A micro-biological study in America of earth friendly shopping bags discovered that although these bags are better for the environment than plastic bags, they may be a source of an alarming amount of bacteria, yeast and mould which could make us ill. Eco friendly baby care products are containing more and more dangerous chemicals. All products being utilised within the workplace, regardless of whether they are 'eco/environmentally friendly' or 'organic', are still required to have a CoSHH assessment according to CoSHH regulations. The possible dangers of reusable bags include food poising, provoking asthma attacks, allergic reactions, and ear infections.

However, it is not necessarily the case that products which are essentially safe for the environment are safe and non hazardous for human beings. Natural, after all, does not equate to non-toxic. A product should not necessarily be deemed safe just because they are labelled China PVC pipe fittings Company as 'natural' or 'eco friendly'.Indeed, an example of a potentially hazardous environmentally friendly product is the reusable shopping bag which could be dangerous for our health. Adversely, plastic carrier bags may be bad for the environment, but they are actually much more hygienic than reusable ones. In order to protect the health and safety of workers, a CoSHH assessment will help identify any potential hazards when using chemicals.

It can be assumed that using environmentally friendly products are the sound way to go in so far as protecting your workforce from hazardous chemicals. Body care products do not have the same specifications for what is considered 'organic' like food does. The biggest cause of bacteria can come from leaks into the bags from produce bought in supermarkets, and then this bacteria being spread, inadvertently, by staff who are transferring bacteria from one reusable bag to another. There are a small number of differing rules and regulations that manufacturers look at when considering a product to be classed as 'organic', but on the whole, few follow these.

Some companies, do actually claim to produce eco friendly products, but actually they do not. Chemicals containing BHA, tricolsan and parabens, are not only to the atmosphere but to humans aswell. In order to prevent ill health, it is a legal requirement that employers control exposure to dangerous substances within their working environment. This is very much down to the fact that reusable carrier bags are used repeatedly. The specific ingredient information should also include titles such as 'solvent free' or 'no petroleum based ingredients' etc. Regardless of a products' claim to be eco-friendly, it is still essential that they must have a CoSHH risk assessment.