Pollution Prevention EPA742-F-97-0d1 and Toxics June 1997 (7409) Environmentally Preferable Purchasing In Action Cleaning Products Pilot Project Fact Sheet N ow, federal buildings can be both green and clean, because government buyers have a tool for comparing cleaning products on the basis of their environmental attributes. A matrix was developed as part of the Cleaning Products Pilot Project that makes it easy to select a cleaning product based on local environmental needs. The project is a cooperative effort between the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to facilitate the purchase of environmentally prefer¬ able products as required by Executive Order 12873. The project is the first of many environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) pilot projects being developed by EPA, in partnership with other federal agen¬ cies, to demonstrate how environmental considerations can be successfully incorporated into purchasing decisions. tinited States Environmental Protection Agency Environmentally preferable products are “products and services [thatl have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared to other products and services that serve the same purpose.” Executive Order 12873, Federal Acquisition, Recycling, and Waste Prevention October 20, 1993 Project Overview Cleaning products were selected as the first EPP pilot project, because they are used throughout the federal government. The project consisted of three phases: • A field test to examine the perfor¬ mance, health and safety, and environmental impacts of several alternative cleaning products • An environmental impact assess¬ ment conducted by EPA • Developing a list of environmen¬ tally preferable cleaning product attributes. After considering several methods for highlighting the key environmen¬ tal attributes, the GSA/EPA team developed a matrix. It allows pur¬ chasers to identify and compare commercial cleaning products with reduced human health and environ¬ mental impacts. The matrix was first published in GSAs Eebruary 1996 Cotnmercial Cleaning Supplies catalog, which was distributed to more than 15,000 fed¬ eral government buyers. The catalog included a 13-page section listing 48 commercially available biodegradable cleaners and degreasers from 30 sup¬ pliers. Additional information on seven environmental attributes for 2 8 of the 48 products was voluntarily provided by the manufacturers and suppliers. The matrix allows pur¬ chasers to compare cleaning products based on the environmental attributes most critical for their geographic region and intended use. Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber. I 'ollowing pul)licati<)n of the matrix, more than SO companies requestetl information on joining the program. Manufacturers provid¬ ed environmental attribute infomia- tion for three additional cleaning products, which were included in the matrix published in the July 1997 (iS.\ catalog. Ci.SA also expantled the matrix to include all of the cleaning products that meet the acute toxicity and biodegradability criteria detailed in the Fetleral Supply Schedule (!!ontract for Biodegradable Cdeaners/Degreasers (solicitation number FrC'-92-A'rr- 79()6B). An excerpt from the revised matrix is pro\'ided on the inside of this fact sheet. Environmental Attribute Matrix .As show n inside this fact sheet, the matrix lists the seven environ¬ mental attributes selected by the (JS.\/1<'P.A team across the top and provides information for each of the cleaning products underneath. None of the attributes is considered more important than any other. Kach government buyer is allow'ed to select the most relevant attribute(s) for their needs and bal¬ ance the available environmental information, along with traditional factors such as price and perfor¬ mance, when making |iurchasing tlecisions. T he following is a brief descrip¬ tion of the seven attributes. Consult the matrix on the inside of this fact sheet for more detailed information on each environmental attribute. 1. Skin Irritation Some cleaning prod¬ ucts can cause skin redness or swelling. Products with a h)W'er skin irritation potential are more preferable than those with a higher irritation potential. 2. Pood Chain Exposure Some cleaning prod¬ ucts contain chemi¬ cals that can enter the food chain when consumed by aquatic plants and animals, (chemical concentrations can increase throughout the food chain as these plants and animals are con¬ sumed by larger animals. Products that contain ingredients that are less likely to accumulate in this manner are preferable. 