EPA Proposes Updates to Strengthen the Safer Choice Standard

Mom and child washing dishes together

The EPA Nov. 13 proposed updates to the Safer Choice Standard, which identifies the requirements that products and their ingredients must meet to earn EPA’s “Safer Choice” label or “Design for the Environment” or DfE logo. The agency is requesting public comments on the proposed updates by Jan. 16, 2024, and will hold a webinar Dec. 19, 2023, to provide information on proposed updates to the Standard.

The Safer Choice program helps consumers and purchasers for facilities, such as schools and office buildings, find cleaners, detergents and other products made with chemical ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment. The DfE program helps people find disinfectants that meet high standards for human health and the environment.

EPA’s proposed updates to the standard include:

New certification for cleaning service providers that use Safer Choice- and DfE-certified products to help protect workers that use cleaning products all day as well as the people who live or work in the spaces they clean.

Strengthening sustainable packaging requirements in response to consumer demand and innovations in packaging materials and technologies.

Expanded criteria specific to pet care products to ensure such products use only the safest possible ingredients for both humans and pets.

Clarifying language on EPA’s process for entering product classes and exiting those that pose unexpected risks despite safer chemistry.

Clarifying language regarding the use of data from New Approach Methodologies during Safer Choice chemical review.

New, optional energy efficiency or use reduction criteria to encourage companies to reduce water use and carbon-based energy consumption.

Updated criteria for wipe products to help reduce damage to wastewater treatment systems.

Potential creation of a new alternate logo, similar to the Fragrance-Free logo, to distinguish products used outdoors that meet additional EPA criteria for environmental safety.

EPA will hold a webinar Dec. 19 to provide further information on the proposed updates to the standard. The webinar may be of interest to stakeholders interested in commenting on the updates, including manufacturers and distributors, retailers, community groups and representatives from states, Tribal Nations, non-profit organizations, trade associations and others.

Upon publication of the federal register notice, comments should be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0520 on Regulations.gov by Jan. 16, 2024. EPA will use the written comments to guide updates to the Standard.

Time: 11 a.m., PT, Dec. 19 (and 2 p.m., ET)

Details: Register, https://tinyurl.com/Safer-choice-standard-webinar