INFORM March 2025

inform March 2025, Vol. 36 (3) • 29

uments, as appropriate (https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/saf er-choice-master-criteria-safer-chemical-ingredients). These documents define the characteristics and toxicity thresholds for ingredients that are acceptable in Safer Choice products. The criteria are based on EPA expertise in evaluating the physical and toxicological properties of chemicals, and while they incorporate authoritative lists of chemicals of concern, they go far beyond these lists. Safer Choice applies the criteria using EPA research and analytical methods to ensure that Safer Choice products contain only the safest possible ingredients. All criteria documents are part of the Safer Choice Standard. WHAT IS NEW IN THE STANDARD? According to news outlets, in addition to clearer language, the final updated Standard includes: • A new certification program for cleaning service provid ers that use Safer Choice- and DfE-certified products. The program will help protect workers that use cleaning products as well as the people who live or work in the spaces they clean. • Strengthened criteria that pet care products must meet to ensure they use only the safest possible ingredients for humans, pets and the environment. • Updated safer packaging criteria, ensuring primary packaging does not include any unintentionally added PFAS or other chemicals of concern.

• Strengthened sustainable packaging requirements for all Safer Choice-certified products to use post-con sumer recycled content and be recyclable or be reusable. • Updated criteria for wipe products to ensure certified wipes contain “Do Not Flush” language to help reduce damage to wastewater treatment systems. • New, optional energy efficiency or use reduction cri teria to encourage companies to use less water, use renewable energy and improve energy efficiency. This update follows a November 2023 request for public comment on the EPA’s proposed updates to the Standard. This is the EPA’s fourth update of the Standard since its incep tion in 2009 and the first since 2015. The EPA periodically updates the Standard to keep current with the state of scien tific and technological innovation, increase transparency and reduce redundancy, and expand the scope of the program as appropriate. For a more thorough description of the updates, access the EPA’s Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) Standard at the epa.gov (https://www.epa.gov/system/files/ documents/2024-08/epas-safer-choice-and-design-for-the environment-dfe-standard-with-changes-in-green.pdf). Rebecca Guenard is the editor-in-chief of INFORM magazine, she can be contacted at rebecca.guenard@aocs.org.

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