CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, July 11, 2019 – The Household and Commercial Products Association (HCPA) and CleanGredients, the database of market-ready chemical ingredients pre-approved to meet U.S. EPA’s Safer Choice standard, have announced a partnership to increase information about safer ingredients in HCPA’s Consumer Product Ingredients Dictionary.
The Consumer Product Ingredients Dictionary is used by formulators of household and automotive care products as a resource for ingredient nomenclature, regulatory status, and functions, among other features. Now, users will be able to find CleanGredients-listed trade name ingredients and mixtures that contain a particular chemical in the database, then click directly to access the relevant CleanGredients profiles for more information.
A listing in CleanGredients indicates that an ingredient has been pre-screened by independent, third-party reviewers and meets the U.S. EPA Safer Choice program’s criteria. Using CleanGredients-listed ingredients simplifies the Safer Choice certification process and ensures that the ingredients are safer options for both human health and the environment.
“We are excited to partner with HCPA, both to help product formulators more easily access information about safer ingredients, and to enable chemical suppliers who have invested in developing and screening safer ingredients to gain greater recognition for their efforts,” said Elizabeth Ritch, Project Manager at GreenBlue who leads the CleanGredients program.
“Together, CleanGredients and the HCPA Consumer Product Ingredients Dictionary are helping advance the use of safer ingredients,” said Dr. Steve Bennett, Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs at HCPA. “The Dictionary is a unified source for ingredient names required by the state of California and accepted by Walmart, Target, and the EPA Safer Choice program. Making it easy to find CleanGredients-listed ingredients in the Dictionary helps companies cut through the clutter and standardize ingredients names both on the label and online.”

Ingredient suppliers that are existing HCPA Dictionary subscribers should visit https://www.productingredients.com to get their trade names listed in Product Ingredients Dictionary. Any trade names in the Consumer Product Ingredients Dictionary that are also listed in CleanGredients will be indicated as such in the Product Ingredients Dictionary ingredient profile.
ABOUT HCPA’S CONSUMER PRODUCT INGREDIENTS DICTIONARY
The Consumer Product Ingredients Dictionary is the only source for definitions of the chemicals used specifically in household and automotive care consumer products. Companies engaged in ingredient communication can use the database to assure maximum transparency for consumers who want to know what ingredients are in the products they buy and use. To learn more about the HCPA Consumer Product Ingredients Dictionary, please visit https://www.productingredients.com or email info@productingredients.com.
ABOUT CLEANGREDIENTS
CleanGredients is a database of chemical ingredients used primarily to formulate residential, institutional, industrial, and janitorial cleaning products that have been pre-approved to meet the U.S. EPA’s Safer Choice Standard. CleanGredients is an indispensable purchasing resource for formulators who are seeking suppliers of chemical ingredients that will help them to obtain the Safer Choice label. Using CleanGredients helps formulators reduce risk to their business, save money, and get their products to market faster. CleanGredients is a project of GreenBlue. To learn more about CleanGredients, please visit www.cleangredients.org or email info@cleangredients.org.

You’ve probably heard of EPA’s Safer Choice program, which recognizes household and institutional cleaning and other products that are safer for human health and the environment.  If you’re on the fence about pursuing Safer Choice certification for your company’s products, here are four of the reasons why some other companies have found participation in the program to be worthwhile:

For many of us, spring cleaning is an opportunity to give our homes a deep-clean and tackle the grimy spots that don’t make it into our weekly routine. Kitchen cabinets, ovens, the outsides of windows, and the insides of cleaning appliances like dishwashers and washing machines can accumulate dirt and other crud that goes unnoticed for months or even years, so it’s important to take the time each year to make sure they get the attention they need.  
But not all of the cleaning products we use are the best for our health, the environment, or the health of others in our homes (like kids and pets).  Recent studies have found that conventional cleaning products can harm lung function as much as smoking cigarettes, and volatile organic chemicals in cleaning and other household products now contribute to outdoor air pollution as much as cars.  Many cleaning products contain chemicals that can cause asthma, which is especially a concern for products used in schools or around kids since about one in ten kids has asthma and asthma is a leading cause of school absenteeism.   