3. Air Pollution Potential © Some cleaning prod¬ ucts contain volatile organic compounds (\''0(^s) that can escape during prod¬ uct use. V’Oe^s have been linked to smog formation, which has been shown to cause eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation and to cause asthma attacks. .Xs a result, many state and local authorities have restrictions on the use of \X)C's. The lower the \’(X^ per¬ centage, the more preferable the product. 4. Fragrances Fragrances are added to some cleaning products to improve their odor or mask offensive odors. basic principle of pollution pre¬ vention is to avoid additives that are unnecessarx', which might suggest avoiding products with fragrance additives. Some people, however, consider fragrances nec¬ essary for aesthetic rea.sons or to distinguish among cleaning prod¬ ucts. It is up to the individual govemment purchaser to deter¬ mine if fragrances are a necessary ingredient. 5. Dyes Like fragrances, some cleaning prod¬ ucts contain dyes to change or enhance the aesthetics of a product. WTiile the addition of dyes contributes little to the cleaning value of the prmluct, it may be important for safety rea¬ .sons, like differentiating between products and other liquids such as water. .Xgain, a basic principle of pollution jirevention is to avoid unneces.sary additives, and it is up to the inilividual govemment purchaser to detennine if dyes are a necessary' ingredient. 6. Packaging- Reduced/Recovered Content A product’s packag¬ ing can account for a significant portion of the product’s contri¬ bution to the solid waste stream. EPA^ recommend¬ ed approach to managing solid waste is to reduce product pack¬ aging and use recovered materials w hen packaging is necessary". Products with reduced packaging or recovered content packaging are preferable. Reduced packag¬ ing, how'ever, often results in a product being shipped as a con¬ centrate, which can create addi¬ tional human health or environ¬ mental risks. As a result, the fol¬ lowing attribute is related to product packaging. 7. Product Includes Features to Minimize Exposure to Concentrate Although packaging a product in concen¬ trated form may result in reduced packaging, it raises the potential that the end-users of the product will be exposed to the concentrate. Exposure to the concentrate may place the end-user at greater health risk than exposure to the ready-to-use product. It is prefer¬ able that products shipped as concentrates are provided in packaging that minimizes con¬ centrate exposure. Alternative Methods for Identifying Environmentally Preferable Products The environmental attribute matrix was not the only method considered to promote the purchase of environmentally preferable clean¬ ing products. The GS.ATPA team also considered establishing thresh¬ olds for individual environmental attributes. Products that met the thresholds w'ould be placed on a list of “green” cleaning products or be identified by a “green dot.” Proponents of this method suggest¬ ed that this would be the most con¬ venient for government buyers. Others felt that if minimum envi¬ ronmental performance criteria w ere established, manufacturers w'ould have no incentive to exceed the minimum criteria. They also suggested that, although a “green dot” w'ould make it easier for buy¬ ers, it might also obscure vital envi¬ ronmental information including which environmental attribute(s) warranted the “green dot.” Such information is important, because government purchasers buy cleaning products for a variety of situa¬ tions—from remote forest sendee ouqiosts to entire military bases—each of wTich has unique environmental and performance needs. The environmental attribute matrix was selected over the “green dot,” because it allow^s purchasers to compare product attributes and select products that meet their pre¬ determined environmental, perfor¬ mance, and cost requirements. