2021 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award Winners: Profiles

Below are profiles for each of the 2021 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award Winners.

• Albertsons Companies, Boise, ID
• American Cleaning Institute, Washington, DC
• Apple, Cupertino, CA
• The Ashkin Group, Channel Islands Harbor, CA
• BASF Home Care and I&I Cleaning Solutions, Florham Park, NJ
• Bona, Englewood, CO
• Case Medical, Bloomfield, NJ
• Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Ewing, NJ
• The Clorox Company, Oakland, CA
• Defunkify, Eugene, OR
• Dirty Labs Inc., Portland, OR
• ECOS, Cypress, CA
• Grove Collaborative, San Francisco, CA
• Hazardous Waste Management Program, King County, WA 
• The Home Depot, Atlanta, GA
• Household & Commercial Products Association, Washington, DC
• Jelmar, LLC, Skokie, IL
• Lake Monroe Sailing Association, Bloomington, IN
• Lemi Shine, Austin, TX
• LightHouse For The Blind And Visually Impaired, San Francisco, CA
• LSI, Morristown, NJ*
• Novozymes North America, Raleigh, NC
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality-Toxics Use Reduction Program
• The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH
• PurposeBuilt Brands, Gurnee, IL
• Roger McFadden and Associates, LLC, Canby, OR
• Rust-Oleum Corporation, Vernon Hills, IL
• Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Seattle, WA
• Sensitive Home, Greenbrae, CA
• Seventh Generation, Burlington, VT
• University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Continuing Education Programs, Seattle, WA
• Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, NY
• Wexford Labs, Inc., Kirkwood, MO*

*Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) are a family of labels.  DfE is different from Safer Choice. DfE products are registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and meet stringent EPA criteria for health and the environment. There is not an EPA award like Partner of the Year (PoY) for the DfE program, therefore companies that produce DfE-certified products are eligible to win a Safer Choice PoY award.

Go back to the Partner of the Year Awards home page.

Albertsons Companies, Boise, ID

Albertsons is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Retailer. Albertsons has been a Safer Choice partner since 2012. In 2020, Albertsons expanded their line of Safer Choice-certified products by adding six laundry detergent products. These six products have SmartLabels which allow customers to scan a product QR code and learn more about the Safer Choice certification. In 2020, Albertsons worked with cities and counties to identify opportunities to educate underserved households about safer cleaning and disinfecting products. This work supports EPA’s focus on environmental justice. Safer Choice applauds Albertsons for their commitment to selling and expanding access to products with safer chemical ingredients. 

American Cleaning Institute, Washington, DC

American Cleaning Institute (ACI) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter.  ACI is a trade organization that represents the U.S. cleaning product supply chain. In 2020, ACI contributed toxicological reviews that resulted in eight chemicals being added to EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL) and was the first non-manufacturer to do so. ACI’s news media coverage featuring the Safer Choice program generated a total potential reach of 11.2 million in 2020 and highlighted that “Adding chemicals to SCIL encourages innovation and growth in safer products, increases markets for manufacturers and helps protect people and the environment.” ACI also partnered with the Good Housekeeping Institute to host their first-ever cleaning Summit, which included a panel on ingredient transparency that discussed how the Safer Choice program helps consumers find products with safer ingredients. Good Housekeeping shared the Summit with its 782,000+ newsletter subscribers. Safer Choice commends ACI for their dedication to supporting the SCIL and the Safer Choice program.

Apple, Cupertino, CA

Apple is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter. Apple uses an internal Apple Safer Cleaner Criteria based on Safer Choice criteria, among other assessment tools, to determine the safer chemical status of chemicals used in its manufacturing processes. In 2020, Apple assessed 54 new cleaners, bringing the total to more than 80 safer cleaner and degreaser alternatives approved for use by more than 80,000 employees in their supply chain. Of note, Apple has promoted Safer Choice and the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL) directly to suppliers in their annual "People and Environment in Our Supply Chain Report" and at industry forums. In 2020, Apple conducted an extensive chemical inventory by collecting data on more than 600 facilities in their supply chain and identifying 14,000 unique uses of process chemicals. This allows Apple to help suppliers prioritize chemistries for substitution or management through enhanced controls and safety procedures.  Safer Choice commends Apple for its commitment to using safer chemicals in its manufacturing processes to protect workers and customers throughout its supply chain.

