credit for each bulk container you return to us. As these containers are light, they are not expected to contribute significantly to transport carbon emissions.

What does it mean to be biodegradable?

This is when a substance or chemical can be broken down (decomposed) rapidly into a harmless natural state by the action of bacteria or microorganisms, thereby not damaging the environment.

There are varying degrees of biodegradability. The term “Readily Biodegradable” is used for substances that meet the very stringent criteria of a test demonstrating ultimate biodegradation within a specified time period of a maximum of 28 days. Readily biodegradable is one of the key criteria for demonstrating a lack of persistence in Persistent, Bio-accumulative and Toxic (PBT) assessments, hazard classifications, or "green chemistry" certifications.

What does non-toxic mean?

Non-toxic claims generally refer to the exclusion of ingredients that have been linked to toxic responses in humans: neuro-disruption, hormone disruption, cancer, even death. 

What are enzymes and how do they work?

Enzymes are biological catalysts, which means they accelerate chemical reactions. This allows for molecules to be rapidly broken down into different molecules. Enzymes occur naturally – an example being a person’s digestive enzymes which occur in the gut. 

The research to support switching to non-toxic cleaning products

Commercial cleaning products not only pollute our land and water bodies but they also pollute the air inside our homes, causing long term damage to our lungs, disrupting endocrine systems and even have the potential to cause cancer.

Click the links below to read more:

Environmental Protection Agency

Research shows cleaning as harmful as smoking

Pollution on Cape Town's coast

Pollution of water bodies in the Cape

Good bacteria versus bad bacteria?

Probiotics or “good bacteria” are found naturally in our bodies, in the soil and in certain foods. Not only do we live in harmony with these beneficial bacteria, but they are essential to our survival. Beneficial bacteria protect us against pathogens (bad bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that can cause disease) through a process scientifically known as Competitive Exclusion. In this process, the good bacteria rapidly search for food and space and quickly starve the pathogens of their food source. The pathogens die and can’t build up immunity to this process.

When we use disinfectants and sanitisers we also kill good bacteria, causing an imbalance in the environment where the bacteria live, whether it be your floors or your kitchen counters. If pathogens are now introduced to this environment (for example, if you cough over a disinfected counter) there will be no good bacteria to crowd out the bad, allowing the bad to thrive. Thus, by constantly disinfecting, we inadvertently create an unchallenged environment where bad bacteria can grow back even faster than before. Furthermore, the more disinfectants and sanitizers are used, the more the pathogens build up immunity to what is trying to kill them, and eventually develop into superbugs, which are now even harder to kill.

Where probiotics are used in a cleaning product, the product continues working for hours or days, whilst disinfectants stop working shortly after application. This aims to provide a simple breakdown of the principles behind good and bad bacteria, but clearly the whole picture is more complex. There are some environments where sanitisers are essential, but should not be used for everyday living.

Why buy locally manufactured products?

They are more effective as they are based on local enzymes and bacteria strains; result in a lower carbon footprint from less transportation required; are more cost effective, particularly when the raw ingredients themselves are locally manufactured. In addition, you will be supporting South Africa’s economy.

What is EDTA and why to avoid it?

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is commonly used to stabilise bleach and foaming agents in detergents. It is under serious environmental scrutiny and has been banned by the Global Ecolabelling Network. EDTA binds with toxic metals and ends up back in the environment.

EDTA is a chemical originating in plants, and was synthetised for the first time in 1935. This is a relevant example of how something can be plant derived but harmful to the environment in concentrated doses, and a reminder that not all naturally occurring substances are non-toxic.

All products in the Green Bee range are guaranteed to be EDTA free.

What are phosphates and why to avoid them?

Phosphates are the naturally occurring form of the element phosphorus, found in many phosphate minerals. Phosphate-based detergents can pollute surface waters leading to algal bloom and an absence of oxygen for fish and other aquatic life. This represents another example of a naturally occurring compound that can be environmentally toxic in concentrated forms.

Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP) is the most common building block in laundry detergents and other cleaning products such as dishwashing liquid. STPP in laundry detergents has been banned in most states in the U.S. and Europe, as well as Australia due to its ecological damage.

Who performs Environmental Certification in South Africa?

The Heritage Environmental Management Company (HEMC) provides environmental certification in South Africa. The HEML performs audits and tests to ensure continued compliance with environmental standards, assigning the Eco-Choice label where applicable.

What is the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN)?

GEN is a non-profit association of third-party, environmental performance recognition, certification and labelling organisations founded in 1994 to improve, promote and develop the ecolabeling of products and services.

GEN is composed of some 27 national and regional ecolabel organisations throughout the world representing nearly 60 countries and territories, with 2 associate members and a growing number of affiliate members, one of which is Google.

The manufacturer complies with GEN standards, despite South Africa being without a national body that is associated with GEN.