NSF International, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving public health, recently announced that the Design for the Environment (DfE) Product Recognition Program has passed a significant milestone: 700 recognized products.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) DfE program partners with forward-thinking companies that design high-performing, cost-effective products that contain the safest possible ingredients. As an independent third-party certification organization, NSF evaluates product formulations for potential human health and environmental effects. This evaluation provides consumers with added assurance that the products they use comply with specific safety and environmental requirements.

"DfE greatly values NSF's support as a third-party profiler for DfE's Product Recognition Program," said David DiFiore, Project Lead for the EPA's DfE. "NSF's thorough, quality-driven approach to chemical research and evaluation and years of experience as standard developers and product certifiers lends critical support to DfE's efforts to recognize innovative, best-in-class products."

According to the EPA, the DfE program has now partnered with over 160 companies from a variety of industry sectors committed to taking a leadership role in the advancement of safer product chemistry. Interest in the program-from manufacturers, retailers, consumers, government purchasers, and others-continues to grow rapidly, with applications for recognition of consumer products leading the way.

A number of states and municipalities now include DfE recognition in their procurement standards. These include New Jersey, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, Utah and Hawaii. Additional states are also considering DfE recognition for inclusion in their purchasing programs. Retailers recognize the mark's leadership qualities and importance in furthering their sustainability efforts. In fact, Home Depot has adopted DfE recognition as the sole qualification for inclusion in their Eco Options program for healthy homes.

"The DfE program benefits multiple stakeholders," said Sarah Krol, Business Unit Manager, NSF Nonfood Compounds Registration Program, a voluntary program that provides product manufacturers, users, and regulatory inspectors with a proven method to determine acceptability of products that may come into contact with food during processing or handling. "By reviewing products for EPA's DfE program, we can help manufacturers design products that are environmentally-friendly, as well as help consumers make more informed decisions when it comes to choosing products that help protect the environment."

Companies that participate in the DfE program and pass the rigorous screening process can display the DfE logo to help environmentally-conscious consumers decide which cleaning products have met stringent environmental standards and are safer to use around their families.

One company that has recently achieved DfE recognition for a large number of its products is Method Products, Inc., a leading innovator of premium healthy home and personal care products. Method currently has over 50 products recognized by the DfE and displays the DfE logo on many of their bottles.

"When consumers choose a DfE-recognized product, they can be confident that they are taking steps to help protect the environment," says Drummond Lawson, Method's Environmental Strategist. "The DfE logo is a simple way to communicate that our products' formulations are designed to be safer for people and the environment."