Bipartisan Bill Would Give Safer Choice Program Its First Statutory Authorization
For a voluntary program with roughly 2,000 certified products and unusually broad industry support, Safer Choice has always rested on thin statutory footing. EPA has run it for more than a decade under general Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) authority, without any statute naming the program or directing the agency to operate it. A bill […]
EPA Updates Safer Choice and Design for the Environment Standard
On August 8, 2024, EPA finalized updates to the Safer Choice and Design for the Environment Standard. The revised standard implements sustainable packaging criteria and introduces a Safer Choice Cleaning Service Certification for cleaning service providers. Created in 2009, the Safer Choice program allows products such as cleaners and detergents to carry a special label […]
EPA Seeks Input on Expansion of the Safer Choice and Design for the Environment Programs
EPA recently solicited public comment on its proposed expansion of the Agency’s Safer Choice and Design for the Environment programs. The expansion would include certification of additional product categories; the programs are currently limited to cleaners and disinfectants. Participation in the programs by manufacturers is voluntary. The programs help consumers and businesses acquire products that […]
Alternatives Assessments for flame retardants in flexible polyurethane foam and printed circuit boards finalized.
Yesterday, EPA released two final Alternatives Assessment reports, for flame retardants used in flexible polyurethane foam and printed circuit boards, as well as a technical correction to an alternatives assessment report on bisphenol A (BPA) in thermal paper. These reports were developed under the agency’s Design for Environment (DfE) program to characterize chemical hazards and […]
EPA replaces Design for the Environment with new “Safer Choice” label.
Today, EPA unveiled its new “Safer Choice” label, which replaces the Design for the Environment (DfE) label for cleaning and other chemical products that meet the agency’s standards for safer chemical ingredients. The new label underscores the program’s focus on human health and environmental safety standards with the hope of making it easier for families to […]
EPA’s chemicals outlook for 2015.
Jim Jones, the EPA Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, writes in Chemical Watch that his highest priority in 2015 is “to continue building on the progress” of the last few years in making a “credible” program to manage existing chemicals, “despite the widely acknowledged shortcomings of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).” […]
EPA updates Alternatives Assessment for flame retardants in printed circuit boards.
Today, EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) program released an updated draft Alternatives Assessment of flame retardants in printed circuit boards (PCBs) in electronics. The report [PDF] revises a draft released in 2008; according to the agency, the new report “is being released for a second public comment period because of the large amount of information added describing the combustion testing conducted between 2008 and 2012,” and to […]
EPA invites submissions to add ingredients to Design for Environment Safer Chemical Ingredients List.
Today, the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention announced a new initiative to expand the number of chemicals and functional use categories on its Design for Environment (DfE) Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL). Under the new initiative, EPA is inviting manufacturers to voluntarily submit chemicals/ingredients for review and inclusion on the SCIL. Submitters […]
EPA's ChemView database updated with new chemical SNURs and consent orders.
Yesterday, EPA announced updates to ChemView, its public online tool for accessing information about chemicals regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The updates include enhanced data functions as well as updated, more comprehensive information. The improved data functions include: Improving the display and content for the Chemical Data Reporting information; Adding a new […]
National Research Council advises EPA on sustainability-based decision-making.
A new report advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider incorporating sustainability concepts used in the agency’s Design for Environment (DfE) program in its new chemicals screening process as it evolves, suggesting a new direction for Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform. The National Research Council (NRC) says that EPA should incorporate into […]