Clorox To Stop Using, Transporting Chlorine In US

BETSY VERECKEY

CHICAGO (AP) — Household products maker The Clorox Co. said Monday it is changing how it makes its namesake bleach so it can stop transporting chlorine to U.S. factories by rail amid growing safety concerns and regulatory scrutiny.

Starting at its Fairfield, Calif., factory north of San Francisco, Clorox said it plans to switch to high-strength bleach with a higher concentration of sodium hypochlorite instead of buying chlorine and making bleach onsite.

Clorox expects to finish the transition in Fairfield in six months. Its six other factories around the United States will be changed over the following few years.

"Our goal is ultimately to eliminate the transportation of chlorine from our U.S. supply chain," spokesman Dan Staublin said.

Staublin said the company will eventually make the changes at all seven of its U.S. bleach manufacturing facilities. Clorox would not disclose how much it would cost to make the changes, which will affect the products in its namesake Clorox bleach line.

While the bleach-making process will change, the end products will not, and consumers won't notice a difference in quality, smell or color, Staublin said.