The Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) released the following statement today after it was reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will not only restore the Safer Choice program, but also add new product categories, identify additional safer chemicals for use in products, and update and strengthen its standards.
“Safer Choice has been, and continues to be, an invaluable resource by working with companies to develop innovative products that meet the rising demand for products that possess an exemplary environmental, health, and safety profile, so we are very excited that it’s being restored and expanded,” said Steve Caldeira, President & CEO. “HCPA and its members played a lead role in organizing a coalition of stakeholders from 60 diverse organizations, including cleaning product and chemical manufacturers, state and local governments, and NGOs that called on the EPA to restore the program, and we are very proud the effort was successful.”
HCPA will continue to advocate for Safer Choice, specifically by requesting Congressional appropriations to support and expand the program.
“We are grateful to Dr. Michal Freedhoff for her leadership of the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, and for recognizing the value of Safer Choice to consumers,” said Caldeira. “This is a unique program with world-class staff that receives widespread support from a vast array of stakeholders. We look forward to continuing to be engaged with Safer Choice and bringing safer products to the marketplace.”