The Ashkin Group, Channel Islands Harbor, CA

The Ashkin Group, LLC is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter. In 2020, the Ashkin Group included Safer Choice in training programs for frontline cleaning workers, training more than 30,000 workers to date, the majority of whom are from underserved communities. This work supports EPA’s focus on environmental justice. In addition to teaching workers about the benefits of cleaning with products with safer ingredients, The Ashkin Group included specific recommendations to help workers reduce energy consumption by using cold water and to purchase concentrates to reduce impacts from shipping – both efforts reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts on climate change, contributing to EPA’s goal of addressing climate change. The Ashkin Group included specific references to Safer Choice to encourage procurement of certified cleaning products in key building certification programs, including the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Safety First: Cleaning & Disinfecting Your Space pilot credit and Green Sports Alliance’s Get Ready to Play program. Safer Choice commends The Ashkin Group for its commitment to educating and protecting frontline cleaning personnel. 

BASF Home Care and I&I Cleaning Solutions, Florham Park, NJ

BASF Home Care and I&I Cleaning Solutions (BASF) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Innovator. In 2020, BASF added 13 and renewed 25 safer ingredients on CleanGredients, a database of chemical ingredients pre-approved for use in Safer Choice-certified products. This brought their total to 74 ingredients across seven functional class categories. In 2020, BASF continued to expand its efforts to raise awareness about Safer Choice and safer chemical ingredients through promotional messaging that had an audience of more than 150,000 readers. BASF’s press release about being awarded a 2020 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award was highlighted in several industry trade magazines, with potential reach of 208,000 readers. They actively raise international awareness about Safer Choice and the value of chemical ingredients that meet Safer Choice criteria by holding webinars in Latin America. Safer Choice commends BASF’s dedication to educating product manufacturers about safer chemical ingredients.

Bona, Englewood, CO

Bona is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Achieving Safer Choice-certification is a companywide objective for Bona. Since becoming a Safer Choice partner in 2020, Bona has certified 13 products. Bona  has reformulated more than 90 percent of their current cleaner line for Safer Choice certification. To ensure products used in the future will be able to attain Safer Choice certification, Bona  collaborates with and educates suppliers to refine their formulations. Safer Choice commends Bona  for their dedication to formulating and raising awareness of products with chemical ingredients that meet Safer Choice criteria. 

Case Medical, Bloomfield, NJ

Case Medical is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Case Medical has been a Safer Choice partner since 2011. In 2020, Case Medical broadened the availability of their line of Safer Choice-certified products to additional markets. They built these formulations with ingredients from the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL) and from CleanGredients, a database of chemical ingredients pre-approved for use in Safer Choice-certified products. Case Medical supports the goals of the Safer Choice program not only in the development and manufacture of Safer Choice-certified cleaners, but also in the manufacture and growth of reusable container systems. Case Medical regularly promotes Safer Choice certification in product brochures, blog posts, and other marketing materials. Case Medical provides educational programs to the healthcare community with topics focused on sustainability, safety, best practices, and Safer Choice. Safer Choice commends Case Medical for their commitment to formulating and promoting products with safer chemical ingredients.

Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Ewing, NJ

Church & Dwight Co. (CHD) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. CHD has been a Safer Choice partner since 2015. In 2020,CHD had a new product certified by Safer Choice. CHD’s advertising of this new Safer Choice-certified product included national television, digital, and print ads and social media, with a potential reach of 169 million.  CHD partnered with Safer Choice to develop and implement an in vitro testing strategy to meet Safer Choice pH criteria for laundry detergents. CHD manufactures the product they added this year using 100 percent green power, contributing to EPA’s goal of addressing climate change.  Safer Choice applauds CHD’s commitment to formulating products with safer chemical ingredients. 

