Emma MacDonald
Zach Richards
Mikey Bahen
Connor Manuel
Dalhousie University
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Down East Cleaning was created in 1992 to address growing concerns of the medical effects traditional cleaning agents were having on the Atlantic Canadian community. Their dedication to introduce health and planet friendly options into the market awarded them as the first EcoLogo certified company of its kind. Their commitment to these values have brought them to current partnerships with chain and independent vendors alike, and practicing their own zero-waste refill, recycle program. Down East contributes to a number of United Nations’ Global Goals, specifically good health and well-being, economic growth, and responsible consumption and production.
Down East cleaning offers a wide range of cleaning products for hypoallergenic individuals experiencing sensitivity to cleaning products; delivering the needed cleaning power, while improving the air quality, and decreasing the impact of its ingredients on people. Prioritizing better ingredients that are safe for use and biodegradable, limits the harm caused to the natural environment when disposed of. Their products promise to be free of solvents, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), dyes, and preservatives, and use only non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients, which were the standard when Down East first started.
Down East views the environment to be of great importance. Tony Bebbington, the owner of Down East explains that we are synonymous with the environment, meaning a healthy environment is critical to having healthy human beings. “If something is going to be safe for the user it should be comparatively safe for the environment and in the waste it creates – it’s one in the same issue”, said Founder and CEO Tony Bebbington. These views are displayed through using recyclable packaging, which reduces the consumption of energy intensive resources and releases fewer carbon emissions. Down East also has a variety of refill stations across its operating territories. Empty containers can be brought to refill sites to be refilled at the point of sale, reducing its plastic footprint on the environment. The product offerings have continuously expanded, now covering everyday household needs and are all manufactured in Atlantic Canada.
Bebbington's wife was a doctor in the Halifax area and was troubled by a growing number of patients experiencing high sensitivities to cleaning products. The only commonality between these patients was that they worked in public buildings or were students of schools who routinely used industrial cleaning agents known for their harsh chemicals and odours.
After hearing about this, Bebbington understood the potential his chemical company could play in creating a solution. He stated, “I saw a potential market for people who had allergies and chemical sensitivities who wanted products that didn’t have solvents in them or added scents or perfume that are relatively safe to use.” After two years of researching ingredients, testing products, and using feedback from consumers, a suitable and workable product was made. Without compromising on cleaning capabilities, they were able to create a non-toxic and hypoallergenic product that could replace the heavy industrial alternatives on the market. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, who awarded Down East in 1997 for pollution prevention wrote: “Improved air quality reduces heart attacks and hospital visits, avoids hundreds of thousands of child asthma attacks, and prevents millions of lost school and work days in Canada alone”, (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment).
Through collaborative work between Bebbington, his wife, the doctor, and a chemist, their new products were approved and implemented first in the schools and government buildings that sparked the original concern. Their products became one of the first cleaning agents serving those who were experiencing chemical sensitivities. Improved air quality tests conducted on the affected buildings concluded safer work and school environments with reduced health risks.
Down East’s name is representative of the Atlantic Canadian community and environment they have been dedicated to protecting. They pride themselves in their support of the Maritime economy, continuing to manufacture and package all of their products locally. This aids in the economic development of the province by creating jobs and new sources of income which in turn supports the people of Nova Scotia. They helped establish top quality cleaning products that took into account everyone’s health and well-being.
As the first cleaning products to be certified by Environment Canada’s EcoLogo in 1996, the uniqueness of Down East is largely in the timing of their innovation at the forefront of trends towards sustainable and non-toxic home care products. Doing Good has accredited them with not only business growth but recognition from the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment for the CCME Pollution Prevention Award in 1997. Down East has been able to expand their retail presence to include over 25 independent retailers in the Maritimes and are now partnered with Loblaws and Sobeys chains.
Down East views the impact their products have on the environment to be of equal importance as human safety, considering the full lifecycle of its products. Their commitment to environmental protection and foundation along the Atlantic Ocean has fostered the prioritization of household products that would not pollute the waterways and ecosystems in the area. Down East has stayed true to its roots in maintaining their original objectives and remaining a local company. They seek to represent the Atlantic community and reinvest their economic prosperity by manufacturing all products within Canada’s east coast and using locally manufactured boxes, labels, and containers. To limit the plastic waste that comes with buying big name detergents, Down East uses recycled and recyclable packaging and introduced their own refill program which is featured in 25 different locations across Atlantic Canada.
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Tony Bebbington, Founder & CEO
Down East Cleaning was created in 1992 to address growing concerns of the medical effects traditional cleaning agents were having on the Atlantic Canadian community. Their dedication to introduce heath and planet friendly options into the market awarded them as the first ECOLOGO certified company of its kind. Their commitment to these values have brought them to current partnerships with chain and independent vendors alike, and practicing their own zero-waste refill, recycle program. Down East contributes to a number of UN goals, specifically good health and well-being, economic growth, and responsible consumption and production.