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Shopping for safer products is getting easier in Washington thanks to many of Washington's laws against toxic chemicals, such as Safer Products for Washington and the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act. We are working to reduce and remove harmful chemicals from everyday items, which helps protect people, the environment, and wildlife by preventing pollution at the source.
Learn how these laws reduce chemicals in products and tips you can use to find safer products.
How can you shop for safer products?
While our laws reduce or prohibit toxic chemicals in some products, there are still those that fall outside of these laws. The following resources and tips can help you determine if a product may contain toxic chemicals and how to avoid them or choose a safer option.
Look for certification labels*
Product certifications such as these can help you find products that meet certain requirements. For example, the EPA’s Safer Choice label means that ingredients in the product meet EPA’s Safer Choice standard and safety requirements for human health and the environment.
*We don’t endorse or manage these tools. We encourage you to refer to the documentation provided by these organizations to decide whether they are helpful to you.
Watch out for certain keywords and "greenwashing"
Be aware that products that contain toxic chemicals can often be:
Identified by certain keywords (such as “waterproofing” or “nonstick”).
Marketed as "nontoxic" or "eco-friendly" (even though they may still contain toxic chemicals) — a practice known as “greenwashing.”
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 toxic chemicals are added to products to give them certain desirable qualities—like waterproofing or flexibility. These marketing words can be clues that a product may contain unwanted chemicals. If possible, choose a product without these qualities.
Keywords
What they might mean
Common chemical(s)
Fireproof or flame- or heat-resistant
Slows burning
Flame retardants
Flexible plastic
Soft or bendable
Phthalates
Fragrance (including scented or unscented)
Added fragrance chemicals
Phthalates or undisclosed mixtures
Heavy metal finishes
Adds shine or color
Lead, cadmium
Nonstick or stain-resistant
Keeps surfaces slick
PFAS
Waterproof or water-resistant
Repels water or stains
PFAS
What to avoid
What to choose instead
Why it helps
Nonstick cookware
Cast iron, stainless steel, or glass
Avoids PFAS coatings and can last a lifetime
Waterproof mascara or lipstick
Regular or fragrance-free versions
Reduces PFAS and unknown fragrance chemicals
Stain- or water-resistant upholstery or rugs
Washable fabrics
Avoids PFAS and easier to clean
Pajamastreated with flame retardant
Look for the California TB 117-2013 label (no added flame retardants)
Avoids exposure to flame retardants
Air fresheners and scented sprays
Open windows, use baking soda or essential oils(if tolerated)
Avoids phthalates and synthetic fragrance mixtures
Frequently asked questions
Several organizations have developed apps and databases aimed to help consumers learn about ingredients used in products. Information shared through these sources often relies 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.
Bottom line: These may be helpful to learn more about what’s in a product, but they are not the same as product certifications that specify a product is safer based on hazard criteria.
Not necessarily. A product without a certification label (such as Safer Choice) may contain harmful chemicals—or it may not. The process of getting a product certified can take time and resources, sometimes requiring reformulating using safer chemicals. So, some products with safer chemicals have a certification label, while others may not yet.
We encourage companies to get their products certified as this increases transparency and makes shopping easier for consumers. We have several assistance programs to help companies achieve this:
Consumers can also reach out to product manufacturers to ask them to get their products certified so you can make informed choices when purchasing products.
“Safer” is a spectrum. Chemicals and products can be more safe or less safe, not just “safe” or “unsafe.” Because of this, “safer” is more like 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.
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.
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 taken a more protective approach.
We are working to restrict harmful chemicals under Safer Products for Washington, 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.
Other laws, such as the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, set stronger limits on harmful chemicals than federal law.
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.
Safer Products for Washington restricts organohalogen flame retardants in electronic enclosures, reducing exposure to harmful chemicals. This program also continues to research additional harmful chemicals in consumer products.
Certified safer electronics and computers
To find electronics or computers that are certified to contain safer chemicals and are more sustainable, search these databases:
No. While some toxic chemicals function as preservatives, there are many different chemicals with different functions that can also be toxic.
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.
Mineral based sunscreens often avoid potentially harmful chemicals, like benzophenones. You can also reduce the amount of sunscreen you need by wearing ultraviolet protective factor (UPF) clothing when going in the water and apply sunscreen to just the exposed skin.