The Clorox Company, Oakland, CA

The Clorox Company (Clorox) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Clorox has been a Safer Choice partner since 2007. In 2020, Clorox updated 10 formulations and added a new product to their offering of Safer Choice- and DfE-certified products, bringing the total to 37 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) spanning 19 retail and 18 industrial and institutional  products. They also increased the percentage of Safer Choice-certified products displaying the Safer Choice label prominently on the front product label from 57 percent of products in 2019 to 70 percent of products in 2020. In addition to product labels, Clorox promotes the Safer Choice label on websites, promotional materials, product SmartLabels, advertisements, digital content, influencer content, and on social media. Clorox encourages their product formulators to use the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL) to understand the safer options when selecting ingredients. Safer Choice applauds Clorox for continuing to promote the Safer Choice program and manufacture products with safer ingredients. 

Defunkify, Eugene, Oregon

Defunkify is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Defunkify became a Safer Choice partner in 2019. Defunkify has 15 Safer Choice-certified products, a 67 percent increase over 2019. Defunkify centers their communications strategy on emphasizing product performance and Safer Choice-certification. This approach establishes credibility with consumers and store buyers that products work and were designed with safer ingredients. Defunkify’s communications were seen by more than 12.3 million shoppers in 2020. Safer Choice commends Defunkify for their commitment to developing and promoting products with safer chemical ingredients.

Dirty Labs Inc., Portland, OR

Dirty Labs is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Dirty Labs has been a Safer Choice partner since 2020. Dirty Labs’ first two commercial products are Safer Choice-certified, and every ingredient in these products is listed on CleanGredients, a database of chemical ingredients pre-approved for use in Safer Choice-certified products. The lifecycles and sources for these ingredients are mapped on Dirty Labs’ website. Dirty Labs’ innovative formulating removed excess water so that their 11x concentrated liquid laundry detergent is more than five times smaller and lighter than many retail laundry detergents. This means significantly less fuel used and fewer trucks needed to transport products which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts on climate change and contributes to EPA’s goal of addressing climate change. In 2020, Dirty Labs hired two Research and Development team members who have extensive experience in formulating products that meet Safer Choice criteria and who will continue to innovate toward sustainable, biobased, Safer Choice-certified products moving forward. Dirty Labs also focuses on renewable manufacturing practices by choosing 100 percent recyclable materials. They use aluminum bottles for their laundry detergent and transitioned from using plastic caps to recycled aluminum caps. Safer Choice commends Dirty Labs for their focus on safer chemical ingredients and packaging sustainability. 

ECOS, Cypress, CA

ECOS is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. ECOS has been a Safer Choice partner since 2008. In 2020, ECOS added four new products, renewed four products, and updated 11 product formulations. In total, ECOS offers more than 150 products that are Safer Choice-certified, which represents 79 percent of all ECOS product offerings. In addition to featuring the Safer Choice label on products, they have included images of the label in their facilities and incorporated a detailed explanation of the program and need to manufacture with safer chemicals for a companywide understanding of Safer Choice. The Safer Choice program was communicated as central to the ECOS brand and mission in several virtual conferences, webinars and podcasts. ECOS promotes Safer Choice internationally as well, showcasing the label on certified products in China, South Korea, Canada, Latin America and the European Union. ECOS has been carbon neutral since 2013, in part through a switch to 100 percent renewable energy, which saves more than 28 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually, contributing to EPA’s goal of addressing climate change. Safer Choice commends ECOS’s dedication to formulating and raising awareness of products with safer chemical ingredients, both nationally and internationally.

Grove Collaborative, San Francisco, CA

Grove Collaborative is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Grove Collaborative became a Safer Choice partner in 2019. Over the course of 2020, Grove Collaborative expanded beyond the hand soap category to certify their entire liquid laundry and dishwasher detergent collections. In 2020, Grove Collaborative made it easier for customers to learn about the Safer Choice program and find certified products on their website by creating an EPA Safer Choice Spotlight store. In addition to ingredient safety, Grove is working towards their pledge to be plastic-free by 2025 by packaging certified products in pouches that contain 60 percent less plastic than same-size bottles and offering a pouch recycling program for customers. Safer Choice applauds Grove Collaborative for their commitment to developing products with safer chemical ingredients and sustainable packaging.