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) promotes federal government use of prod¬ ucts and services that have reduced impacts on human health and the environment. Such pur¬ chases are required by Executive Order 12873, Federal Acquisition, Recycling, and Waste Prevention. The Executive Order also directed EPA to develop guidelines to help federal agencies incorporate environmen¬ tal preferability into their purchasing procedures. Future EPP Pilot Projects Although not a project ohjective, as the first pilot, the (Cleaning l^rotlucts l^ilot Project is likely to intluence the direction of future pilots. Some of the lessons learned from this pilot may he specific to cleaning products, while others may be relevant for other product cate¬ gories. Other h'PF projects, for example, may adopt alternatives to the environmental attribute matrix to help government buyers make pur¬ chasing decisions. Each environmen¬ tally preferable pilot project will be unique due to the differences henveen the product categories, envi¬ ronmental attributes being e.xamined, and the stakeholders involved. .Additional EPP projects are being developed and implemented by fed¬ eral, state, and local government agencies, as well as in the private sec¬ tor. Euture fact sheets and case stud¬ ies will document their successes. For Additional Information EP.Ajs Pollution Prevention Information (dearinghouse (PPI(^) has several EPP dtx’u- ments available, including E.xecutive Order 12873 on Federal Acquisition, Recycling, and Haste Prroention; (iuidance on Acquisition of Knvirontnentally Prefeiahle Products and Services (60 ER 50722); and the Cleaning Products Pilot Project Case Study (EPA742-R-97-002), which documents the history of and lessons learned from the pilot project. Eor copies or additional information, please contact; ERVPPIC 401 M Street, (7409) \\r ' • '!<) order a copy of OS.As Coftnnurcial Cleaning Supplies catalog, which includes the most recent u[)date to the environmental anrihute matri.x, please c(jntact: CiS.VESS Paints and Chemicals Center (lOh'TI) 400 15th Street, S\\'. Auburn, VVA 98001-6599 Phone: 800 241-7246 EPA 742 F-97 001 CLEANING PRODUCTS PILOT PROJECT FACT SHEET. oEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency (7409) Washington. DC 20460 Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300 DATE DUE Waste Management and Research Center Library One E. Hazelwood Drive Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 333-8957 DfMCO Product Biodegradable Cleaners & Degreasers Product ^ttri^ute Matrix* Skin Irritation S\ Food Chain Exposure Air Pollution Potential Fragrances Dj'cs Packaging* Rcduccd/Recoscrcd Content Minimizes Exposure to Concentrate Alfa KIcen AK-02() Not Reported Not Reported N.‘V No No ^esAes No Allied l'.nterj)rises, Inc. (llcan Free .ST Not Reported N.V Yes Yes YesA"es No American Cine. Solutions, Inc. luff Job Easy Job .American Sanitary Products ■M 12000 4.: No Yes AesAts No SL Exempt O' No No VesAts No Not Reported Not Reported n 4 No No YesA'es No Alpine Cleaner C^iljen Sales Company No No YesA'es No Fast Clean f 'harlie Chemical & Supply, Inc, ST 12000 Charlie I ID Cinr. ,\1 Exempt Not Reported No No No/NA NV ('-hemeo Industries. Inc. FCnviro-Chem M Not Reported 8 No Yes YesAes No Kicenzol 148 SL Not Reported 10 No Yes YesAes No Earth Clean .Systems, Inc. Degrease It N-SI. Exempt ) NA No No Yes/NA No Electro Environmental Chemical F.CD-lOl SL Exempt N/l No No NoAes NA E.R.L., Inc. K-/ Does It .M Not Reported N.V Yes Yes No/NA NA Concentrate M Not Reported N.V Yes Yes Yes/NA No (irease (Gutter M Not Reported .14. No No No/NA NA Gaylord Industries, Inc. Formula C-5I0 Exempt 8165 No No Yes/Yes No E&B Distributors & Mfg-. Inc. Klean E-Z Not Reported Exempt l.’.7 Yes Yes No/Yes NA (aincenirate Not Rejrorted Exempt Yes Yes Yes/Yes No National Industries for the Blind NA Detergent SL Not Reported No No No/Yes PCI of .America • • llurrisafc ‘^1)10 N-SL Exempt No No No/NA NA llurnsafe ‘>0.10 SI. Exempt s No No Yes/NA No i lurris.ite ‘>040 SL Exempt Is' No No Yes/NA No Rocliester Midland Creative Chem Biogenic 377C .SOQ Environmental Eechnolog) SI. Exempt 1 ^ No No Yes/NA YesAes Yes No Fcomate-.MPCi ((Concentrate) SL Exempt NA No No F.foinate-MPCC (Rcady-to-Use) SL Exempt NA No No NoA'es NA Sunshine Makers, Inc. Simple (ircen N-SL Exempt Yes Yes Yes/Ycs No, Small Sizes. To Limited Extent, Large Sizes Crystal Simple Green N-SL Exempt NA No No >es/Yes No, Small Sizes. To Limited Extent, Large Sizes LJtra Shield Products Int'l, Inc. Ultra Shield (Cleaner N-SL Not Reported 1.4 No Yes Yes/Yes No Webaco Manufacturing Corp. Scuzz (Concentrate) ST Exempt 3.3 No No Yes/NA No Scuzz (Ready-to-Use) ST Exempt 3.3 No No No/NA NA West Penetone (Citrikleen Aerosol M Exempt 31 No No No/NA NA (Citriklcen ,\1 Exempt 6 No No Yes/NA No (Citrikleen 1 ID .