Question for the Meguiar's staff & others about products.

[APR Tuned]

Hi everyone. I'm working on an auto detailing business plan for my grad school project. I've learned a ton from everyone here since I joined and it has been extremely helpful.

Anyway, I want to discuss environmental effects of Meguiar's products. Basically what I'm wondering is if all of Meguiar's products are environmentally safe. From soap, to cleaners, to waxes etc. Just want to make sure all my bases are covered. I would really appreciate everyone's input on this. Thanks alot!

Greg

[Carfire]

Re: Question for the Meguiar's staff & others about products.

I know UQW has no VOC and Hyper Wash is Biodegradable.

[APR Tuned]

Re: Question for the Meguiar's staff & others about products.

Thanks, Carfire. Appreciate it. Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Question for the Meguiar's staff & others about products.

Here's some information from our FAQ on this topic, note the last couple of paragraphs...


27. I have been told that products that contain petroleum distillates are bad for my car's finish. What does Meguiar's have to say about this considering some of your products list petroleum distillates in the "Caution Statement", on the back labels?

Petroleum distillates are a huge category that includes thousands of products. In fact, the term refers to anything that comes from the distillation, or cracking process, of petroleum crude oil.

This includes gasoline, propane, paint thinners, mineral oils, paraffin wax, baby oil, Vaseline® and even Chap-Stick® just to name a few.




As you can see by the ingredients listed in Chap Stick® brand lip balm, broad generalizations stating "all Petroleum Distillates are bad" is just as disingenuous as stating "Silicones are Harmful".


All of the above-mentioned products fall under the category of Petroleum Distillates. While some petroleum distillates can be very dangerous, others are very safe. To group all petroleum distillates into one category and label them harmful or dangerous is unfair. Like the dishonest claim that silicones are harmful, claiming that all petroleum distillates are harmful is also dishonest and disingenuous.

While it's likely there are car care products on the market that do use inexpensive solvents derived from petroleum crude oil in their formula's, Meguiar's only uses ingredients, including petroleum distillates, that are combined in a way to create a product that is beneficial to the paint. In other words, the product improves or creates beauty, it does not diminish or lessen beauty. Because we work closely with automotive paint companies, we know how to protect and maximize all aspects of automotive surface coatings.


Meguiar's Petroleum Distillates
The petroleum distillates Meguiar's uses are:

• Environmentally Safe
• Contain No Aromatic Hydrocarbons
• Contain No other Serious Air Pollutants

They are also distilled multiple times to remove:

• Carcinogens
• Reproductive Toxins
• Multiple other Impurities

You will be hard pressed to find another automotive appearance care company that goes to the extent Meguiar's goes to in order to create products that are both environmentally safe as well as safe for use by their customers.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Question for the Meguiar's staff & others about products.

Keep in mind, even if you use a car wash that in and of itself is biodegradable and environmentally safe, the road film and other contaminants you wash off the car may not be environmentally safe and that's outside the responsibility of a product manufacture. That is a product manufacture cannot control what contaminants you get on your car and then wash off.

Some options for this is to wash your car on your lawn where the lawn and dirt will absorb and contain the contaminants or take your car to a car wash that reclaims and treats the wash water.

[APR Tuned]

Re: Question for the Meguiar's staff & others about products.

Wow, Mike, thanks a ton. This has been very helpful and very informative.