Hazardous Waste Management Program, King County, WA

The Hazardous Waste Management Program, a local government collaborative in King County, Washington, is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter. The program featured Safer Choice in presentations at virtual webinars, as well as in publications and educational materials available in more than a dozen languages. The Hazardous Waste Management Program also piloted a Safer Choice retail product mapping database that lists Safer Choice-certified products and information on the store where each product is sold, with the goal of increasing access to Safer Choice-certified products. Increasing access to underserved communities contributes to EPA goals for environmental justice. In addition to supporting the Safer Choice program, the Hazardous Waste team also worked to better integrate racial equity considerations into their work, from assessing the racial distribution of occupational exposures to degreasers to analyzing how many dry cleaners need to be converted to professional wet cleaning shops in King County’s more vulnerable neighborhoods. Safer Choice commends the Hazardous Waste Management Program for leadership in educating their community about the environmental and health benefits of products with safer ingredients.

The Home Depot, Atlanta, GA

Home Depot is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Retailer. In 2020, Home Depot carried 173 Safer Choice-certified products. These products are featured in a callout on Home Depot’s Eco Options website, which had more than 410,000 views in 2020. Combining the Safer Choice labels featured on the website with exposure from in-store signage and product labels resulted in potential reach of over 21 million per week. The Safer Choice certification was also featured in Home Depot’s 2020 Responsibility Report. The report included a spotlight for woman-and family-owned Safer Choice supplier and Home Depot partner, Jelmar. Safer Choice applauds Home Depot for their dedication to selling products with safer chemical ingredients.

Household & Commercial Products Association, Washington, DC

The Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter. HCPA is a trade association representing companies that manufacture and sell products used for cleaning, protecting, maintaining, and disinfecting homes and commercial environments. In 2020, HCPA continued its support of the Safer Choice program by bringing stakeholders together from across HCPA’s membership virtually to strengthen Safer Choice, encourage more HCPA members to get their products certified by Safer Choice, and engage in discussions with Safer Choice staff about improvements to the program. For example, HCPA convened aerosol product manufacturers and suppliers to discuss how aerosol propellant technology fits into the Safer Choice Standard. Safer Choice commends HCPA for its commitment to educating its membership and the public about safer chemical ingredients.

Jelmar, LLC, Skokie, IL

Jelmar, LLC is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Jelmar, a woman-and family-owned company, has been a Safer Choice partner since 2005. In 2020, they added three new products to their Safer Choice partnership. Jelmar displays the Safer Choice label to consumers on 100 percent of its Safer Choice-certified products. In addition to their product labels, Jelmar features the Safer Choice label in advertisements for television, social media, online video, podcasts and at tradeshows. Jelmar's Safer Choice communications efforts resulted in a potential reach of 1.54 billion+ across their advertising, social media and public relations initiatives. In 2020, Jelmar’s sustainable shipment packaging choice resulted in 11,568 tons of greenhouse gas reduced, 6,770,172 gallons of water saved, and 4,820 cubic yards of waste diverted from landfills, contributing to EPA’s goal of addressing climate change. Safer Choice applauds Jelmar for their sustainable packaging and for reaching a wide audience with messages about the environmental and health benefits of Safer Choice-certified products.

Lake Monroe Sailing Association, Bloomington, IN

Lake Monroe Sailing Association (LMSA) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter.  LMSA was founded in the 1960s when the lake was created and is committed to environmental stewardship. The City of Bloomington, Indiana relies on the Lake Monroe watershed for drinking water, recreation, and supporting the local economy. LMSA uses Safer Choice-certified products on facility-owned boats and makes these products easily accessible at no cost to their 200 members by placing them at boat cleaning stations. To promote the use of these products, LMSA posts signage at cleaning stations and throughout their property, highlighting environmentally sensitive strategies for cleaning boats using products with safer ingredients. In 2020, LMSA was recognized by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management as an Indiana Clean Marina for changing their operations to increase recycling and reduce pollutants entering Lake Monroe waterways. LMSA reached a much wider audience with their safe cleaning messages though Facebook, news articles and media attention. Safer Choice commends LMSA for their commitment to empowering people to use safer products to protect the water resources their communities rely on. This work contributes to water resource resilience in the face of climate change and supports EPA’s goal of addressing climate change.