\1 Exempt 10.5 No No Yes/NA No Pen.iir MD-I Pump Spray .VI Exempt 10 No No No/NA NA * I his intoriii.iiii>n w.is u[k1.iIcc1 June This matrix Is an excerpt from GSA’s summer 1997 CommercliU Cleaning Supplies catalog. For a copy of the complete matrix, visit GSA's website at http://www.northwest.gsa.gov/fss/pnt_chent/cleanlng/camp.htm. Key to Environmental Attributes 1. SKIN mRl l VI ION © Soiuc rcady-to-usc cleaning piothicts may contain chemi¬ cals that can cause skin redness or swelling. If |)otential skin imtiiitin is a ctmeem. prtKiucts rated as ncgligililc (none to slight) would l>c most (irefcralilc for this attribute. Fnim most preferable to least preferable, selca negligible (N), slight (SI.), moderate (M). or stning (S'l'). in that onlcr. \n “I'ACinpt” means that all chemical conijxinciits in the rcady-to-usc prcxl- iict are less than 5% by weight. 2. lOOIl CH AIN VXPi)SV\{h Some rraily-to-usc cleaning pnuliicts may contain ingrctli- ents that can i>e taken up In smaller aquatic plants and ani¬ mals Chemical ss>ni.-cntration can inercase thnmgh the hxKi chain as these plants and animals are consumed liy larger amiiuls. Ifstni intend to use these pnxIiKts in atva.s when- wastewater is adequately treaicil. this attribute mav lie less iiiiponant. Il \” indicates that they have rxit iveen added. T © This attribute refers to dyes that have been added to a for¬ mulation to enhance or change tlic color of the product. While the atldinon of these dyes contributes little to the cleaning value <»f the proiluct, it may be important for safety rca-sons. These additives may help end-users differentiate between pnxiucts and other liquids, such as water. Again, a I b.isii (innciplc of pollution prevention is to avoid unncccssafy additives. I Dv I. present for aesthetic reasons may not be prov iding a necessary func¬ tion. I' nd-uscrs must decide what is ncccsciry' in their speafic situations. A ■'M's” indicates that dyes have been addcccn added. 6. p.\(:k.vgi.ng-rei)lc.ki)/rf(:ovtrf.d c;onte.vt pHnluct's (lackaging can account for a significant portion of the prod- ® uct’s contnbucion to municipal solid waste. Packaging is a large component of municipal solid waste bndfills. The F.P.Aa recommended approach to managing solid waste is. first t«> reduce packaging of pnxloccs and, second, to recy¬ cle packaging nuceiials. The EP.-V has issued packaging guidelines for vcntlors to follow. This Ls a 2-part answer. For the first pan. a “Yes" signifies that the product is packaged as a coo- CCTitratc; a “No" signifies that it is not The second part is applicable onK if paper packaging is used. Paper packaging should be consistent with • recostred materials recommendations set forth in 60 FR 1/V5 or draft recovered nuterials recnmmctxbooos found in 60 FR I4I90. 3/1.1/95. .A “Yes" signifies that the sendor has met b P.A goide- 1 lines for thK attribute. These products would be more preferaWe for this • attnbutc. .An “N.A' indicates that no paper packaging s«k used. Because the pmdua mav he shipped as a concentrate, please also consider I the rsext anribute. 7. PRODl'Cr INCI.l’DF.S ETVIX RES l O MINIMIZE I XPOSLUI TO CONCFVrRVIT-: Allhoueli inckaging a pnxluct in concentrated ffTtm may rcsuli in reduced paikaging, it raises the poicnnal that the cml-uscrs of the pnxlua will lie captned to the concentrate. Fxp<»sure to the concentrate may place the end-user at greater health risk than cvprmire to the rcady-ir>-use product. A "Yes" in this column indicates that the concentrate is pan of a sy stem liy which chemicals arc transferred only amrxig closed conaincrs. 'Phis offers less exposure potential. A “To Limited Fxtent" indicates that the concen¬ trate is prcmcasurcil and prepackaged hut fx>t designed to lie transfcmsl anxmg dosed axiuiiKrv. .A "No" in the column indicates that the con¬ centrate IS shippetl without specific cip«/vurc controls. This offers greater exposure potential. /Vn “N.A“ means that the prrxiuct is not a concentrate. Became the infomutkei on these artnliuics is imerxlcd only for purposes of relative cooipanum. it does not sufistitutc for other guidance on safe product usage. The informjtxio on cnsironmenal attnlniics should help you decide wh»ch proslucts to boy; it .kxs rxx pnis-tde guxfence fxi boss to use the products. You sfenild continue to carefully follow guidance on .Material Safety' Data Sheets, bhcls. and other prodoct-spcafic informa- oon to ensure safe usage.