The Limits of Eco-Consumerism: Some Cleaning Needs Bleach

Just before the British government announced a nationwide lockdown, Lucy Dargahi found herself browsing the shelves of her local corner shop in West London. Like many of her fellow shoppers, she was thinking about cleaning.

The 28-year-old usually buys plant-based household cleaners from Method Products Inc. But with the novel coranavirus spreading around London, she picked up a bottle of Advanced Power Kitchen with “power foam” from Mr. Muscle, a brand owned by Windex-maker SC Johnson Inc. and sold in the U.K. since 1974. The product promises to kill 99.99% of viruses and bacteria. Its strongest ecological credential is encouraging shoppers to buy refills.

“It ...