Refusing to clean isn’t a realistic option.  Never mind the dirt (and potentially resentful family members or roommates) – household dust itself can contain hazardous chemicals, such as halogenated flame retardants from furniture or electronics and phthalates from vinyl flooring.  So what can you do to keep your home sparkling while avoiding exposure to hazardous chemicals? Given the prevalence of greenwashing and the fact that most cleaning products don’t currently disclose all of their ingredients (though that is changing), it can seem daunting to make an informed decision.
Some people choose to make their own cleaning products, which in some cases can be a good (and frugal) option.  But proceed with caution – some ingredients in homemade cleaning products can also be hazardous to your health. Borax, a common ingredient in homemade laundry detergent recipes, is associated with reproductive, developmental, and neurological hazards, and some essential oils, often used to provide a natural fragrance, can cause sensitization and allergic reactions and can be harmful to pets.  Plus, some combinations of ingredients that are safe and effective cleaners on their own become ineffective when combined.  For example, when baking soda and vinegar are mixed, they neutralize each other, reducing cleaning effectiveness, and mixing vinegar with castile soap unsaponifies the soap, resulting in an oily, curdled mess.
If you’d rather leave cleaning product formulation to the experts, but want to ensure that the ingredients are safer for you, your kids, your pets, and the environment, look for products with the EPA Safer Choice label. EPA’s Safer Choice program certifies cleaning products that meet the Safer Choice Standard, and is backed up by EPA’s years of expertise in assessing chemicals and use of predictive models to assess hazards of chemicals that lack toxicity data.  To achieve the Safer Choice certification, every intentionally added ingredient in a product, including proprietary mixtures and ingredients present at a very low concentration, must be reviewed by third-party experts to confirm that the ingredients are among the safest-in-class for people and the environment.  Even if not intentionally added, known residuals from the manufacturing process present at concentrations above 0.01% must be reviewed, and residuals of concern must be reduced to the lowest feasible levels. The Safer Choice team also looks for negative synergies between ingredients in a product, to avoid reactions that could cause harm, and works with product manufacturers to support continuous improvement and innovation in the development of safer products.
Among other requirements, ingredients used in Safer Choice-certified products can’t include chemicals that are likely to cause cancer, alter genes or affect reproduction, or toxic chemicals that don’t break down in the environment and accumulate in our bodies and the food chain.  Generally, no ingredients classified as skin or respiratory sensitizers (which may cause allergic reactions after repeat exposure) may be included. Overall, formulations must meet the volatile organic compound (VOC) content restrictions set by the Ozone Transport Commission and the California Air Resources Board in order to protect indoor and outdoor air quality.  For products used outdoors, such as pressure washer concentrates, car washes, or boat washes, Safer Choice applies more stringent aquatic toxicity standards to ensure that products don’t hurt fish or other aquatic life. Plus, all products with the Safer Choice label must meet performance standards, meaning they perform at least as well as conventional products.
Safer Choice certifies products for both home and business/institutional use, in a broad range of product categories to meet needs at home, work, and school.  You can look for the label on everyday products like all-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, and dish soap, as well as more specialized items such as appliance cleaners, descalers, and floor strippers that help you get through your spring cleaning checklist.  You can even find the label on pet shampoos and bicycle lubricants.  Fragrance free options are identified with a specific version of the Safer Choice label.  A full listing of products with the Safer Choice certification is available on EPA’s website.
Cleaning may not be the most fun way to spend a beautiful spring Saturday, but fortunately, there are safer product options that will get the job done.  Just look for the Safer Choice label and you will be on your way to a cleaner, healthier home.

The market for products formulated with safer chemistries is growing significantly.
There are many challenges for companies who want to develop safer alternatives. The first step is to successfully find safer substitutes for the chemicals of concern a manufacturer seeks to replace. Then there is performance testing to make sure that the finished product is as efficacious as its predecessor. Then, finally, a manufacturer has to find effective methods to market its improved products to existing and prospective customers.  Within the household and institutional cleaning products sector, CleanGredients is one way ingredient suppliers can communicate third-party verification that their ingredients are safer for human health and the environment, but some companies take it a step further and highlight their CleanGredients listings in marketing and educational materials.  These suppliers take on the role of educating their customer base about their innovations, and help product formulators find the resources they need to formulate safer products that their customers want.

