1% for the Planet is an accountability partner for businesses that are ready to reject business as usual and give back to environmental organizations making a difference around the globe. Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, their members have given hundreds of millions of dollars to environmental partners to date.

Businesses earn 1% for the Planet certification by contributing 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes. Because we are a 1% for the Planet environmental partner, brands can count any fees paid to Green Seal toward their 1% for the Planet annual commitment.

We’re thrilled to join this global network of business members and environmental partners in 1% for the Planet’s mission to inspire action so that our planet and future generations thrive.

This is our latest partnership to promote certified products, cleaning services, and hotels, including with Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly, Wayfair, Google Travel, the International WELL Building Institute, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the Health Product Declaration Collaborative.

Learn more about our partnerships in our Impact Report.

Learn more about 1% for the Planet here.

This year, we unveiled a new brand identity based on two years of intensive research with consumers, brands, and retailers into helping consumers cut through the chaos in the shopping aisle. Our new brand is an outward reflection of our deep commitment to providing clarity, transparency, and a meaningful designation for consumers seeking safer and more sustainable products, much like we have for the away-from-home market over the last two-plus decades.

We know a certification mark alone won’t solve the challenges in the marketplace. That’s why we make sure our criteria help brands target actions that matter, including:  

• Safer Chemicals: Green Seal-certified cleaning products protected 9.8 million students and teachers from toxic chemicals and asthma triggers. 
• Responsible Sourcing: Green Seal-certified sanitary paper saved 8.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions due to recycled-fiber sourcing – the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off the road. 
• Low-Impact Manufacturing: Green Seal-certified sanitary paper reduced manufacturing water use by 22 billion gallons due to use of recycled fiber. 
• Sustainable Packaging: Green Seal-certified cleaning products saved 213 million pounds of plastic through packaging optimization. 

We’re also raising the bar for product sustainability with initiatives to eliminate PFAS from the supply chain; accelerate the transition to sustainable packaging; and align the consumer-packaged goods and retail communities on the definition of safer and more sustainable products.

Ultimately, our goal is to simplify sustainable shopping for the everyday consumer the way we have in the commercial and institutional arena, so all buyers find it easier to put their wallets where their values are. This report offers insight into how, together with our stakeholders, we envision turning this ambitious goal into reality.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of approximately 14,000 synthetic chemicals that have attracted significant attention due to their persistence in the environment and their impacts on human health. These chemicals are commonly used for their water and grease resistance, making them prevalent in a wide range of consumer products. 

While only a handful of PFAS are formally classified as hazardous, a growing body of evidence indicates that all PFAS are likely to have harmful health and environmental effects. Since so many chemicals are included in this class and their uses are so widespread, tracking down all the products containing PFAS proves challenging for consumers and manufacturers alike. For example, PFAS are often used in raw materials – and those proprietary ingredient formulas are often not fully disclosed to the final product manufacturer.

At Green Seal, we are committed to eliminating PFAS from the supply chain for consumer products. We are among the first eco-certifiers to enact an aggressive ingredient prohibition that addresses PFAS as an entire chemical class. This means that both manufacturers and consumers can be confident that Green Seal-certified products are formulated without PFAS.

Here, we’ll dive into the uses and impacts of PFAS, as well as tips for avoiding PFAS in household products. 

Defining PFAS 

PFAS are a large family of man-made chemicals characterized by their strong carbon-fluorine bonds. This bond is one of the strongest in organic chemistry, making PFAS extremely resistant to breakdown in the environment and the human body. This persistence is why they are termed “forever chemicals.”

These substances have been in use since the 1940s, primarily in industrial applications. Over time, their unique properties have led to their incorporation into a wide variety of consumer products. However, the stability and resistance to degradation that make PFAS useful also contribute to their potential for long-term environmental and health effects. 

How PFAS Are Used in Consumer Products 

PFAS are used in myriad consumer products because of their ability to repel water, oil, and grease. In the kitchen, they are notoriously found in non-stick cookware, where they provide a smooth, non-stick surface that simplifies cooking and cleaning. 

