Eco-Greetings

[PaulParker]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here, been a long time Meguiar's user on my wife's Audi TT, love all the products especially the Deep Crystal System Polish. I was just wondering if anyone knows of any environmentally friendly products that are out there? I don't mind so much what polish I use (as long as it's got Meguiar's name on it), but the wife is a bit of an eco-warrior and she's always bugging me about damaging the planet etc... Has anyone found any car polishes that are eco-friendly that I can use (or at least have on the shelf behind my Meguiar's) that will get her off my back?

Nice to meet y'all

Paul

[Murr1525]

Well, the Meguiars Detailer Line soaps are advertised as Bio-Degradeable. I guess carnuba-blends are the most eco friendly wax, though I have no idea if the synthetic waxes might break down just fine as well.

Not sure about other stuff...

[the other pc]

Hi Paul, to MOL!

I think you should tell your wife the TT is chock full of fossil fuels, lubricants and plastics that she should avoid entirely by giving it to you. Then you can keep it out of any landfills (where it might pollute groundwater) by driving and maintaining it in beautiful condition.

If that doesn't work here's an excerpt from the Meguiar's blurb on SEMA's website:

The environment is important to Meguiar's. "My grandfather and my dad have always loved to create products that do not harm the environment and people," Barry Meguiar said. "I always marveled at my dad's hands because he had nice hands, though he worked with all the raw materials we used. The head of our R&D came from a cosmetics company, understanding that we don't have the kind of harsh ingredients that are found in typical polishes. Our products are as environmentally friendly as can be had."

PC.

[Mike Phillips]

Good answer Paul!


I share the story about our head of R&D at all the detailing classes I teach because I think it's important and I know others think so as well.

Barry's insight is just icing on the cake.

There's also this from our FAQ, which is kind of related and good to point out from time to time...

http://meguiars.com/faq/index.cfm?faqCat=General%20Questions&faqQuestionID=29&section=_29#_29

Question 29 - 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?

Answer
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, (Petrolatums are a petroleum distillate), 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 surface for which the product is intended to be used on. 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 as well as other components such as vinyl, rubber and plastic.

The petroleum distillates Meguiar’s uses are:

· Environmentally Safe
· Contain No Aromatic Hydrocarbons (these are like paint thinners, very harmful to vinyl, plastic and rubber)
· 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.

I hope this helps...

Mike