Q1. What was your opinion of the Naturally Powered products before using them?
Didn't really have one one way or the other, though it did cross my mind that rightly or wrongly, Tesco are not traditionally well-known for their green/ethical credentials (not necessarily my opinion but just being honest that that is what crossed my mind!)
Q2. After using the products, what was your over all opinion? Did the products work? Were you happy with the performance? Did you like the smell and feel of the products?
I had the anti-bacterial spray. I really liked the smell. A lot less "artificial" than standard antibacterial sprays. I cannot really tell form the ingredients list if the fragrance is actually natural or not (d-limonene, linalol) as I am not a chemist! The packaging is ok, but to me it doesn't scream "natural". I fact the graphics look quite "scientific" so not sure if this would put off someone looking for a more earthy/wholesome product! The bottle is good and sprays well.
Q3. How did the products compare to your usual cleaning products? Did it work just as well, better or worse than the products you usually use?
It's difficult to say as I am assuming this is supposed to just be an antibacterial spray rather than an actual cleaner as it doesn't state it on the label. I have been using it mainly for the highchair and worksurfaces in the kitchen - it does just as good a job as what I would usually use and it smells nicer, but I haven't really tried it on very stubborn areas like the hob.
Q4. How important are the green credentials of the Naturally Powered range to you? Would this affect your decision to buy? If so, why? If not, why not?
I do tend to like greener products, as long as they perform well and are not too expensive, and would choose them over expensive branded products. I tend to presume that these products may contain less harmful chemicals that are safer for my family, that are produced ethically and with concern for the environment and that I won't need to wear rubber gloves(!) which might be completely untrue I don't know! I like that the bottle is made of recycled materials and this is a big plus point for me. I think Tesco should use recycled plastic for all their bottles personally! I am not convinced as to how green this product is. See below.
Q5. Will you continue to buy the Tesco Naturally Powered range? If so, why? If not why not?
Possibly. I don't tend to shop at Tesco as a rule, but if I was in there and the price was reasonable then I might give them a try. Though I am not convinced as to how "natural" they actually are.
Q6. What, if any, improvements would you make to the Naturally Powered products you were testing?
More clarity on the packaging as to what the product should be used for. I'm still not sure whether this is supposed to be just an antibacterial spray like Milton, or whether it is an actual multi-surface cleaner like flash.
It would also be good to state on the label where it is safe to use it, for instance Milton states on the label that it is safe to use on highchairs, as long as you rinse first. I would not like to assume that this is a safe product when in fact the chemicals could be harmful if used on surfaces that come into direct contact with food.
I am not convinced from the labelling as to how "green" this product is. It states that the non-ionic surfactants it contains are "plant derived", but then it has a list of other chemicals (the disinfectants) with no information as to how they are sourced, or if they are natural (again I am no chemist so I don't know!). If I was very concerned about this kind of thing, then this may put me off. I notice on the label it doesn't make any specific claims, apart from the name "Naturally Powered", that it is suitable for vegans (what cleaner wouldn't be?), it support sustainable palm oil (but doesn't contain it), and is developed with eco experts (who are they exactly?). I have a kitchen and hob cleaner from Asda that actually calls itself "eco-friendly". I notice that contains plant derived non-ionic surfactants and the same perfumes, but it doesn't contain all the other named chemicals. Perhaps this is because it is not a disinfectant. I don't know if there are any criteria set for "eco" products, but perhaps this tesco product is not necessarily meeting them, so it makes very vague and non-specific claims? I don't know if there is is an independent body for this type of thing (like the soil association for organic food for example) but perhaps some kind of accreditation might convince the more die-hard eco warriors! This criticism may be unfair due to my lack of knowledge on the subject and perhaps I would find equal fault if I studied the label of an ecover product for example.
So in summary: 1. I would like to know how exactly is the product green/natural/ethical (or is it not?), as the current packaging doesn't convince me! 2. What exactly is is suppose to be used for? 3. Is it safe to use on highchairs that babies/toddlers eat directly from?
Q7. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend the products to a friend? If so, why? If not, why not?
I'm not sure really. I wouldn't advise against using them, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend them either.
Sorry about the ramblings! Overall this product smells nice and seems to work well, but I'm not sure if I would buy it on it's green credentials alone!