Beyond the kitchen, PFAS are used in waterproof clothing and outdoor gear to enhance their resistance to moisture. They’re also integral to producing stain-resistant treatments for carpets and upholstery, providing a protective barrier that prevents stains from penetrating fabric fibers. Their common applications don’t stop there: Today, PFAS are found in everything from food packaging such as microwave popcorn bags and fast-food wrappers, to paints, coatings, cosmetics, and even some cleaning products. 

Examples of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances 

There are thousands of different PFAS, but some of the most notable examples include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). PFOA was widely used in non-stick cookware production, while PFOS was a key ingredient in fabric protectors. Both PFOA and PFOS have largely been phased out of manufacturing in the U.S. due to their known health and environmental effects, but in many cases, manufacturers have replaced these chemicals with other, lesser-studied PFAS.

Another significant example is GenX, which was developed as a replacement for PFOA in the production of non-stick coatings. Despite being marketed as a safer alternative, a chemical toxicity assessment by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found GenX is even more toxic than PFOA.

Other examples of PFAS include perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), which are used in various industrial applications and consumer products.

The Problem with PFAS 

PFAS are persistent in the environment, with evidence that some chemicals are so resistant to degradation that they could persist for hundreds of years. They are now found in drinking water and bioaccumulate in both soil and humans, with some chemicals taking more than eight years to reach their half-life — or reduce their concentration by 50 percent in the human body. 

Exposure to PFAS is linked with numerous adverse health effects, including impacts on the endocrine system; liver damage; thyroid disease; decreased fertility; an increased risk of certain cancers such as prostate, testicular, and kidney; and decreased immune responses — including our body’s ability to develop beneficial antibodies in response to vaccines. 

Regulatory agencies, including the EPA, have established advisory levels for some individual PFAS in drinking water and are working toward more stringent regulations. In addition, several states have begun enacting legislation to prohibit the use of PFAS in certain consumer products. Despite these efforts, PFAS chemicals continue to be widespread in the environment and in many consumer products. Their persistence in the environment further complicates efforts to mitigate the impact of PFAS. 

Avoiding PFAS 

Reducing your exposure to PFAS involves making informed choices about the products you use, but avoiding it entirely is unlikely. To lower your risk for exposure:

• Opt for alternatives to non-stick cookware, such as stainless steel or cast iron. 
• Choose water-resistant clothing and outdoor gear that do not use intentionally added PFAS or chose brands and retailers that have committed to banning PFAS as a company policy.
• Choose carpets, furniture, and rugs without stain-resistant treatments. 
• Be cautious with food packaging, including fast food packaging and microwave popcorn. 
• Consider using a drinking water filter that is certified to reduce PFAS levels. 
• Buy Green Seal-certified products when possible (you can shop for household products here). 

Staying informed and making conscious decisions can help you reduce your exposure to PFAS, contributing to a healthier lifestyle and environment. Supporting companies that prioritize safer alternatives and advocating for stronger regulations that eliminate all PFAS from the supply chain can also help drive broader changes and lead to a healthier future for you and your family.

We’re actively recruiting qualified applicants to join our volunteer committees to help us define the core elements of safer, more sustainable products. Industry alignment on these elements is the first step toward achieving a common definition and forming a meaningful, marketable category of safer and more sustainable everyday products.

The Initiative

We’re launching a collaborative initiative with retailers, brands, and policy advocates to develop a market-led health and environmental product rating based on the core elements of a green product: safer chemicals, sustainable packaging, responsible sourcing, and low-impact manufacturing.

Research consistently shows that confusion and skepticism around sustainability claims drives a big gap between the number of shoppers who say they want eco-conscious products and the number who buy them. Developing a common framework for meaningful health and sustainability claims will build consumer trust, simplify purchasing decisions, and drive clear and consistent standards throughout the value chain.

Industry practitioners and advocates have the potential to drive significant impact for this initiative through their guidance and insight.

Call for Applicants

Apply to join our volunteer committees and help us define the core elements of safer, more sustainable products. Participants will bring both market and technical perspectives to the development of category-specific criteria and claims in:

• cleaning & laundry care
• personal care & cosmetics
• towel & tissue
• home restoration products

Selected members should expect to contribute a few hours a month to activities such as attending meetings, reviewing documents, or providing feedback.

If you are interested in participating in our committees, please apply by March 19, 2025.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a versatile and widely used compound found in everything from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics. This petroleum-derived chemical acts as a solvent and is often used to enhance product performance.

