Shopping for safer consumer products

Apps may be helpful to learn more about what’s in a product, but they are not the same as product certifications which specify a product is safer based on hazard criteria. Information shared through apps and databases often rely on what’s disclosed through product labels, which usually aren’t complete. Also, some apps are not clear about what methods they use to evaluate toxic chemicals or products.

Not necessarily. A product without a certification label may contain harmful chemicals — or it may not.

Why aren’t more products certified?

To get a product certified can take time, money, and resources, and unfortunately, not all businesses can afford the certification process. Therefore, a product could contain safer chemicals, but it may not have a certification label.

To support small businesses in certifying their products, we provide funding for the Safer product certification subsidy program and Small cosmetics manufacturer certification subsidy program.

To find electronics or computers that are certified to contain safer chemicals, search these databases:

• EPEAT registered products
• TCO Certified products

Why shop for safer electronics

Some electronics and components contain toxic chemicals, such as lead for solder, plasticizers to make plastic flexible, and flame retardants. As these products break down or when they’re disassembled, people can be exposed to toxic chemicals.

Federal and state laws specify which ingredients must be included on product labels. These requirements vary based on factors such as:

• Type of product.
• Amount of certain chemicals in the product.
• Whether a chemical serves a function in the product.

These laws do not require manufacturers to list all chemicals on a product label. Our laws address this by assessing toxics with known hazards to people, wildlife, and the environment, and then taking steps to reduce or eliminate them from products when safer alternatives are found.

Greenwashing is when companies:

• Market their products as “eco-friendly,” “nontoxic,” or “natural” but there’s no scientific evidence to support these claims.
• Use certain colors (like green, white, or brown) or use simplified, “natural-looking” packaging (like light brown cardstock) that lead you to assume a product is safer, when it isn’t.

Many safer products perform as well or better than others on the market. It’s often a requirement that they be feasible and as effective as those they’re replacing. In addition, many hazardous chemicals often go beyond what is necessary for a product’s performance.

For example, a product might be bright red because it contains cadmium. But we know cadmium is toxic. In this case, a safer pigment could be used that is bright red. Even if it’s not an exact match or “equal” in brightness to the cadmium red, we’d still say the safer pigment is feasible and just as effective.

Safer products are available at a variety of price points and aren’t necessarily more expensive. Some manufacturers already use safer alternatives in their products, which means some safer products are cheaper and more widely available.

“Safer” is a spectrum. Chemicals and products can be more safe or less safe, not just “safe” or “unsafe.” Because of this, “safer” is a process that continues to improve. As product manufacturers continue to innovate and as we continue to identify even safer alternatives coming to the market, we can encourage the use of safer chemicals in products over time.

For example, a chemical in a product might be safer for human health but still be concerning for aquatic life when it enters waterways during product use and disposal. This means the chemical is a safer alternative than what is used right now but still leaves room for improvement. If we later identify a better alternative that is safer for both human health and aquatic life, then that moves us even closer to an optimal chemical that is safer for people and the environment.

It takes time to pass laws and regulations that address toxic chemicals in products. Existing requirements at the federal level restrict some toxic chemicals, while states like Washington have set stronger limits on harmful chemicals than federal law.

We are working to restrict harmful chemicals through:

• Safer Products for Washington
• Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act 
• Other product laws and regulations

But we can only restrict harmful chemicals once we have identified safer, feasible, and available alternatives. This work takes time, research, and resources to identify alternatives and adopt rules to restrict harmful chemicals.

No. While some toxic chemicals function as preservatives, there are many different chemicals with different functions that can also be toxic.