CCD-146: Hardsurface Cleaners

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

Hardsurface cleaning products are used to remove both organic and inorganic soils from a variety of hard surfaces including plastic, glass, ceramic, metal, porcelain, rubber, leather, wood and stone. Currently EcoLogo^TM certifies the following types of hardsurface cleaners: bathroom cleaners, boat and bilge cleaners, cooking appliance cleaners, degreasers, dish cleaners, industrial cleaners, vehicles cleaners for household and institutional use, window and glass cleaners, and cleaning products with low potential for environmental illness.

Because the composition of these products can be very complex, they may have numerous impacts on human health and the environment. Examples of these effects include releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other air pollutants, contributing to toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems, depleting material resources and generating waste.

The EcoLogo Program addresses these challenges by establishing strict requirements for toxicity, biodegradability and bioaccumulation, prohibited and restricted compounds, physical properties and packaging. The net environmental benefits will be reduced smog formation and stratospheric ozone depletion, diminished human health impacts, less eutrophication and toxicity in aquatic media, and decreased generation of wastes sent for landfilling.

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, hardsurface cleaners must:

• Be effective;
• Not labelled as a combination cleaner/disinfectant;
• Be safe to use (not classified as harmful or irritant, have a pH between 3 and 11, have a flash point above 61°C, have a maximum temperature usage less than 17°C below flash point, and include detailed instructions for proper use and disposal);
• Not be formulated with:

• propellants,
• aromatic or halogenated solvents,
• glycol ethers or their acetates,
• alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactants (APEOS),
• builders that use phosphates, ethylene diaminetetracetic acid, ethylene dinitrilotetracetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, or the salts of these compounds,
• chemicals classified as carcinogenic or endocrine disruptors,
• toxic metals, including but not limited to arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, silver and mercury,
• compounds added with the sole purpose of changing the scent of the product, and
• organic ingredients that are bioaccumulating;

• Not be in a disposable wipe format;
• Not contain more than 1% by weight of volatile organic compounds as used (after dilution if applicable), or more than 12% by weight if sold in concentrated form;
• Contain only food grade dyes, and no more than 0.1 % by weight of the total undiluted formulation, if dyes are used;
• Have low aquatic toxicity (IC₅₀ greater than 1,000 mg/l for fish, algae and microorganisms); and
• Be readily biodegradable under aerobic aquatic conditions.

Additional or slightly different requirements exist for each type of hardsurface cleaner.

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, bathroom cleaners additionally must:

• Not damage polymer-based panels or window treatments;
• Be accompanied by detailed instructions recommending application with reusable tools;
• Not be formulated with ammonia or any ammonium compounds;
• Not contain more than 3% by weight of VOCs as used or more than 25% by weight if sold in concentrated form; and
• Have low toxicity by ingestion (LD₅₀ greater than 10,000 mg/kg for rat), and low aquatic toxicity (IC₅₀ greater than 1,000 mg/l fish, algae and microorganisms).

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo,  boat and bilge cleaners additionally must:

• Have a pH between 2 and 12.5; and
• Have low aquatic toxicity (IC₅₀ greater than 2,000 mg/l for fish, algae and microorganisms).
• To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, cooking appliance cleaners additionally must:
• Not be classified as corrosive, if sold to domestic consumers;
• Have a pH lower than 12;
• Contain only food grade rheology modifiers (thickeners), if any are used; and
• Have low toxicity by ingestion (LD₅₀ greater than 4,000 mg/kg for rat).
• To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, degreasers additionally must:
• Have a pH no greater than 12.5;
• Not affect adversely the effectiveness of biologically-based drain cleaners, if advertised for use in drains; and
• Not contain more than 3% by weight of volatile organic compounds as used or more than 25% by weight if sold in concentrated form.

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, dish cleaners additionally must:

• Not be labelled as “antibacterial”;
• Not be classified as corrosive if sold to individual consumers for domestic use;
• Have a pH between 2 and 12;
• Not be formulated with chlorinated compounds or antimicrobial compounds (e.g. quaternary ammonium compounds, iodine);
• Not contain more than 25% by weight of volatile organic compounds as sold;
• Not be formulated with dyes, if designed for use in automatic dishwashers; and
• If formulated with enzymes, be free of parent microorganisms, be in compliance with New Substances Notification Regulations as per CEPA, and be derived only from ATCC Biosafety Level 1 bacterial cultures.

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, industrial cleaners additionally must:

• Be clearly identified as a product not intended for domestic or institutional use;
• Have a pH between 2 and 12.5; and
• Not contain more than 5% by weight of volatile organic compounds as used or more than 25% by weight if sold in concentrated form.

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, vehicle cleaners for household and institutional use additionally must:

• Not contain more than 1% by weight of volatile organic compounds as used or more than 12% by weight if sold in concentrated form.

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, window and glass cleaners additionally must:

• Be accompanied by detailed instructions recommending application with reusable tools;
• Not be formulated with ammonia or any ammonium compounds;
• Not contain more than 3% by weight of VOCs as used or more than 25% by weight if sold in concentrated form; and
• Have low toxicity by ingestion (LD₅₀ greater than 10,000 mg/kg for rat.

To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, cleaning products with low potential for environmental illness and endocrine disruption additionally must:

• Not be formulated with ethylene oxide or its derivatives;
• Not contain more than 0.05% by weight of volatile organic compounds;
• Have low toxicity by ingestion (LD₅₀ greater than 5,000 mg/kg for mammals);
• Have low aquatic toxicity (IC₅₀ greater than 4,000 mg/l for fish, 2,000 mg/l for algae and 1000 mg/l for microorganisms);
• Demonstrate minimal potential for release of endocrine-disrupting by-products during biodegradation tests;
• Demonstrate low potential for skin irritation; and
• Be listed with a recognized environmental health organization as a product not harmful to people prone to environmental illness.