The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Design for the Environment (DfE) announced that it has changed names and launched a new label in an effort to better convey the health, safety and environmental benefits of products recognized by it. The program will now be named Safer Choice.

Although the name is new, EPA officials are guaranteeing that Safer Choice products will continue to meet the same high standards – EPA’s Safer Product Standards – as products that earned the DfE label.

Along with the new name, the EPA has devised two new logos under its new Safer Choice brand. One is designed for the consumer market. A second optional label is intended to be used in conjunction with institutional or commercial products.

The logo intended for household consumers consists of a rectangle with the words “Safer Choice: Meets U.S. EPA Safer Product Standards” and the outline of a home with green leaves sprouting at the top of the rectangle.

 

 

 



The logo developed by EPA for the institutional or commercial markets features a circle at the top instead of a house, and includes the old mention of “DfE” in the url.

 

 

 

 



Another version of the logo is the same as the first two but features the phrase “Fragrance Free” at the top left. This version can be used only on products the EPA has verified as being fragrance free.

 

 

 

 



Making The Switch
According to EPA officials, the issue of the DfE label came up during a March 4 webcast last year. At that time, consumers commented that the label did not convey safer chemicals and high standards. After much consideration and feedback from the public, the EPA began the process of developing a new logo in June 2014.  

Part of the process of changing the program involved reaching out to stakeholders, including product manufacturers, institutional users/consumers of cleaning products, retailers, and also conducted focus groups with consumers. There was also a public comment period to review possible logos.

According to the EPA, the new logo is intended to better communicate to household and institutional customers that a Safer Choice product is safer for human health and the environment.

EPA has made the new label available immediately to its partners whose products are recognized by the now named Safer Choice Program. However, EPA stressed that, while it encourages the use of the new label as soon as possible, its partners may use up all old stock before transitioning to the new Safer Choice label. EPA is not imposing any hard deadline on the use of the new label. That said, EPA expects products featuring the new logo to begin appearing in the marketplace by late spring.

More information on the new Safer Choice label is available at www.epa.gov/saferchoice.