Lemi Shine, Austin, TX

Lemi Shine is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Lemi Shine has been a Safer Choice partner since 2017 and added three products and updated five Safer Choice-certified formulations in 2020. Currently, 18 of their 21 products are Safer Choice-certified and Lemi Shine prioritizes formulating with chemicals from the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL) in over 99 percent of their materials. Lemi Shine also introduced a wipe disinfectant formulation that is effective against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), which carries the Design for the Environment (DfE) label. Lemi Shine actively advertises their Safer Choice-certified products through social media channels, digital ads, sales representation to retail buyers, and trade shows. Two thousand people used their online Store Locator to search for stores that sell their Safer Choice-certified products. In addition to highlighting their Safer Choice-certified products at the beginning of their website’s ingredients page, Lemi Shine published blogs about cleaning tips that promoted the use of these products. Safer Choice applauds Lemi Shine’s dedication to formulating and promoting safer cleaning products. 

LightHouse For The Blind And Visually Impaired, San Francisco, CA

LightHouse For The Blind And Visually Impaired San Francisco (LightHouse) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. LightHouse has been a Safer Choice partner since 2019. LightHouse is a non-profit that has programs to help blind and visually impaired employees get experience in many areas, including chemical manufacturing, chemical blending, and quality assurance and control. LightHouse had record sales for their Safer Choice-certified products in 2020, with all proceeds going directly to the blind and visually impaired community. In 2020, LightHouse was awarded a contract to supply the entire United States Navy Fleet with two of their Safer Choice-certified products. LightHouse also partnered with the National Industries for the Blind to sell their Safer Choice-certified line to federal agencies across the United States. Safer Choice commends LightHouse for their commitment to supplying safer cleaning products and educating the public, commercial, and government sectors on blindness. 

LSI, Morristown, NJ*

LSI is recognized as an outstanding Innovator. LSI developed a formula for a Design for the Environment (DfE)-certified, fast-acting, hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectant that combats SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This base formulation is registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and certified under the DfE program. LSI is making this innovative formulation available to product manufacturers who may sub-register and market the product under FIFRA. Safer Choice applauds LSI for their commitment to developing DfE-certified disinfectants.

*Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) are a family of labels. DfE is different from Safer Choice. DfE products are registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and meet stringent EPA criteria for health and the environment. There is not an EPA award like Partner of the Year (PoY) for the DfE program, therefore companies that produce DfE-certified products are eligible to win a Safer Choice PoY award.

Novozymes North America, Raleigh, NC

Novozymes is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Innovator. In 2020, Novozymes added six enzyme ingredients to CleanGredients, a database of chemical ingredients pre-approved for use in Safer Choice-certified products. Novozymes also supported 25 requests made by formulators and brand owners for certification of formulations by the Safer Choice program. Novozymes submitted new innovations for evaluation including three ingredients that allow formulators to remove boron from their formulations and use a more concentrated enzyme that delivers the same performance as an existing product at a lower dosage. The enzymes supplied by Novozymes are important to detergent efficacy in cold water. Cold water washing contributes to EPA’s goal of addressing climate change. Safer Choice applauds Novozymes for their commitment to manufacturing safer chemicals. 

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality-Toxics Use Reduction Program

The Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality’s Toxics Use Reduction Program (Oregon DEQ) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter. In 2020, Oregon DEQ developed innovative projects with goals of building a community that purchases safer products and of directly supporting businesses in obtaining Safer Choice certification. In partnership with the Pollution Prevention Resource Center, Oregon DEQ’s team developed and implemented a Safer Chemical Alternatives Training Program that focused on increasing knowledge about Safer Choice-certified products. Oregon DEQ also created the Direct Support Project, to match businesses with interns who support the business in obtaining Safer Choice certification. The team implemented the pilot program with three businesses. Safer Choice commends Oregon DEQ for implementing projects that increase knowledge around safer chemicals and products.