Some suppliers that list in CleanGredients have made an effort to help their customers navigate EPA’s Safer Choice certification program.  For example, late last year, Stepan Company released  a product and formulation guide entitled “Navigating Safer Choice”, which makes it easy for customers who may not be familiar with CleanGredients and Safer Choice to understand which of Stepan’s home care ingredients are environmentally preferable options that meet Safer Choice criteria.  The guide identifies how each of Stepan’s CleanGredients-listed products can be used in product formulations, as well as which of their products meet other green chemistry criteria, such as bio-based content.  It also highlights Stepan’s starter formulations, which are formulations that can be used as-is for a variety of cleaning applications, or can be customized with a formulator’s colorant or fragrance, making it easy, especially for small formulators, to get a product with the Safer Choice certification to market.  Stepan has supplemented their latest guide by supporting the Safer Choice program in other ways, such as participating in webinars designed to educate other stakeholders about the program.  Their commitment to the Safer Choice program was acknowledged by EPA when they were recognized as a Safer Choice Partner of the Year in 2015 and 2017.
Other companies are also trying to educate their customers about ingredient options meeting the Safer Choice criteria  – both for ingredients used in product categories eligible for the Safer Choice certification as well as for  ingredients that meet  Safer Choice master criteria and are considered to be  safer alternatives to other options on the market.   BASF Corporation uses the Safer Choice Standard and CleanGredients as two tools in its toolkit to clearly communicate which of its ingredients are safer alternatives and to help its customers make informed decisions.  Within its Home Care and I&I Cleaning business unit, BASF’s CleanGredients Product Guide for Safer Choice Formulations identifies groups of ingredients meeting the Safer Choice standard and listed in CleanGredients, along with relevant applications in home care products and suggested formulations, making it easier for customers to formulate products that can achieve the Safer Choice certification.  But BASF has also chosen to join Eastman Chemical in listing a non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer, Palatinol® DOTP, in CleanGredients.  While this ingredient is not yet used in product categories eligible for the Safer Choice certification, because it is listed in CleanGredients, BASF can reassure its customers that it meets the Safer Choice Master Criteria and is a safer option for human health and the environment.
More and more chemical suppliers are recognizing that they have a key role to play in educating their customers and helping them select lower-hazard ingredients that will be used in end products that are safer for human health and the environment.  Listing an ingredient that meets the Safer Choice criteria in the CleanGredients database provides important third-party assurance that it is a safer alternative, but suppliers have the opportunity to go further, leveraging their CleanGredients listings to help their customers understand their options and to ultimately create safer, more effective products their customers  want.

Last month, four paint companies settled Federal Trade Commission charges that they made deceptive environmental claims, without adequate evidence to back up the claims. Among other things, the companies’ unqualified claims that their products were emission-free, VOC-free, and safe for sensitive populations got them into hot water with regulators. Paint companies are not the only ones falling into this trap. In the past, cleaning and personal care product companies have also come under fire and been subject to lawsuits for claiming that their products are natural, non-toxic, or safer than their competitor’s products.
This serves as an important reminder that, even as more and more consumers are looking for products that make “green” claims, brands need to be careful and avoid making vague assertions about their products that aren’t backed up by clear evidence. The FTC’s Green Guides provide guidance to companies to help ensure they don’t make claims that will be misinterpreted by consumers. For example, companies shouldn’t make broad, unqualified environmental claims, such as their product is “green” or “eco-friendly., They should also disclose any connections with certifying organizations if certifications or seals are used, so consumers don’t misinterpret a company’s own seals of approval as third-party certifications. So how can companies ensure that the environmental claims they make are backed up by evidence?
Third-party certifications like EPA’s Safer Choice can be incredibly valuable to companies that want to market their products based on environmental and health attributes. Participating in the Safer Choice program allows products that meet the standard to use the Safer Choice label on their package and marketing materials, indicating that the product contains ingredients safer for human and environmental health than conventional products. Every ingredient in a Safer Choice-certified product must meet EPA’s rigorous science-based criteria, and all products undergo review by independent toxicologists before they can carry the label.