PEG is generally considered a safer ingredient, but it can be contaminated with toxic impurities.

Here, we’ll discuss what polyethylene glycol is, where it’s commonly found, and whether you should be concerned when you see this ingredient on product labels.

Polyethylene Glycol in Consumer Products

PEG is a polyether compound derived from petroleum. PEG can be a liquid, semi-solid, or solid depending on its molecular weight — making it highly adaptable and useful for formulators. PEG also is known for its water-solubility, low toxicity, and minimal reactivity, and widely used to enhance product stability, texture, and efficacy.

You might find PEG-400 on product labels for personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and food items, or PEG-8000 on cosmetics and cleaning products. The numbers following PEG indicate the ingredient’s average molecular weight — PEG-400 is a liquid, while PEG-8000 is a solid.

In personal care, you may find polyethylene glycol in shampoo, creams, lotions, or toothpaste, where it serves as a humectant, emollient, and thickening agent. In these applications, PEG helps retain moisture, improve texture, and stabilize formulations.

Polyethylene Glycol: Is It Safe?

Polyethylene glycol itself is not typically associated with significant health risks. However, because of the manufacturing process used to produce it, PEG can contain carcinogenic contaminants such as ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. These contaminants also may cause skin irritation or other adverse reactions for people with sensitivities or allergies.

To be confident that a product containing PEG is free from harmful levels of contaminants, look for reputable ecolabels like Green Seal. We screen all chemicals in a product, including contaminants, to ensure certified products meet a high standard for protecting people and the planet.

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“Fragrance” is a common ingredient on consumer product labels that indicates the product is scented. Although it’s often noted as a single ingredient, “fragrance” is actually an umbrella term for a combination of chemicals that produces a desired aroma.

Understanding the nature of the chemicals in fragrances, their uses, and potential safety concerns can help you make informed choices about the products you bring into your home.

Here, we’ll explore the composition of fragrances, their applications, safety considerations, and ways to minimize your exposure.

Fragrance Ingredients and Safety

The term “fragrance” on ingredient labels is a catch-all for a mixture of chemicals designed to give products a specific scent. These mixtures can contain anywhere from a few to several hundred individual chemicals. Because the formulas can be considered trade secrets, companies often are not required to publicly disclose the specific chemicals used in their fragrances.

Green Seal reviews every chemical used in a product’s formula, including the chemicals used in fragrances, to ensure certified products meet a high standard for protecting people and the planet.

Fragrance ingredients commonly include synthetic chemicals that provide a distinctive aroma and that stabilize and prolong scents. Here are some common chemicals used in fragrances, and their associated health impacts. None of these are permitted in Green Seal Certified products:

• Phthalates, such as diethyl phthalate (DEP), are often used to help scents last longer. They are associated with endocrine disruption and other health issues
• Synthetic musks, like galaxolide and tonalide, provide products with a long-lasting scent. They are endocrine disruptors, which can affect human development, growth and metabolism
• Aldehydes are commonly used to produce fruity scents, but some, like Acetaldehyde, are known carcinogens
• Styrene is used to make fragrances last longer. It is a carcinogen, reproductive toxin, neurotoxin, and asthmagen

Fragrance blends may contain natural ingredients like essential oils, though these are often mixed with synthetic chemicals to enhance or stabilize the scent. Even on their own, many essential oils can be skin sensitizers that cause uncomfortable allergic reactions.

Overall, the complexity and lack of transparency around fragrance ingredients can pose a risk to consumers with chemical sensitivities by triggering symptoms such as headaches, respiratory issues, and skin irritation.

Where You’re Likely to Find Fragrance in Products

Fragrances are used across a wide range of consumer products. In personal care items, you can find fragrances in perfumes, colognes, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and deodorants, to name a few. These scents are designed to provide a pleasant sensory experience and are a significant factor in the appeal of these products.

Fragrances also are prevalent in household products including cleaners, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and air fresheners. Even products like trash bags and diapers can contain added fragrances to mask odors.

The pervasive use of fragrances in everyday items means that exposure to these chemicals is almost unavoidable.

