How EPA’s Recommended Standards and Ecolabels Address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
The chart on this page characterizes how standards/ecolabels included in EPA’s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). The Recommendations help purchasers identify and use private sector and federal environmental performance standards and ecolabels within federal procurement to help them meet various sustainability goals and requirements.
Use the below search bar to filter the table for a specific standard/ecolabel or product category, like “furniture”.
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**These are high-level summaries of often complex and varied approaches to criteria. If you’re a federal employee, you may email the EPP Program (epp@epa.gov) to gain access to any of the below standards/ecolabels to review the full criteria language.**
Standard/Ecolabel | Product Category Where EPA Recommends the Standard/Ecolabel | Does the Standard/Ecolabel Cover Additional Product Categories? | Summary of Criterion Language | Required or Optional |
---|---|---|---|---|
BIFMA e3 2019 – Furniture Sustainability Standard |
|
No |
Applicants can receive one product point if the product does not contain per- and poly-fluorinated compounds at or above 100 ppm. | Optional |
Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) |
|
Yes |
As of January 1, 2020 2) Test results from a BPI-approved lab showing a maximum of 100ppm total fluorine. 3) A statement of no intentionally added fluorinated chemicals, signed by the manufacturer. |
Required |
Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard |
|
Yes |
Under Version 4.0 of the Standard, PFAS are prohibited in certified products at all certification levels. If present as an impurity or minor additive, the level must be <1000ppm or <100 ppm in any homogeneous material by weight for products certified at Bronze and Gold levels, respectively. Some exemptions apply for specific materials or parts.
|
Required |
Declare 2.0 |
|
Yes |
Certified products and product packaging must not contain Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) or Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). | Required |
ECOLOGO/UL 2777 - Hard Floor Care Products |
|
No |
Product shall not be formulated or manufactured with perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS) and must not contain more than 150 ppm of fluorinated surfactants. | Required |
ECOLOGO/UL 2795 Standard for Sustainability for Carpet and Upholstery Care Products |
|
No |
Certified products shall not be formulated or manufactured with Fluorinated surfactants. | Required |
Green Seal (GS-1, GS-11, GS-34, GS-40) |
|
Yes |
PFOA and PFOS are prohibited at or above 100 ppm in certified products. | Required |
Green Seal (GS-37, GS-41, GS-53) |
|
Yes |
Under the most recent standard editions, PFAS are prohibited in certified products. If present as a contaminant, the level must be below 100 ppm. | Required |
Living Product Challenge 2.0 |
|
Yes |
Certified products and product packaging must not contain Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) or Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). | Required |
NSF/ANSI 336 (2018) -Sustainability Assessment for Commercial Furnishings Fabric |
|
No |
Intentionally added PFOS is prohibited in certified products. |
Required |
Safer Choice |
|
Yes |
EPA’s Safer Choice program requires every ingredient used in a product to meet the stringent hazard criteria of the Safer Choice Standard for the product to be eligible for Safer Choice certification. While the Safer Choice program does not specifically prohibit PFAS chemicals, with the growing understanding of the effects of PFAS, EPA has determined that these chemicals no longer meet the Safer Choice Standard. In March 2023, EPA will remove the PFAS chemicals currently included on Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL) and they will not be eligible for use in certified products. | Required |
Sustainable Materials Rating Technology (SMaRT) |
|
Yes |
Intentionally added PFOS prohibited at or above the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. | Required |
TUV Rheinland – Green Product Mark |
|
Yes |
Certified products must not contain PFOS at 0.1% (articles) or 1 µg/m² (coated material). | Required |
If your organization’s standard/ecolabel restricts the use of PFAS in the formulation or manufacture of products, please inform us by reaching out to the EPP Program (epp@epa.gov).