By Gina McCarthy
Last spring, EPA unveiled a new label to help consumers make informed choices about the products they use at home.
Today, hundreds of products with the Safer Choice label are on store shelves at major retailers in all 50 states. We’re starting with household cleaners and laundry detergents, and will soon expand the label to a wider range of other cleaners, car and yard-care products, and do-it-yourself items like coatings and adhesives.
The name says it all: the Safer Choice label can help you find cleaning products that are made with ingredients that are safer for you, your kids, your pets and the environment. EPA scientists use a strict set of health and safety standards when reviewing products to allow them into them Safer Choice program. So consumers can trust that any product with the Safer Choice label is backed by EPA science.
So far, feedback has been spectacular. Last summer, Consumer Reports released survey data showing that nearly half of American consumers would be willing to pay more for safer products.
But the great news is… they don’t have to.
A price comparison study found that Safer Choice products are cost-competitive – most often costing about the same as cleaners without the label, and sometimes – costing even less.
And in marketing studies, some manufacturers have found that the label isn’t just informative, it’s attractive to consumers – leading many companies to move the label front and center on their product packaging.
The point is – consumers want to make informed choices about the products they’re bringing into their homes, and around their kids and pets. And companies know that developing and selling safer products is good for business. When they demonstrate a commitment to the health of their customers and the planet, consumers respond.
Already, more than 500 manufacturers make products with the Safer Choice label – and new companies are seeking to join the program in force.
Here’s some more good news. Not only does the Safer Choice program put the power of choice into the hands of consumers, it actually incentivizes manufacturers to change the ingredients in their products – so they can meet the strict safety criteria the Safer Choice label demands.
That means more products made with ingredients that are safer on store shelves, and less harmful chemicals in households across America.
So keep your eye out for the Safer Choice label when you’re out shopping.
You can visit EPA’s interactive map to find Safer Choice products that can be used in your own community — at schools, stadiums, homes, and businesses near you.
And in case you missed it, my dog Emma joined me in debuting the new Safer Choice label last year. Check out the video below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc4DWqFlqMo]
Good News for our Health at Home: Safety Sells
Source: EPA Pesticides recalls news