The American Cleaning Institute has recommended new product categories be added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s potential expansion of its Safer Choice and Design for the Environment programs.
The Safer Choice and DfE programs allow companies to receive an agency-approved label if their products are proven to meet stringent health and environmental safety criteria. That label is used by consumers and helps to guide purchases made for schools and other institutions.
“ACI supports the addition of the following product categories to the Safer Choice and DfE programs: liquid laundry packets, dissolvable laundry sheets, and microbial-based cleaners,” said Darius Stanton, director of regulatory science and innovation for the American Cleaning Institute. “ACI members benefit from the Safer Choice Program Certification, because it represents a high level of achievement in formulating products made with safer ingredients for consumers and the environment.
“By the Safer Choice Program expanding the certification to new product categories, it will continue to drive innovation within the cleaning/disinfecting/sanitizing industry and beyond – and help consumers, businesses, and purchasers find products that perform and contain safer ingredients for human health and the environment.”
Among the laundry product categories’ attributes cited by ACI:
- Liquid laundry packets are an efficient and sustainable product category, due to the decrease in raw materials and water used for product formulation. They also ensure that consumers are using the correct measurement of detergent because the packets are pre-measured.
- Dissolvable laundry sheets eliminate water consumption and waste generation.