The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. P&G has been a Safer Choice partner since 2019. In 2020, they added twelve products to their Safer Choice-certified line and updated two formulations. P&G designed, formulated, and manufactured their first complete Safer Choice-certified brand portfolio that is a collection of fabric and home care products. These products were designed specially to address cleaning issues in the many hard water regions of the United States. The product line contains nine ingredients that are identified by commonly recognized names for ease of understanding by consumers. Safer Choice commends P&G for their commitment to developing products that are safer for consumers and for the environment.

PurposeBuilt Brands, Gurnee, IL

PurposeBuilt Brands (formerly Weiman) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer.  They have been a partner since 2019. In 2020, PurposeBuilt Brands added 12 products (with 27 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs)) to their line of Safer Choice-certified products. Their outreach with the Safer Choice message about their Safer Choice-certified products had a potential reach of more than 35 million. Within the sustainability section of PurposeBuilt Brands’ corporate website, they highlight Safer Choice and how they formulate products that include safer ingredients. Safer Choice is a focus of buyer meetings with PurposeBuilt Brands’ retailers. Safer Choice communication is also present on all relevant packaging, brand websites, and product listings on retailer websites. Safer Choice applauds Purpose Built Brands’ commitment to manufacturing products with employee and consumer safety and protection in mind. 

Roger McFadden and Associates, LLC, Canby, OR

McFadden and Associates is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter. McFadden and Associates has 30 years of experience designing and manufacturing professional and household cleaning products. In 2020, they designed 21 products to meet Safer Choice criteria. Based on their pro bono technical recommendations, three health care facilities replaced eight cleaning products, amounting to 84,500 pounds, with Safer Choice-certified products. McFadden and Associates helped two cleaning product formulators, two big box retailers, three cleaning product distributors, and one building service contractor incorporate Safer Choice into their chemical policies in 2020. In addition, McFadden and Associates connected a large retailer with a non-profit organization employing disabled workers that will manufacture six Safer Choice certified products for the retailer’s brand. Safer Choice commends McFadden and Associates’ commitment to helping clients design, manufacture, use, and sell safer chemicals and products.

Rust-Oleum Corporation, Vernon Hills, IL

Rust-Oleum Corporation is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Rust-Oleum has been a Safer Choice partner since 2012. In 2020, Rust-Oleum Corporation increased their offering of Safer Choice-certified products by 19 percent to 16 products (with 42 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs)). They also began focusing on using concentrates and refillable bottles to reduce plastic use and emissions, contributing to EPA’s goal of addressing climate change. The three formulas to start this initiative have already been Safer Choice certified. Rust-Oleum displays the Safer Choice label on all Safer Choice-certified products as well as on web pages, Facebook, Instagram, and catalog pages. Rust-Oleum promotes Safer Choice-certified products through pallet displays in their stores. Rust-Oleum has moved most of their production closer to distribution centers to reduce the use of fuel and is researching how to increase post-consumer plastic and recycled cardboard in packaging and shipping boxes. Safer Choice applauds Rust-Oleum Corporation for their commitment to manufacturing products with safer chemical ingredients.

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Seattle, WA

Sea Mar Community Health Centers (Sea Mar) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter. Sea Mar is a community-based organization providing comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington state. In 2020, Sea Mar continued to act on the top two concerns for the Hispanic/Latino community identified during an earlier stakeholder meeting: the overuse of disinfectants and the common and dangerous practice of mixing cleaning products. In 2020, Sea Mar conducted 100 trainings with Spanish-speaking households on safer cleaning practices, reaching 369 people with their training. Training objectives included raising awareness of the Safer Choice label, how to identify a Safer Choice-certified product and changing cleaning practices to use safer cleaning products. The trainings resulted in increased awareness and use of Safer Choice-certified products among participants. Safer Choice applauds Sea Mar for advancing EPA’s focus on environmental justice and its commitment to educating the underserved community about safer cleaning products.