How to Avoid Harmful Fragrance Chemicals

It is difficult to avoid fragrance altogether, but you can minimize your exposure to harmful fragrance chemicals by taking the following steps:

• Buy products from brands that prioritize transparency and disclose their fragrance ingredients.
• Look for Green Seal Certified products, which are formulated with safer ingredients.
• Look closely at “fragrance-free” marketing claims, as these claims are not regulated. Some of these products may contain essential oils or other fragrance ingredients.
• Be wary of items labeled as “unscented,” as they may still contain masking agents that neutralize odors without imparting a noticeable scent.

At Green Seal, we are committed to eliminating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the supply chain for consumer products. In our latest action to prevent any more harm from these toxic “forever chemicals,” we are proposing to prohibit any PFAS in Green Seal-certified paints and coatings, floor care products, adhesives, and degreasers.

Green Seal is among the first eco-certifiers to enact an aggressive ingredient prohibition that addresses PFAS as an entire chemical class. We define PFAS as a chemical with one or more fully fluorinated carbon atoms – the most expansive definition, encompassing more than 14,000 chemicals and mirroring the definition used by regulatory bodies in the European Union and several U.S. states.

This means both manufacturers and consumers can be confident that Green Seal-certified products are formulated without any PFAS.

The update to our criteria for these product categories follows a similar update to our criteria for cleaning and personal care products, which we finalized in 2022.

Fewer than 1% of 14,000-plus PFAS have completed hazard assessments to date, meaning it could be years before these chemicals are properly evaluated for the risks they pose. However, a growing body of scientific evidence points to the need to treat PFAS as a single class because of the known hazards of the chemicals studied so far. We are tracking the emerging science and taking a leadership position on PFAS because of the extraordinary risk they pose to human health and the environment.

The hazards of PFAS 

PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in consumer products since the 1950s. Manufacturers prize these chemicals because their carbon-fluorine bonds make them very stable and effective at repelling oil, water, and heat. However, this unique chemical structure also makes them resistant to degradation, meaning they persist in the environment as so-called “forever chemicals” and bioaccumulate in our bodies.

PFAS are now found in drinking water and in the blood of most people around the world. They are linked to numerous adverse health effects, including cancer, reproductive harm, and decreased immune response.

PFAS in building restoration products

PFAS frequently are used as functional ingredients in building restoration products.

A recent study found that half of tested paint products contain PFAS, which may be used for glossiness, to reduce peeling, or for stain resistance or water repellency.

Most acrylic and wax floor finishes on the market contain PFAS as leveling and wetting agents, and PFAS also are used to increase wettability in adhesives.

Several U.S. states have developed measures to restrict PFAS in consumer products. While many of these measures target PFAS in personal care products, Maine, Washington, and Oregon are scheduled to implement restrictions on PFAS in certain building restoration products in coming years.

Lend us your voice

We believe a collaborative approach leads to better outcomes for everyone. That’s why we follow an open and transparent process for developing our science-based criteria that includes seeking input from industry, health and environmental researchers and advocates, consumers, and the public.

We are accepting public comment through December 20, 2024, on our proposed criteria to prohibit PFAS in our standards for paints and coatings, adhesives, and degreasers.

Learn more and submit your comment here.

Formaldehyde is a chemical with widespread applications that exposes humans to significant health risks. Known for its preservative and disinfecting properties, formaldehyde (also known as HCHO) can be found in a variety of product types including paints, cleaners, personal care products, and cosmetics.

Formaldehyde is classified as a carcinogen, skin sensitizer, and mutagen. This common ingredient is among the many harmful chemicals we prohibit in Green Seal-certified products to ensure products meet a high standard for protecting people and the planet.

Here, we’ll explore how formaldehyde is used today, why you might find formaldehyde in shampoo and other everyday products, how to choose safer and more sustainable products, and other tips for reducing your exposure.

What is Formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is a compound with the chemical formula CH₂O. It’s a colorless, strong-smelling gas at room temperature that is naturally occurring in small amounts in the human body and environment. The chemical compound is low cost and highly reactive, making it useful in various household and industrial applications.

Formaldehyde is classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC) and can offgas from products that contain it as an ingredient, exposing humans to its known health effects. It also can be absorbed into the body when products containing formaldehyde are applied to or come into contact with skin. As a chemical, formaldehyde is a gas at room temperature, but formulators may incorporate it into products in various states of matter. For example, it can be mixed with water to form an aqueous solution, formalin. Similarly, paraformaldehyde (PFA) is a powder that consists of polymers of formaldehyde. Both formalin and PFA have notable disinfecting and preservative properties.

