CCD-104: Hand Cleaners - Industrial & Institutional

*Please note: there is an interpretation associated with this standard. It is available for viewing at the end of the PDF document

Hand cleaners are used to remove organic and inorganic soils from skin. They may contain irritating substances, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), non-biodegradable surfactants, chelating compounds and toxic chemicals. These, in turn, may lead to impacts on human health, generation of ground level ozone and photochemical smog, algal blooms, and increased fish mortality in aquatic ecosystems.

The EcoLogo^M Program addresses these challenges by establishing strict limits toxicity, biodegradability, VOC levels. The net environmental benefit will be a reduction in human health impact, less potential for smog formation, and diminished aquatic toxicity.

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo^M, hand cleaners must:

• Comply with all safety and performance standards;
• Not be labelled as antibacterial, disinfectant or antiseptic;
• Not be a skin sensitizer or irritant;
• Not be formulated with:
  • alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactants (APEOs),
  • halogenated solvents, or butoxy-ethanol,
  • builders that use phosphates, ethylene diaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) or nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and
  • chemicals classified as carcinogenic;
• Not contain more than 1% by weight of volatile organic compounds if labelled as an Institutional Hand Cleaner, or more than 8% if labelled as an Industrial Hand Cleaner;
• Contain only food grade dyes, if any are used;
• Use only fragrances manufactured under the Code of Practice of the International Fragrance Association, if any are used;
• Have low aquatic toxicity (IC₅₀ greater than 1,000 mg/l for microorganisms); and
• Be readily biodegradable.