Environmentally Preferable
Cleaning Products
Fall 2008
The goal of the PACE Program is to help you identify toxic cleaning products and re-
place them with products that are safe for humans and the environment, while also
being performance-and cost-competitive. By avoiding toxic cleaners, you can improve
indoor air quality and reduce or eliminate numerous health conditions that can lead to
becoming sick or injured. Our environmentally preferable (EP) over the counter cleaners
list focuses on six types of frequently used cleaners, including all-purpose, floor, glass,
What is PACE? bathroom surface, dish and hand soap products.
PACE provides education outreach,
technical assistance, and recognition
for environmental achievement. The
program is available at no cost to busi-
nesses in Boulder County. PACE offers:
• Assessments to identify opportunities
for waste reduction, water
Health and Environmental Concerns
conservation, and energy-efficiency Using toxic cleaning products can lead to personal injury, allergic reactions, hypersen-
sitivity, rashes, eye irritation, and asthma. Serious conditions, such as cancer, lung dis-
• Information and assistance to meet ease, and liver and kidney damage, can occur with long-term use. Cleaning products
your business needs affect the environment, as many chemicals cannot get fully treated in wastewater treat-
• Compliance education ment plants and are then discharged to our streams and rivers, becoming a persistent
problem to the aquatic environment.
• Public recognition for your
environmental efforts Emerging chemicals, such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), disturb the hor-
monal system and gender characteristics of fish and other species, creating “intersex”
Why Participate? fish that carry both male and female reproductive organs. Exposure to EDC affects
Compliance – Our free, non-regulatory humans, too. Conditions like Alzheimer’s, ADHD, depression, and cancer are all linked
consultations help you comply with to our hormones. Researchers are studying the impact of EDC on humans that drink the
environmental laws and ordinances and water downstream from wastewater treatment plants. Other major toxins in cleaning
reduce your liability. products are reproductive toxins that can affect fetal development, sperm count, or
Cost Savings - Less waste means lower fertility. In addition, bio-accumulative toxins work their way up the food chain, exposing
disposal and operating costs. Efficient species in their path to toxic effects.
use of water, energy, and materials saves
money. 10 Easy Steps to Green Cleaners
Public Image - Environmental practices 1. Use pump spray bottles, not 6. Choose low volatile organic
impact your image with customers, the aerosol spray bottles products to avoid headaches and
community, and regulatory agencies. 2. Use vinegar, avoid ammonia poor indoor air quality
3. Use non-chlorine bleach, avoid 7. Choose cleaners that are non-toxic
Public Recognition! chlorine bleach or sodium to humans and aquatic life and are
PACE publicly recognizes certified hypochlorite readily biodegradable
businesses through free advertising.
4. Use a alcohol-based hand cleaner 8. Look for packaging that is
This includes Internet listings and
or plain soap, avoid antibacterial recyclable in your community
advertising in newspapers, magazines,
utility bill inserts, and radio spots. cleaners with Triclosan 9. Look for products in concentrate
5. Choose plant-based not petroleum or at least in bulk, not ready-to-use
Certified businesses receive a PACE
based cleaners spray cleaners
window decal and framed certificate.
PACE encourages the public to support 10. Clean with an all-purpose cleaner
businesses that contribute to the for most of your cleaning jobs to
community through environmentally reduce waste by better utilizing a
sound operating practices. smaller set of cleaners.
Labeling and Product Identification
Any cleaning product that contains hazardous substances has signal words on the label.
These signal words are regulated by federal government to indicate level of toxicity:
• “POISON” - highly toxic or poisonous
• “DANGER” - extremely flammable, corrosive, or highly toxic
• “WARNING” or “CAUTION” - moderately or slightly toxic
Always choose the least toxic product that can be used for a job. Be advised that just Helpful Resources
because the label of a cleaning product states it is green, biodegradable, non-toxic, or
environmentally friendly, it does not mean it is safe. Alternately, a product can be EP but See the PACE website
not offer the same cleaning performance as its more toxic counterparts. for a list of helpful resource sheets
www.pacepartners.com
Cleaning Product Criteria
A list of companies that use non-toxic ingredients and provide full disclosure about their
products is listed below; for more information, please visit the New American Dream The contents of this resource sheet are accurate to
website www.newdream.org/consumer/cleaners.php. To meet the cleaning product the best knowledge of PACE staff. All references to
products and services above by phone, name, trade-
criteria for inclusion in the table on the last page all: all-purpose cleaners, cleaner/
mark, or manufacturer are for informational purposes
degreaser, window, and floor cleaners must be packaged in concentrate to reduce the only and do not represent an endorsement of any
environmental impact of transportation and packaging. particular product or entity by the PACE Program. This
Seventh Generation • Naturally Yours • Earth Friendly Products • Planet • Ecover is not a complete list of chemical suppliers. If you are a
Seaside Naturals • Citra-Solv • Mountain Green • Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps local distributor, service provider, or manufacturer, and
would like to be added, or to update this list, please
call PACE at 303-441-1183.
Currently, the majority of cleaners offered over the counter are hazardous to your health
and the environment. Recognizing that accessibility to green cleaning products can be
difficult, the PACE team will work with your business or home in selecting the safest
products available that meet your needs. To access cleaning products from your retailer,
the PACE team will cross-reference the product’s material safety data sheet (MSDS) with
the PACE environmentally preferable cleaning product standards. MSDS are product-
specific documents designed to provide individuals with identification and safety infor-
mation on their cleaners.
Make Your Own
Make your own environmentally preferable cleaners at home or at work for a more
convenient, cost effective and earth friendly cleaning solution. For recipes, visit the En-
vironmental Health Association of Nova Scotia’s “Guide to Less-Toxic Products,” which
details hazardous chemicals to avoid and less toxic store-bought and homemade clean-
ers for just about any task.
http://lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp?fetch=household
Local Suppliers
Some suppliers offer several products suited for each common cleaning application,
so choosing an EP cleaner is easier. Local suppliers and the types of EP cleaning prod-
ucts they carry are listed on the following page. Please visit www.pacepartners.com for
an outline and description of the PACE environmentally preferable cleaning product
standards.
PACE Contacts
Britt Faulkner
bfaulkner@bouldercounty.org
303-441-1183
Melissa Ellis (Longmont)
mellis@bouldercounty.org
303-441-1567
PACE Hotline 303-786-PACE (7223)
Air All- Non-
Bath- Cleaner/* Dish Hand
Fresh- Purpose Chlorine Dish Soap Floor* Glass* Laundry
Retailer room Degreaser Washer Soap
ener Cleaner* Bleach
* Must be packaged in concentrate to reduce environmental impact of transportation and packagin g.