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 What Makes O.H. "Sustainalbe?"You may already know that the cleaning products we use are not only biodegradable and non- toxic, but have a ph balance that is gentle on the earth and they are packaged in 100% recycled material. For some of the products we keep with regular clients, we refill rather than discard the used bottles. We provide flowers for every weekly, bi-weekly or monthly cleaning, which, when in season, are grown organically. Instead of lingering chemical fumes, we use essential oils to leave the space smelling and feeling great. And when Organic Home helps you organize or design your interior space, we encourage you to use what you already have in creative or inspirational ways. When you wish to purchase items to improve your home’s function or aesthetic, we direct you toward products that are manufactured responsibly and that will not poison you or the planet. What you may not be so familiar with is the concept of Sustainable or ‘Green’ Business. This refers to responsible business practices that endeavor to sustain nature and humanity, rather than deplete resources and degrade living conditions. Sustainable businesses are interested in profit – but not to the exclusion of environmental stewardship and social investment. As a sustainable business we consider eco-friendly practices in every aspect of our operations, from recycling to reducing fuel consumption and polluting less. Conservation is our daily practice – with drinking water, packaging, energy, transportation, and the items we buy. For example, we purchase wind and hydroelectric power for our office. We use recycled products and likewise recycle as much as possible – including composting in our kitchen. We encourage our employees to bike, walk or take public transportation when they can. And so on. As for social investment, we are committed to help people improve the quality of their lives. We are always happy to educate our clients and the public about their health and that of the environment. As a regular practice we attempt to approach everyone with open communication and understanding. We provide numerous resources in person and on our website at no cost. We’re very proud that we pay our employees a fair wage and we hope to soon be able to provide them with a wellness package. To help support a local living economy, we purchase our flowers from local organic farmers and our cleaning products from a local company also employing sustainable practices. We know we’re doing the right thing both ethically and economically. Organic Home addresses the many hidden costs in environmental and social neglect that either we or our children indeed pay for. For example, our tax dollars provide oil and chemical company subsidies and fund a great deal of toxic cleanup. We pay directly in medical conditions resulting from irresponsible practices, as well as in the healthcare costs of others who may be affected by pollution or poverty. By not providing or supporting fair wages, we pay spiritually by having more general misery and less secure neighborhoods, and we pay monetarily by funding social programs, the court system, prisons, and policing. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Organic Home emphatically supports and promotes businesses and individuals who employ responsible practices. We are proud to be members of the Philadelphia area Sustainable Business Network, a group of local businesses and individuals alike who agree to focus their efforts on the triple bottom line of “People, Planet, and Profit.” We believe that the best way to effect positive change for our community, nation and world is through supporting companies in the free market whose values mirror our own. Ultimately, this translates to the bigger picture of alternative activism. Many people are turning to the market for solutions that political appeals and protests are not providing. As much as we need to vote our ideals with ballots, we also need to vote with our dollars to create a demand for businesses with sound, responsible practices. Any way you look at it, supporting Sustainable Business is a viable way to make real progress and improve the quality of life for all.  
  
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"Have a bias towards action. Let's see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away."
--Indira Gandhi
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