The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it intends to expand the list of 457 chemicals that can be used in cleaning products qualifying for the Design for the Environment Program (DfE) Safer Product labeling program. According to reports from ISSA Director of Legislative Affairs Bill Ballek, the list of chemicals, released in September 2012, includes colorants, defoamers, enzymes, and other compounds that have characteristics such as not being carcinogenic, harmful to reproduction, or a cause of allergies, or being persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic.

In addition, Jim Jones, assistant administrator for chemical safety and pollution prevention at the EPA, says the agency is also in the process of redesigning the DfE logo to improve its effectiveness in messaging. Over the next couple of months, EPA intends to develop a more modern, compelling label to better communicate the program’s scientific expertise and stringent health and environmental criteria. The primary goals are to make the label: more appealing and accessible to partners; easily displayed on the packaging of qualifying products; and more meaningful and memorable to consumers. EPA also intends to enhance the value of the label for institutional product manufacturers and purchasers of those products.

With an updated program label, EPA believes that the program will be poised to become a widely recognized and trusted symbol for safer, effective chemical-based products that help protect the health of people and the planet.

Click here for details on the list of chemicals.