News Brief

Design for Environment Label Now “Safer Choice”

EPA has shifted its labeling of chemically safer products and expanded to include Fragrance-Free in its criteria.

by Alana Fichman

EPA has simplified its Design for Environment label (L) and changed the name of the labeling program to Safer Choice (R).
Images: U.S. EPA

Green cleaning products with ingredients approved by the Design for the Environment (DfE) program will now bear a new label that reads “Safer Choice” rather than “Design for the Environment, U.S. EPA.” The move is designed to make the products as well as the program’s purpose easier for purchasers to identify.

Several standards have shifted as well—including the addition of a “Fragrance-Free” label—based on public comments solicited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about its assessment and labeling program. Fragrance chemicals are typically closely guarded trade secrets, and some fragrances have been found to be respiratory sensitizers. Products must be eligible for the Safer Choice label in order to participate and must contain no chemicals intended to scent the product or mask chemical scents in the product.

LEED v4 for existing buildings references EPA’s DfE (now Safer Choice) standards in its credit for Green Cleaning Products and Materials. Green cleaning programs limit ongoing exposure to harsh chemicals, including VOCs, not only for building occupants but also for cleaning and maintenance staff.

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Published June 1, 2015 Permalink Citation

Fichman, A. (2015, June 1). Design for Environment Label Now “Safer Choice”. Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/newsbrief/design-environment-label-now-safer-choice