What are the main ingredients in your household cleaning supplies? If you use Industrial Organic’s new line of Veles cleaners, you may be surprised to hear the answer is food waste.
Before you get grossed out, let’s explain the science: 45 trillion gallons of water go into the food that Americans throw out annually. The New York-based company collects this waste and separates it into four usable ingredients—water, acetic acid (the building blocks of a vinegar), lactic acid (an anti-bacterial agent), and alcohol (a disinfectant). This is then used to make their solution which is 97 percent food waste and 3 percent natural fragrance.
Not only is this solution incredibly innovative, it is also environmentally friendly. The waste is locally sourced and processed at a single location so the carbon footprint is small. It also reduces emissions by keeping food waste out of landfills.
The cleaning agent is sold in recyclable aluminum bottles. It will cost you $20 a bottle, but the company hopes to soon launch eco-friendly refills at only half that price. If you’re ready to try out a new, more sustainable household cleaner, consider investing in a bottle and when your friends ask why your bathroom smells so nice, just tell them it’s a food waste solution at work!