April 20, 2015
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its new “Safer Choice” label for household chemicals, that will replace the EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) labeling. The criteria to be considered cover a broad range of potential toxicological effects, such as:
- Carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive or developmental toxicants
- Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals
- Systemic or internal organ toxicants
- Asthmagens
- Sensitizers
- Chemicals on authoritative lists of chemicals of concern
A separate but related label for "fragrance free" products has also been released.
The Agency has released a video, stating that their scientists use stringent human health and environmental safety standards when reviewing products for the Safer Choice program, so consumers are assured that it’s a stamp they can trust.
Although considered as a voluntary standard, major companies have been reported to be adopting the label. As of time the time of publication, there have been 2,000 products that have met the EPA standard based on the agency’s Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL).