Washington, DC \u2013 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) released an update to its federal purchasing search tool that highlights the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) prohibitions and plastic waste reduction requirements in Green Seal\u2019s product standards. The newly revised tool allows users to identify which ecolabel standards contain PFAS and plastic reduction criteria, making it easier for federal purchasers to meet sustainability goals and mandates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
EPA\u2019s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing<\/a> give preference to multi-attribute standards and ecolabels and are intended to help federal purchasers identify and procure environmentally sustainable products and services. The newest revisions to the Recommendations\u2019 search tool allow users to view the standards by how they address PFAS and plastic in addition to their product category. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This update showcases Green Seal\u2019s commitment to taking a leadership position on addressing hazardous \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d Green Seal\u2019s standards have long prohibited long-chain PFAS formally classified as hazardous. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that short-chain PFAS have the same harmful health and environmental effects as the legacy PFAS they are replacing. Green Seal updated its standards for cleaning and personal care products in 2022 to prohibit all approximately 12,000 chemicals in this class and is currently updating the PFAS prohibition in its standards for paints and coatings, floor care products, adhesives, and degreasers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Green Seal certification helps brands stay ahead of the curve on ingredient bans. In addition to greater federal focus on PFAS, states including California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington have passed laws prohibiting intentionally added PFAS in consumer products starting as soon as 2025. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n For detailed information on EPA\u2019s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing, visit epa.gov\/greenerproducts\/recommendations-specifications-standards-and-ecolabels-federal-purchasing.<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-6074","press-release","type-press-release","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenseal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/6074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenseal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenseal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenseal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}