What is the Safer Product Labeling Program?
For Consumers
When you see the DfE logo on a product it means that the DfE scientific review team has screened each ingredient for potential human health and environmental effects and thatbased on the best currently available information, EPA predictive models, and expert judgmentthe product contains only those ingredients that pose the least concern among chemicals in their class.
For Product Manufacturers
The Design for the Environment label is recognized by retailers as a mark of environmental preferability. To consumers, the mark means that products are better for health and the environment.
- How to Partner, Get the DfE Label
- DfE Standard for Safer Cleaning Products (PDF) (31 pp., 177 K, about PDF )
- Partnership Agreement (PDF) (10 pp., 44 K, about PDF )
- DfE Safer Chemical Ingredients
- DfE Criteria for Safer Chemical Ingredients
- CleanGredients® (database of safer ingredients)
For Industrial and Institutional Purchasers
Design for the Environment has approved more than 2,000 industrial and institutional products.
Top DfE Questions
What's New with DfE?
July 31, 2012 – Through its DfE program, EPA has released for comment the draft report "Bisphenol A (BPA) Alternatives in Thermal Paper" (PDF) (492pp, 6.1MB, About PDF). Read more about the BPA Alternatives in Thermal Paper Partnership . The draft report is available for comment until October 1, 2012. Please send comments to Cal Baier-Anderson (Baier-Anderson.Caroline@epa.gov).
July 30, 2012 – Through its DfE program, EPA has released for comment the draft report "An Alternatives Assessment for the Flame-Retardant Decabromodiphenyl Ether (DecaBDE)" (PDF) (812pp, 10.2MB, About PDF). Read the press release . Read more about the Flame-Retardant Alternatives for DecaBDE Partnership. Please send comments to Emma Lavoie (Lavoie.Emma@epa.gov) by September 30, 2012.
May 21, 2012 -- EPA and NASCAR signed an agreement today to raise awareness of green products and solutions that can benefit NASCAR partners and fans. One of the focus areas for the partnership is promoting safer products that have earned the DfE label. Get more information.
May 9, 2012 -- Through its DfE program, EPA released a final alternatives assessment identifying eight safer alternatives to nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), surfactants widely used in industry and commonly found in consumer products, such as laundry detergents. When released into the environment, NPEs can be persistent and highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Read more about NPE. Read the press release.