Cleaners who have been working towards green goals have faced many challenges because of regulations preventing "environmentally preferable" claims for disinfectants and sanitizers. In an effort to ease the strain and simplify this category, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to implement standards.
The November issue of Housekeeping Solutions addressed some advancements the EPA was implementing, but according to ISSA reports, programs are now available.
On December 9, 2009, the EPA launched two much-anticipated voluntary pilot programs for disinfectants and sanitizers that will allow the use of the Design for the Environment (DfE) logo on certain products, as well as allow the use of certain agency-approved factual statements of environmental preferability.
ISSA Legislative Affairs Director Bill Balek participated in the Comparative Claims Work Group assembled by the EPA for the purpose of developing the parameters of the pilot programs announced December 9. The Work Group met over the course of 15 months and consisted of representatives from industry, the EPA, state agencies, environmental groups, and other interested parties.
In regard to DfE recognition, registrants will be subject to a two-tier review process starting with review by the DfE program that will start accepting applications immediately, while the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) will start accepting applications on May 3, 2010. In addition, OPP will start accepting applications for the use of factual statements of environmental preferability on product labels on January 25, 2010.