10
Human Health Impacts
This component of GoodGuide’s rating system evaluates the potential impacts of a product on human health. It incorporates a screening-level hazard assessment or nutritional evaluation, as well as other relevant indicators, like the regulatory status of ingredients. If ingredients pose potential health risks or have limited nutritional value, a product's score is lowered. If a product lacks the data needed to conduct a health evaluation, its score is also lowered to provide an incentive for manufacturers to disclose better information.
Rating:
10 out of 10
10
Human Health Impacts, Level of Health Concern of Ingredients
To assign a health hazard score to a product, GoodGuide counts the number of its ingredients that are categorized as low, medium or high concern. Ingredients are placed into these categories based on their number of recognized and suspected health effects, their relative toxic potency, whether they are frequently detected in humans, and whether the basic toxicity testing needed to assess chemical safety has been conducted.
Rating:
10 out of 10
10
Data Adequacy, Ingredient Disclosure
Characterizing potential human health impacts requires complete information about the specific ingredients in a product. However, there is no current regulatory requirement that companies disclose full ingredients lists for household chemical products (in contrast with personal care products, where disclosure is required). To create an incentive for disclosure, GoodGuide caps a product’s score if it lacks complete ingredient data or lists generic names that do not support chemical-specific evaluations.
Rating:
10 out of 10
10
Amount of Ingredient Detail
Tells what is the amount of ingredient information available to rate this product.
Rating:
10 out of 10
10
Product Management
This component of GoodGuide’s rating system evaluates whether a company or its products are managed for sustainability. Third-party certifications that verify the health or environmental performance of a company or product increase scores.
Rating:
10 out of 10
10
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- Rated Certifications
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EPA Design for the Environment Certified Indicates this product has been certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment (DfE) program. The DfE logo on a product means that the DfE scientific review team has screened each ingredient for potential human health and environmental effects and that the product contains only those ingredients that pose the least concern among chemicals in their class. ( www.epa.gov)
- Other Certifications
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Leaping Bunny Certified Indicates that the manufacturer of this product has been certified as cruelty-free by The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). CCIC's certification, indicated by the Leaping Bunny logo, provides "assurance that no new animal testing is used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories, or suppliers." To be certified, companies must agree to the Leaping Bunny Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals, a voluntary pledge that "cosmetic, personal care, and/or household product companies make to clear animal testing from all stages of product development. The company's ingredient suppliers make the same pledge and the result is a product guaranteed to be 100 percent free of new animal testing. All Leaping Bunny companies must be open to independent audits, and commitments are renewed on an annual basis." For more information, visit www.leapingbunny.org. Member of Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Indicates the manufacturer of this product is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Planting of plantations of palm oil, which may be in as many as 1 in 10 cosmetics products, can result in significant deforestation of tropical rainforests and threatens the survival of endangered species such as the orangutan and Sumatran tiger. The RSPO, which was established in 2001, is committed to promoting the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through co-operation within the supply chain and open dialogue with its stakeholders. To learn more, visit www.rspo.org. PETA Animal Treatment Assessment Indicates the manufacturer of this product is on the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) "Does Not Test on Animals” List. According to PETA, this list includes companies that have stated they do not “conduct any animal tests that are not required by law,” either by signing PETA’s statement of assurance or provided a “statement verifying that they do not conduct or commission any non-required animal tests on ingredients, formulations, or finished products and that they pledge not to do so in the future.” Green America Seal of Approval - Gold Level Green America, formerly Co-op America, is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to harnessing the economic power of consumers, investors and businesses to promote social justice and environmental sustainability. Green America's Seal of Approval assures you that the business behind this product operates in ways that solve, rather than cause, both environmental and social problems. The certification program recognizes businesses as they make greater progress by awarding Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels of the Seal of Approval. These businesses adopt principles, policies, and practices that improve the quality of life for their customers, their employees, communities, and the environment. Pioneering businesses who show leadership in their industry and embed social responsibility into the DNA of their company earn Gold level certification.
For more information, visit www.greenamerica.orgB Corporation Certified B Corporations are a new type of corporation which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corps are unlike traditional businesses because they (1) meet comprehensive and transparent performance standards considering: governance, employees, consumers, the community, and environment; and (2) meet higher legal accountability standards.
B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between "good companies" and just good marketing. By enabling consumers, investors, potential employees, and policy makers to support these high-impact companies we can make sure that these businesses can scale - along with their impact. www.bcorporation.netEPA Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative - Champions Under the Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI), EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) Program recognizes environmental leaders who
voluntarily commit to use safer surfactants in all their products. Safer surfactants break down quickly to non-polluting compounds and help
protect aquatic life in both fresh and salt water. Nonylphenol ethoxylates (also known as NPEs) are an example of a surfactant class that does not meet the definition of a safer surfactant. The Design for the Environment Program has identified safer alternative surfactants through partnerships with industry and environmental advocates. These
safer alternatives are comparable in cost and are readily available. CleanGredients is an on-line resource for finding safer surfactants (visit www.CleanGredients.org). GRI Sustainability Reporting GRI’s Framework is the most widely used sustainability reporting guidance in the world. The Reports List is vital in capturing and publicizing the evolution and growth of sustainability reporting – benefiting the featured organizations, and sustainability reporters everywhere. Find out more at: www.globalreporting.org
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