America's Original Natural Home Cleaner™ Turns 125

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- On the eve of its 125th anniversary, the beloved Bon Ami is still leading the way in America's green cleaning movement through model behavior: chemical sensitivity and 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) packaging.

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Pure, simple, and eco-ahead-of-its-time, family-owned Bon Ami has been America's original natural home cleaner since 1886. Today, it has re-launched to include an entire line of simple, effective cleaning products, adding household staples such as Dish Soap, All-Purpose Cleanser and Liquid Cleanser, all formulated to clean our modern lives (laptops, barbeque grills, stained glass, car seats, etc.) in the most natural way.  The brand is quickly expanding and is now available in Whole Foods, Price Chopper, Price Less Foods, QFC and other store locations nationwide.

Originally developed as a gentle alternative to the gritty quartz-based scouring powders from the 1880s, Bon Ami was born taking what would have been waste product – feldspar – and mixing it with soap to make a cleanser that polished away dirt and stains without scratching.  These days we call that "zero waste."

Bon Ami prides itself on always being biodegradable, non-toxic and hypo-allergenic and became a leader in their category by enforcing a 100% PCR rule. In 2010 only 1,600 companies are 100% PCR compliant, while "others are putting artificial dyes in the products or bottles to hide the smoky color characteristic of recycled plastic," says Carolyn West, Bon Ami's Director of Sustainability.  "Adding unnecessary and harmful dyes goes against Bon Ami's pure heritage both inside and out.  That smoky color is a hallmark of recycled plastic, and we think our customers will be as proud of it as we are." Since the packaging can look cloudy and even dirty at times, it became a risk of detracting new consumers.  But it is a risk Bon Ami is willing to take for the sake of the environment.

Bon Ami has been transparent about its non-toxic ingredients ever since it was created in 1886.  Taking it a step further, Bon Ami has made great strides in keeping their products chemically sensitive for those with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity). Green chemistry – a design process that strives to reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous substances – is the best way to describe Bon Ami's approach to product formulation.

With over five generations of customer satisfaction, loyalty and demand, Bon Ami continues to provide eco-friendly cleaning alternatives for a beautiful future and healthy, happy homes.

For additional information on Bon Ami, please visit www.BonAmi.com or contact Stephanie Kerman of Behrman Communications, 212-986-7000, [email protected].

SOURCE Bon Ami