Companies marketing Safer Choice-certified products find that the label is both meaningful to consumers, helping companies market their products to those looking for “green” options, and scientifically meaningful, so it stands up to scrutiny. An EPA study in February 2016 found that more than a third of consumers were familiar with the Safer Choice program and had seen the label on store shelves. After learning about the certification, more than three quarters said that the Safer Choice certification would inform their future purchasing decisions.
The market for safer products is substantial. In fact, a Consumer Reports surveyfound that 44% of the American adults surveyed would pay more for cleaning products they perceive to be safer for their health and the environment. Third-party certifications like Safer Choice can help companies access this market, without falling into the trap of making vague and unsubstantiated claims that could land them in legal trouble. Plus, consumers who see the Safer Choice label on a product will know that the claims are backed up by rigorous, independent review, so they are actually getting the safer, more environmentally friendly products they want.

Ah, spring. Time to enjoy the warm weather … and take on some of the cleaning tasks you’ve been putting off all winter. But did you know that the cleaning products you choose can affect the air quality inside your home?
Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentration of pollutants is often several times higher than outdoor concentrations. This can be a particular concern for vulnerable populations, such as the very young, the elderly, or people with existing health conditions, who are both more vulnerable to the effects of pollution and may spend even more time indoors.
Indoor air pollution can come from a wide range of sources, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the products you use, as well as off-gassing from building materials (like pressed wood products that can emit formaldehyde), combustion of wood or fossil fuels in fireplaces or appliances, intrusion of radon or VOCs from subsurface contamination into the building, and even mold. The problem can be exacerbated by modern building techniques, which seal the building from air leaks to promote energy efficiency, but can reduce indoor air quality if there isn’t appropriate ventilation.
Short-term and long-term health effects associated with poor indoor air quality depend on the specific contaminants present. For example, VOCs can contribute to asthma; eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, and nausea; damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system; and even cancer. Indoor air quality can also affect your cognitive function and ability to concentrate, so maintaining high indoor air quality is critical for schools and workplaces as well as homes.
So, what can you do to improve the air quality in your home? One of the easiest steps you can take is to choose safer formulated products, such as cleaning products, thereby reducing sources of indoor air contaminants.  Since many conventional cleaning products are high in VOCs and other potential air contaminants, it is important to choose safer low-VOC products to use in your home. Even cleaners made from natural materials can contribute to indoor air quality problems. For example, cleaning products that contain terpenes (e.g., pine or citrus oils) can react with ozone (either from outdoor pollution entering the building or from ozone generators sold as air cleaners) in the air within your home to produce formaldehyde, fine particulate matter, and other pollutants.

When shopping for household cleaners, look for products with the EPA Safer Choice label.  These products are required to have lower levels of VOCs to reduce impacts on indoor air quality, plus all ingredients have been screened by EPA and are safer for your family’s health and the environment. The Safer Choice program follows the VOC standards for consumer products established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Ozone Transport Commission. These agencies set VOC content limits for personal care products, cleaning products, adhesives, aerosol paints, and more based on the type of product.
Other steps you can take to improve indoor air quality include using paints and other household chemicals with low VOC content, avoiding dry cleaners that use hazardous solvents such as perchloroethylene, and avoiding new building materials such as particle board, plywood, and medium-density fiberboard (often used in subflooring, cabinets, or furniture).  If you must use these materials in your home, ensure that adequate ventilation is present. In addition, some studies suggest that houseplants can improve indoor air quality; however, their effectiveness in real-world situations is uncertain.  
Indoor air quality is a serious concern. One of the simplest things you can do to improve indoor air quality is to choose safer products that are lower in VOCs – so when you do your spring cleaning this year, look for the Safer Choice logo and enjoy the fresh air indoors and out!