Common Uses for Formaldehyde Around the House 

Formaldehyde is used extensively in the textile industry, in building materials, and in household products. It is a key component in resins and is used in pressed wood products such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard. These materials can be found in furniture, cabinetry, flooring, adhesives, coatings, and insulation materials.

Formaldehyde commonly is included in personal care products in the form of formaldehyde-releasing ingredients. These preservatives are chemical compounds specifically designed to release formaldehyde into the product over time to help prevent microbial growth and extend a product’s shelf life. This is why you may find shampoos, conditioners, nail polishes, lotions, or cosmetics with formaldehyde. 

Formaldehyde can also be found in multi-purpose cleaners, sanitizing products, and restroom cleaners due to its known disinfecting properties and ability to act as an antimicrobial agent, germicide, and fungicide.

How Formaldehyde Affects Your Health 

Exposure to high levels of formaldehyde can cause several acute health effects, including respiratory issues, skin irritation, and allergic reactions. Long-term exposure to high levels of formaldehyde is also linked to an increased risk of cancer, particularly nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. 

Formaldehyde’s designation as a human carcinogen has prompted stricter regulations and guidelines for consumer products and occupational exposure. Despite these measures, low-level exposure remains common, putting the responsibility on consumers to understand potential sources. 

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Formaldehyde

Being mindful of the products you bring into your home and use on and around your body can help protect you. As a consumer, it can be challenging to avoid products containing formaldehyde because its use is often contained within formaldehyde-releasing ingredients such as quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, and imidazolidinyl urea. Choosing products with third-party certifications that prohibit the intentional addition of formaldehyde can provide assurance that the products are safer for human health and the environment.

By making informed choices and seeking safer alternatives, you can significantly reduce your exposure to formaldehyde. This proactive approach contributes to a healthier living environment and minimizes potential health risks associated with this pervasive chemical.

Excerpt from article published on sustainablebrands.com.

Consumers want to understand what is in the products they are buying. The 400+ ecolabels currently on the market can help; but sometimes they leave the consumer more confused about a product’s sustainability claims, as there is no common standard.

Global nonprofit Green Seal aims to reduce that confusion by offering a clear, trusted standard for sustainable products across industries. Through extensive research, Green Seal found that while consumers want products that are safe, non-toxic, cruelty-free, and evaluated for health and environmental impacts, they struggle to understand the meaning behind many certifications. To bridge that gap, Green Seal collaborated with leading consumer-packaged goods brands, retailers, and consumers to design a refreshed certification mark that is both recognizable and trusted.

With a plan to unveil the new certification mark at SB’24 San Diego in October, Green Seal aims to build trust, simplify purchasing decisions, and ultimately guide the industry toward more meaningful environmental and social impacts by focusing on clear communication and industry-wide standards.

We spoke with CEO Doug Gatlin to understand how Green Seal developed a certification mark that both simplifies decision-making for consumers and also sets a foundation for the industry to advance toward a healthier product future.

Today, on Earth Day, we are illuminating the comprehensive nature of this work in our 2024 Impact Report. The report breaks out our impacts into the core elements of a green product:

• Safer Chemicals: Green Seal-certified cleaning products protected 9.8 million students and teachers from toxic chemicals and asthma triggers in 2023.
• Responsible Sourcing: Green Seal-certified sanitary paper saves 11.7 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year due to recycled fiber sourcing, the equivalent of taking 2.8 million cars off the road.
• Manufacturing Sustainability: Green Seal-certified sanitary paper, made with 100% recycled fiber, reduces manufacturing water use by 30.5 million gallons each year.
• Sustainable Packaging: Green Seal-certified cleaning products save 192 million pounds of plastic each year.

From eliminating PFAS from the supply chain, to defining sustainable sanitary paper, to accelerating the transition to sustainable packaging, we are helping our customers stay ahead of the curve by raising the bar for products that are safer for people and the planet. Ultimately, this means that no matter which aisle people are shopping, our trusted certification mark helps them cut through the chaos to find products that meet truly comprehensive health and sustainability standards — from beginning to end.

