As reported in a Bloomberg article, the Environmental Protection Agency has no proof that a key pollution prevention program has cut U.S. use of hazardous materials as claimed, the agency's inspector general said in a report.

The agency also can't claim the EPA's pollution prevention program is cost effective because the program doesn't measure cost-effectiveness, the inspector general said in the report released Sept. 9.

In response to the report, the EPA said it has removed cost-effectiveness claims from the website describing its Design for the Environment (DfE) Safer Product Labeling Program.

The agency's response detailed other actions it already has begun to or plans to take to address the concerns the inspector general's report found. The EPA's response is included in the inspector general's report, “EPA Can Help Consumers Identify Household and Other Products with Safer Chemicals by Strengthening Its ‘Design for the Environment' Program.”

DfE's labeling program already allows more than 2,500 carpet cleaners, dish soap, floor care products, laundry detergent softeners and other consumer and institutional products to receive the agency's permission to carry a specific logo.

The logo means a qualified third party has verified that all the chemicals used to make that product are among the safest compounds available for the particular function they provide. In addition, the product must perform well and be packaged in an environmentally friendly manner, the inspector general's report said.

Click here to continue reading about specifics of the labeling effort, the changed metrics and concerns with the label.