Buying Green: Walgreens Ology

Walgreens recently launched “Ology™” - I just saw it in the ad this week. It's designed to be an affordable brand formulated to be free of harmful chemicals. The Ology brand has a line of baby and personal care products, as well as household cleaners.

Several consumer groups helped drive support for the U.S. Senate’s recently approved chemical reporting bill – “The Safe Chemicals Act.” If passed, it will be the first overhaul of the federal chemical law since 1976 and consumers are taking note. The new bill would require that ingredients be determined safe for human health before being used in everyday consumer products. The pending legislation has led several industry leaders to pledge to remove potentially harmful and carcinogenic chemicals from several offerings over the next several years.

“Walgreens is proud to be leading the charge by providing ‘Ology,' ” said Joe Magnacca, president of daily living products and solutions for Walgreens. “Ology reflects our dedication to innovation, our constant drive to improve our customers’ quality of life, and our ongoing commitment to help people get, stay and live well.”

“Increasing evidence shows that the chemicals included in everyday products could be contributing to children’s diseases and behavioral disorders, including asthma, autism and cancer,” says Gigi Lee Chang, CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World, one of the nation’s leading independent non-profit organizations dedicated to the empowerment of consumers and the protection of children from harmful chemicals. “Until the U.S. adopts better regulations around product safety—like we do in other countries—parents are left to bear the burden of protecting their children’s health by educating themselves and making conscious purchases. With the help of Walgreens Ology products, concerned consumers now have easier access to affordable and safer solutions.”

Items will be available nationwide by early November and are value priced compared to conventional formulas of leading brands. Ology liquid products are free of harmful chemicals and include:

• Baby Care – lotion and 2-in-1 body wash
• Laundry – liquid detergent and fabric softener
• Cleaners – glass cleaner and all-purpose cleaner
• Personal Care – adult shampoo and conditioner

Ology brand products also include light bulbs and paper products that are 100 percent tree-free and made from readily renewable resources.

• Paper – bath and facial tissue, paper towels and copy paper
• Lighting – compact fluorescent light bulbs

For more information about the Ology brand, please visit: www.walgreens.com/ology