EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
09/24/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/24/2024 10:33
EPA Announces 2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award Winners in the Northwest
EPA Announces 2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award Winners in the Northwest
Winners helped consumers access products with safer ingredients and showed leadership in green chemistry and sustainable packaging
September 24, 2024
Contact Information
Region 10 Public Affairs Office ([email protected])
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this year's Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners based or operating in Oregon and Washington, recognizing their achievements in the design, manufacture, promotion, selection, and use of cleaners, detergents, and other products with safer chemicals.
The Safer Choice program and label helps consumers and purchasers at facilities find cleaning and other products with chemical ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment. Applicants for this year's awards were encouraged to show how their work promotes environmental justice, bolsters resilience to the impacts of climate change, results in cleaner air or water, improves drinking water quality or advances innovation in packaging.
"We want to raise up these award winners for increasing availability of safer cleaning and other products used in our homes, schools and offices," said EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller. "This year's Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners in the Pacific Northwest went above and beyond by designing safer products and raising awareness of the Safer Choice label."
Safer Choice Partner of the Year Northwest Winners:
Hazardous Waste Management Program (Haz Waste Program) in King Countyis recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice supporter. Throughout 2023, the Haz Waste Program offered education, outreach and technical assistance on green cleaning and reducing exposure to hazardous materials. The Haz Waste Program reached 71,000 households, 863 of businesses, and-through technical assistance-5,565 people and workers in King County, Washington. Their efforts centered social justice, including outreach to six low-income housing organizations, which serve 100,000 residents. North Central Educational Service District (NCESD)is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice supporter. NCESD provides educational resources to school districts and educational staff in north-central Washington. In 2023, NCESD created a video for students that features a Safer Choice partner speaking about their work with EPA's Safer Choice program and highlights careers in green chemistry. NCESD continues to offer online a free lesson plan to teach students how to identify cleaning products with safer ingredients. City of Gresham and Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC)are recognized as outstanding Safer Choice supporters. In 2023, the City of Gresham, Oregon and PPRC held workshops and participated in community events to promote the Safer Choice label. The workshops, offered in English and Spanish, educated attendees on safer chemicals and products, reading cleaning product labels, and where to buy safer products. The workshops and events also provided samples of Safer Choice-certified products, including products donated by two Safer Choice partners. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Pollution Prevention Resources Center (PPRC)are recognized as outstanding Safer Choice supporters. DEQ and PPRC provided guidance to manufacturers on how to formulate products for Safer Choice certification. Their outreach efforts reached more than 100 manufacturers from the United States and Mexico, and, in 2023, they provided funding assistance to two product manufacturers interested in certification. Toxic-Free Futureis recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice supporter. Toxic-Free Future updated their Retailer Report Card to encourage retailers to sell, highlight, and report on Safer Choice-certified products. Toxic-Free Future highlighted Safer Choice on social media and in blogs. In addition, Toxic-Free Future worked with the Washington Department of Ecology to recognize Safer Choice certification as an indicator of safer solutions to chemicals of concern. Earth Friendly Products (ECOS)is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. ECOS has been a Safer Choice partner since 2008. 98% of ECOS' Safer Choice-certified products feature the Safer Choice label on the packaging. ECOS uses 100% renewable energy in their facilities, which saves more than 28 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually. ECOS facilities are TRUE Zero Waste Platinum certified, which means they divert over 95% of their waste from landfills and incineration through recycling and reuse. Tidal Vision Products Inc., based in Kent, Washington, is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Innovator. Tidal Vision added two chemicals to EPA's Safer Chemical Ingredients List and has laid the groundwork to gain Safer Choice certification for products in the industrial wastewater market. Tidal Vision upcycles seafood waste to produce their safer chemicals. Roger McFadden and Associates, LLCis recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice supporter. Oregon-based McFadden and Associates advised businesses, including manufacturers and retailers, about the benefits of safer chemicals, EPA's Safer Choice label, and the Safer Chemical Ingredients List. McFadden and Associates conducted eight trainings for a large cleaning product manufacturer where Safer Choice was prominently featured.Learn more about the 2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winnersand watch videos highlighting their accomplishments.