MYTH: Eco products are safe – so they don't need COSHH controls

When we talk about eco cleaning products, "eco" refers to the source of the base ingredients, not their hazard profile. Plant-derived products use a renewable, vegetative base – rapeseed oil, coconut oil, palm oil, or naturally produced sugars. Sustainable because they can be regrown. Biodegradable because they break down naturally after use, leaving no harmful residues in wastewater or the environment.

That's genuinely better for the planet. But it says nothing about whether a product is hazardous to the person using it.

Under COSHH Regulations 2002, a substance is classified as hazardous based on its properties and effects – not its origin. There is no exemption for natural or plant-based substances. HSE guidance makes this clear with everyday examples: flour dust causes occupational asthma; essential oils can be irritants and sensitisers; citrus-based cleaning agents may require PPE and ventilation controls. All natural. All subject to full COSHH controls.

COSHH applies to all cleaning chemicals – irrespective of whether a product carries hazard symbols or not. But in a care home, the legal obligation is only part of the picture.

Care homes are not standard workplaces. Residents may have respiratory conditions, skin sensitivities, or allergies that make them more vulnerable to chemical exposure than a healthy adult. Many will have limited ability to recognise, avoid, or communicate a reaction to a hazardous substance. Some may lack the capacity to understand what a chemical is or the danger it presents. The risks of chemicals being misused, mishandled, or accessed by the wrong person are real – and the consequences in this environment can be serious.

In a care home, the standard you work to isn't just set by what's printed on a label. It's set by your duty of care to the people living there.

Switching to eco products is a responsible choice. It reduces your environmental footprint. It doesn't reduce your legal obligations.

PlatinumEco brings plant-derived cleaning formulated for care homes – made from sustainable, renewable sources that biodegrade, reducing impact on people and the planet at every stage of the product lifecycle.

PlatinumEco represents real, measurable progress toward reducing your environmental footprint and supporting your organisation in meeting its own sustainability goals and obligations.

Spearhead provides full COSHH support for every PlatinumEco product – including onsite training, COSHH documentation, SDS sheets, and risk assessments.