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Sustainable Marketplace: Greener Products and Services
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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”.

Read more information on PFAS.

Download a file of this webpage. (pdf) (146.5 KB, August 2022)

**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
  • Furniture

No

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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)
  • Food Service Ware: Containers, Cutlery, Dishware
  • Trash Bags

Yes


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As of January 1, 2020
1) The product formula must not have fluorinated chemicals — as evidenced by a technical review of safety data sheets for all ingredients.

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.

Read More

Required

Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard

  • Adhesives
  • Carpet
  • Ceiling Tiles - Acoustical
  • Fiberboard, Gypsum Panels, Wallboard
  • Flooring
  • Furniture
  • Insulation
  • Interior Latex Paint
  • Other Miscellaneous Building Finishes

Yes


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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.


Additional restrictions for PFOS C-8 (10 ppm or less) and PFOA (25 ppm or less).

Required
Declare 2.0
  • Carpet
  • Flooring
  • Furniture
  • Interior Latex Paint
  • Other Miscellaneous Building Finishes

Yes


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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
  • Floor Care

No

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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
  • CLEANERS: Carpet, Glass, and Multipurpose

No

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Certified products shall not be formulated or manufactured with Fluorinated surfactants. Required
Green Seal (GS-1, GS-11, GS-34, GS-40)
  • Bathroom Tissue
  • Paper Towels
  • Interior Latex Paint
  • Parts Wash Solution
  • Floor Care

Yes

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PFOA and PFOS are prohibited at or above 100 ppm in certified products. Required
Green Seal (GS-37, GS-41, GS-53)
  • Cleaners: Carpet, Glass, Multi-purpose
  • Hand Soap
  • Commercial Dishwasher Detergent

Yes

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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
  • Carpet
  • Flooring
  • Furniture
  • Interior Latex Paint
  • Other Miscellaneous Building Finishes

Yes


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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
  • Furniture (single attribute standard for textiles)

No

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Intentionally added PFOS is prohibited in certified products.

Required
Safer Choice
  • Cleaners (Carpet, Class, Multi-purpose)
  • Commercial Dishwasher Detergent
  • Floor Care
  • Hand Soap
  • Deicer
  • Parts Wash Solution

Yes

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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)
  • Carpet
  • Flooring
  • Furniture
  • Interior Latex Paint

Yes


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Intentionally added PFOS prohibited at or above the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Required
TUV Rheinland – Green Product Mark
  • Furniture

Yes


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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).

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on January 5, 2023
United States Environmental Protection Agency

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