In this report, we are proud to highlight how, together with you, we are accelerating the transition to greater safety and sustainability in our workplaces, our homes – and our collective home planet.

Green Seal-certified products became more valuable to federal purchasers this week when the Biden-Harris administration announced they must buy products that are free of PFAS and specified Green Seal-certified cleaning products and hand soaps.  

In 2022, we prohibited the entire class of more than 12,000 PFAS chemicals in our cleaning and personal care product standards, putting Green Seal-certified products in a strong leadership position on these toxic “forever chemicals.”  

In addition to aligning with this new federal mandate, Green Seal’s broad definition of PFAS aligns with emerging state regulations on PFAS, including in California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington, putting certified products ahead of the curve on ingredient bans. 

The federal government announcement is the most recent among hundreds of purchasing policies that use Green Seal as shorthand for proven-safer products. That’s because sustainability leaders know our science-based standards demand true leadership at every stage of the product lifecycle. Along with the manufacturers in the Green Seal community, we will continue to ensure the Green Seal certification mark helps buyers cut through the chaos to find products that meet truly comprehensive health and sustainability standards — from beginning to end.

The directive is in line with President Biden’s Federal Sustainability Plan, which orders federal agencies to “prioritize the purchase of sustainable products and services including products without added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS),” according to the joint announcement by U.S. EPA and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

This new requirement protects custodial workers, federal employees, and building occupants in 300,000-plus federal buildings across the country, leveraging the $650 billion annual purchasing power of the federal government for goods and services. It also highlights Green Seal’s commitment to taking a leadership position on addressing PFAS, a toxic class of chemicals that persists in the environment for hundreds of years and causes serious health and developmental impacts.

Green Seal’s 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.

Green Seal’s broad definition of PFAS also aligns with emerging state regulations on PFAS, including California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington, helping brands stay ahead of the curve on ingredient bans.

“Everyone deserves protection from the harmful effects of forever chemicals, including the workers who use cleaning products, federal employees, and those who visit government buildings every day,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in an EPA press release. “EPA has well recognized and established tools to help our partners in the federal government identify cleaning products that use safer ingredients and do not contain intentionally added PFAS to keep people safe and healthy.”

“As the largest single buyer of goods and services in the world, the federal government can play a big role in helping reduce PFAS through its purchasing,” GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said in the press release. “Changing the requirements in our contracts is a way to answer President Biden’s call for the federal government to lead by example in buying sustainable products and services.”

For detailed information on the Biden-Harris Administration’s federal purchasing update, visit https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-takes-action-cut-pfas-us-government-custodial-contracts.

Green Seal is recruiting qualified applicants to join a working group that will assist with a revision to our GS-1 Sanitary Paper Products standard. We are looking for individuals that can provide technical and market expertise and have specialized knowledge of the paper industry, solid waste and recycling, and carbon benefits of alternative fibers (e.g., bamboo). Learn more here. 

Reducing the Impacts of an Everyday Product

Sanitary paper products such as toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissues are essential items used at home and work each day. These products are typically used only once before being thrown or flushed away. Pulp used to make these products can come from several sources, including wood (virgin fiber), recycled content, and alternative fibers such as bamboo. The fiber composition of these products has a significant impact on their overall environmental footprint. For example, products made from virgin fiber can generate three times as many CO₂ emissions as products made from other types of pulp. 

Using recycled content in sanitary paper products results in lower greenhouse gas emissions because it eliminates the emissions associated with extracting and manufacturing virgin materials. Additionally, the collection and re-processing of recovered materials (paper products that have been diverted from waste streams) results in reduced carbon emissions across the product lifecycle. In particular, recovered materials have reduced carbon footprints because they preserve forests — which serve as carbon sinks — and divert materials from landfills where discarded products emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas. 

The market for recycled fiber has undergone dramatic changes in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and impacts of the China Sword policy.  Due to these changes, Green Seal is evaluating possible revisions to the sustainability criteria in its GS-1 Standard for Sanitary Paper Products — including the highly stringent recycled fiber requirements — to ensure they align with market needs as well as new sustainability opportunities for the product category. Through this revision, Green Seal will also explore the potential for certification pathways for sustainably sourced alternative fibers (e.g., bamboo) and will assess whether different leadership criteria are needed for the household market versus the away-from-home market.

