ISSA will be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a “Champion” in the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program’s Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) in a formal ceremony scheduled for November 19 in Washington, D.C.

The SDSI recognizes environmental leaders that commit to or otherwise promote the use of “safer surfactants.” Surfactants are among the most common ingredients used in cleaning-product formulations. Safer surfactants break down quickly to nonpolluting compounds, helping to protect aquatic life in both fresh and salt water.

ISSA’s designation as a Champion represents the highest level of recognition under the SDSI. As such, the association will be recognized by the EPA as “demonstrating outstanding efforts to encourage the use of safer surfactants.”

“ISSA is proud to be recognized as an environmental leader by the agency,” stated ISSA Director of Legislative Affairs Bill Balek. “This award not only reflects well upon the association, but more importantly, upon the cleaning industry generally and the many companies that have invested in more environmentally benign products and services.” Balek noted that more than 30 ISSA-member companies will also be recognized as environmental stewards under the SDSI.

A complete list of companies that will be honored by the EPA under the SDSI is available. To read it, click here.

In achieving recognition as a Champion, ISSA engaged in a number of activities, including but not limited to:

• Establishing a formal alliance with the DfE to promote its Formulator Program to industry

• Encouraging the development and production of cleaning-product formulations with a preferred environmental and safety and health profile

• Advocating the adoption of the DfE Formulator Program as a method of qualifying green cleaning products by state and local governments

• Sponsoring and promoting the CleanGredients® database as well as serving on the CleanGredients steering committee, which oversees its development, since its inception.