Tia sells environmentally responsible products to the canal and inland waterways community.
We operate in the South Midlands area from our narrowboat and sell products such as Ecover, BioD and EcoBalls: Basically any cleaning product, whether it be personal (like shower gel or shampoo), domestic, (washing-up liquid, products for your washing machine and general cleaning products) or more specific boating products (like the new eco friendly boat wash products from Ecover).
Why should boaters use these products?
There are more boats on the inland waterways today than at any time during the industrial carrying era. These are a combination of private and shared ownership, family hire and traditional working boats, very few of which can practically be fitted with a 'grey-water' tank (a vessel specifically for the containment of contaminated personal washing and shower, washing up and clothes washing water). Usually, at home, the sewerage treatment system deals with this waste for us, but on a boat, this contaminated water is discharged directly into the river or canal to the detriment of the wildlife and plant-life.
Unfortunately not all boaters are being environmentally responsible and are possibly unaware of the damage they are causing to their surroundings by using brand-name cleaning products; most of which contain obnoxious chemical ingredients such as phosphates, EDTA, Enzymes, Chlorine Bleaches, Petroleum based products, Titanium Di-oxide and synthetic perfumes and dyes among others.
However, to encourage boaters to become more aware of their responsibilities, we are making available alternative "canal friendly" products such as Ecover, Bio D, Bio Magic and EcoBalls that do not cause harm to the environment we all enjoy, are safer for us, our children and pets and are kinder to the aquatic eco-system of the waterways.