Green Seal’s Sanitary Paper Product Standard Revision

Green Seal’s reputation for credibility and market impact rests on an open and transparent process for developing our science-based criteria, following international best practices. Green Seal is actively working with stakeholders to develop draft criteria for public comment.

This revision will include the following:

• Evaluating the standard’s recycled content requirements based on the landscape of the recycled fiber market
• Exploring potential certification pathways for sustainably sourced alternative fibers, such as bamboo
• Evaluating leadership criteria for both the household and the away-from-home markets

Call for Working Group Applicants  

Green Seal is actively recruiting participants to serve on our Working Group for this sanitary paper products revision. Working Group members are volunteers from leading companies, nonprofit organizations, and independent subject matter experts, including paper manufacturers, experts in solid waste and recycling, and green procurement professionals. The participation and input of these stakeholders is critical to achieving a strong outcome: a meaningful, feasible environmental leadership standard. Working Group members serve as technical and market advisors throughout the standard development process, and program implementation and evolution.

Working Group members must meet all member requirements and agree to the principles in Green Seal’s Policies and Procedures for Working Group Members.

Green Seal is especially interested in Working Group members who have expertise in the following areas:

• Paper manufacturing
• Solid waste and recycling
• Carbon benefits of alternative fibers (e.g., bamboo)

Submission Instructions: Fill out the interest form.

Deadline for Application: Interested applicants should apply by September 29, 2023.

Timeline for Participation: October 2023 through March 2024. No travel will be required.

The report highlights the impacts of Green Seal’s programs; key partnerships with organizations including Amazon, Wayfair, the U.S. Green Building Council, ISEAL, Health Product Declaration Collaborative, and others; and the environmental savings achieved by products that bear the Green Seal mark. 

Green Seal exists to empower organizations and people to effect large-scale, transformative change simply through their purchasing choices.  That’s why the report focuses on impacts achieved by Green Seal-certified products, their producers, and their users, including: 

• Ensuring Clean Water: Green Seal-certified sanitary paper products saved 12.4 billion gallons of water in 2022 
• Minimizing Waste: Green Seal-certified cleaning products save 1.7 billion industry-grade 1-liter plastic bottles each year 
• Preserving the Climate: Green Seal-certified sanitary paper saved 12.5 million tons of CO2 emissions annually due to 100% recycled content 
• Protecting Human Health: Green Seal-certified cleaning products protected 9.6 million students and teachers from toxic chemicals and asthma triggers in 2022 

The 2023 Impact Report also highlights Green Seal’s new initiatives — including a sustainable packaging recognition program and leadership-level prohibitions on PFAS in certified products — and features case studies of companies that adhere to Green Seal’s strict science-based standard criteria and demonstrate significant leadership. 

If Green Seal’s market transformation model proves anything, it’s that collective action drives impact. In this year’s report, we highlight how, together with you, we are accelerating the transition to safer and more sustainable products and spaces. 

ISEAL is the leading global membership organization that supports ambitious sustainability systems to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges, drive impact, and establish markets as a force for good. The organization works to define credible practices; encourage shared experiences and collective action; deliver expertise and training; and facilitate innovations to strengthen sustainability systems by creating effective and scalable solutions. ISEAL’s members are transparent and truthful about their operating practices and impact reporting methods, and are committed to both improving their systems and achieving measurable, positive impacts. 

ISEAL’s rigorous standards align with Green Seal’s long-held values about governance, transparency, and credibility. As one of the original ecolabels in the marketplace, Green Seal has long been a leader in establishing and abiding by best practices for standard development and eco-certification. Green Seal already is a founding member of the Global Ecolabelling Network, the internationally recognized network of credible ecolabelling organizations, making us the first organization to belong to both the Global Ecolabelling Network and ISEAL. 

Green Seal is committed to holding ourselves to the highest standard. Achieving and maintaining ISEAL community membership pushes us to reach new levels of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement to accomplish our mission of transforming the economy for a healthier, greener world. With the support of the ISEAL community, we look forward to serving you in ever more useful and effective ways.  

Learn more about what it takes to become an ISEAL Community Member here.