Sensitive Home, Greenbrae, CA

Sensitive Home is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Sensitive Home has been a Safer Choice partner since 2020. All of Sensitive Home’s 14 dish, laundry, and surface cleaners became Safer Choice-certified in 2020. Sensitive Home designed their products for sensitive people, including those with skin sensitivities, compromised immune systems, and respiratory issues. Sensitive Home displays the Safer Choice label on the front of every product as well as on the brand’s homepage, product listing pages, and printed marketing collateral. Sensitive Home also includes information about Safer Choice in media outreach efforts and throughout product messaging. Safer Choice applauds Sensitive Home for their commitment to manufacturing safer cleaning products. 

Seventh Generation, Burlington, VT

Seventh Generation is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Seventh Generation has been a Safer Choice partner since 2009. In 2020, Seventh Generation added 16 products, bringing their total to 66 Safer Choice-certified products. Seventh Generation also promoted their Safer Choice-certified products through digital and print marketing materials, including Safer Choice promotions through major eCommerce retail partners. Seventh Generation continues to use the Safer Choice Standard as a key part of seeking new raw materials and engages with suppliers to encourage development of safer chemical ingredients. Safer Choice commends Seventh Generation for their continued dedication to creating products that are safer for consumers and the environment.

University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Continuing Education Programs, Seattle, WA

The University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Continuing Education Programs (UW DEOHS) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter. In response to a surge in calls to the Poison Control Center because of increased misuse of cleaning and disinfecting products in 2020, a team at the UW DEOHS collaborated with the Occupational Health and Safety Section of the American Public Health Association to publish a factsheet on best practices for safer cleaning and disinfecting to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In both English and Spanish, the fact sheet highlights certified safer cleaning products, including those with the Safer Choice label and Design for the Environment (DfE)-certified disinfectants and products with DfE-approved active ingredients. The UW DEOHS team targeted fact sheet distribution in part at essential workers, such as bus drivers and cleaning staff who are exposed to cleaning products daily. The team worked to get information on Safer Choice and DfE into the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s guide, “Employers Guide to COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection in Non-Healthcare Workplaces.” The UW DEOHS team’s efforts to protect essential workers supports EPA’s focus on environmental justice. Safer Choice applauds the University of Washington for their commitment to education around safer cleaning and disinfecting products.

Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, NY

Wegmans Food Markets is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Retailer. Wegmans has been a Safer Choice partner since 2014. In 2020, Wegmans added nine products (with 16 different Stock Keeping Units (SKUs)) to their line of Safer Choice-certified products. Wegmans offers more than 70 SKUs of national brand Safer Choice-certified products. Throughout pandemic shortages, Wegmans worked with their supply chain to keep their brand of safer cleaning products on store shelves for customers, because national brands often weren’t available. Their work introduced many customers to Safer Choice-certified products for the first time. Wegmans is committed to transitioning all Wegmans-brand household cleaning products, laundry detergents, and dish detergents to Safer Choice-certified formulas. Safer Choice commends Wegmans’ commitment to providing consumers with access to products that are safer for humans and the environment.

Wexford Labs, Inc., Kirkwood, MO*

Wexford Labs is recognized as an outstanding Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Wexford Labs manufactures and distributes environmentally friendly cleaners and disinfectants and has been a partner since 2011. Wexford Labs has three Design for the Environment (DfE)-certified products, after bringing on a new brand of disinfecting wipes in 2020.  They also assisted their partners in obtaining DfE certifications for seven new private-label products. Many of these products are important in the fight against coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Wexford Labs donated thousands of units of disinfectant products, primarily citric-acid based and DfE-certified products, to vulnerable populations and made significant donations to Ronald McDonald House Charities, contributing to EPA’s focus on environmental justice.  Safer Choice commends Wexford Labs’ innovation and commitment to producing DfE-certified disinfecting products.

*Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) are a family of labels. DfE is different from Safer Choice. DfE products are registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and meet stringent EPA criteria for health and the environment. There is not an EPA award like Partner of the Year (PoY) for the DfE program, therefore companies that produce DfE-certified products are eligible to win a Safer Choice PoY award.