Pets are an important part of more than half of US households, and pet owners want their furry family members to have a happy and healthy life free from exposure to hazardous chemicals. There is a growing, multi-billion dollar market for pet care products, but it can be challenging for pet owners to get a full understanding of the chemicals of concern in the products they buy, since it is uncommon for products to come with a full ingredient listing.
As a result, these pet care products can be a source of pet exposure to hazardous chemicals. Ingredients of concern may include harsh surfactants that may cause irritation or have carcinogenic effects, or thickening and pearlizing agents with poor environmental toxicity profiles. In some cases, ingredients may be even more of a concern for pets than they are for humans. Many essential oils and plant extracts fall into this category, since they can act as sensitizers when pets are exposed, resulting in allergic reactions.
Pets may also be more exposed to hazardous chemicals from household products because they tend to be smaller and closer to the ground and groom themselves using their mouths.  They also have faster metabolisms and smaller lungs than humans, so they breathe in more chemicals from the environment and process them faster. Smaller pets, like rodents and fish, can be especially vulnerable to cleaning products, including products used to clean cages and aquariums.  Like humans, pets are susceptible not only to acute poisoning by toxic chemicals, but also to diseases like cancer that can be caused by exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Fortunately, companies in the pet care sector are responding to consumer demand for safer products.  Pet owners looking for safer chemicals in the products they use to care for their pets, such as pet shampoo, can now find pet care products bearing the U.S. EPA Safer Choice label on store shelves. Safer Choice is a trusted assurance that certifies products that are safer for people, pets, and the environment, and until now, has been used primarily to label household and institutional and industrial cleaning products.  Pet owners can find Safer Choice-labeled products intended to be used directly on pets, such as pet shampoo, as well as cleaning products used in the home, in order to ensure a safe and healthy environment for their pets and the rest of their family. Like all Safer Choice-labeled products, all ingredients in pet care products with the Safer Choice label have been screened by third party profilers and EPA, assuring they are safer for both the environment and human and animal health.
Before making the Safer Choice label available for this new category of products, EPA evaluated conventional chemistries in the pet care sector. They looked at ingredients of pet care products that have been disclosed publicly, and reviewed existing data on the hazards associated with these chemicals. In order to ensure that their standards for pet care products were protective for pets, the Safer Choice team also spoke with stakeholders, including veterinary toxicologists, and conducted research to determine if any of the chemicals used in pet care products are particularly toxic to dogs and cats.
The first products in the pet care category to be labeled with the Safer Choice label are two pet shampoos from ECOS for Pets! by Earth Friendly Products – one fragrance free and one peppermint-scented, currently being sold in pet supply stores and at www.ecos.com. Earth Friendly Products has produced pet care products since it was founded in 1967, but is now better known for its household cleaning products. The company formulates its pet care line to the same safety and sustainability standards as its home care line, because it takes the view that pets deserve the same high standards as the rest of the family when it comes to the chemicals we use on and around them.
Matt Arkin, Director of Pet Sales with Earth Friendly Products, said

“As a long time partner of the Safer Choice program, we were so excited about the opportunity to create ECOS for Pets! and offer the first certified pet products. There are so many options for consumers and just as much confusion as to what green means that making a good decision can be overwhelming. The Safer Choice seal will provide clarity for those who want to make the best choices for their pets’ health. It is the pre-eminent third party certification and consumers can feel confident that ECOS for Pets! was formulated to the most exacting standards.”

The ECOS for Pets! products were not tested on animals, which presented a bit of a challenge for the performance testing required by the Safer Choice program. Instead of testing the performance of these shampoos on live animals, alternative performance tests were developed.  With some outside-the-box thinking and the use of many faux fur swatches, Earth Friendly Products was able to complete the performance testing required for the Safer Choice label and ensure the efficacy of its  products. Other than this hiccup, the process of obtaining the Safer Choice label on these products was smooth, in large part because the products were already formulated to the Safer Choice program standards.
Because pets roll in mud, track in dirt, shed fur, spill their food and water, and have the occasional accident, pet owners need safe and effective pet care and cleaning products.  Because EPA reviews all Safer Choice products to ensure that they are safer for pets, as well as humans and the environment, it is easier for consumers to feel confident that they are making a good decision regarding the products they purchase. Safer Choice-labeled products, including all-purpose cleaners, carpet cleaners, deicers, floor care products, pet stain and odor removers, toilet bowl cleaners, and upholstery cleaners are great options for pet owners to clean up after their pets while also keeping them safe and healthy.