WASHINGTON (Nov. 1, 2022) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced 26 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners across 14 states and the District of Columbia, recognizing their achievements in the design, manufacture, selection, and use of products with safer chemicals.

 

The Safer Choice program helps consumers and purchasers for facilities, such as schools and office buildings, find products containing chemical ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment.

 

“Cleaning and other products made with safer chemicals – like those certified by the Safer Choice program - help protect workers, families, communities, and the planet,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention Jennie Romer. “This year, we’re pleased to recognize a variety of organizations for their support of safer chemistry and sustainability, including organizations that have worked to make these products more affordable and accessible to all, advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to equity and environmental justice.”

 

This year’s awardees represent a wide variety of organizations, including small- and medium-sized businesses, women-owned companies, state and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and trade associations. This year’s winners have all shown a commitment to preventing pollution by reducing, eliminating, or stopping pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal.

 

Applicants for this year’s awards were encouraged to show how their work advances environmental justice, bolsters resilience to the impacts of climate change, results in cleaner air or water, or improves drinking water quality. Many of the organizations being recognized today are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat the climate crisis. For example, several winners offer products with concentrated formulas which reduces water consumption and plastic use. This practice also lowers greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the amount of product that must be transported.

 

Additionally, many awardees increased access to products with safer chemical ingredients in underserved and overburdened communities. For example, one nonprofit winner conducted targeted outreach in both English and Spanish to promote safer cleaning techniques and products, including Safer Choice-certified products, in food trucks. Many of these businesses are owned and operated by immigrant entrepreneurs. Another winner made its Safer Choice-certified product line more accessible to lower income shoppers by offering affordable prices and making these products available at retailers that often serve low-income communities.

 

In early 2023, EPA will build on this work by announcing a grant opportunity for projects that can increase supply and demand for safer, environmentally preferable products such as those certified by the Safer Choice program or identified by EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program.

 

A list of the 2022 Partner of the Year award winners can be found below. Learn more about the 2022 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners and summaries of their accomplishments.

 

List of Winners

 

American Cleaning Institute, District of Columbia

 

The Ashkin Group, LLC, Channel Islands Harbor, Calif.

 

Bona US, Englewood, Colo.

 

Case Medical, Bloomfield, N.J.

 

Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Ewing, N.J.

 

Clean Safety & Health in Food Trucks (CleanSHiFT) Team, Seattle, Wash.

 

The Clorox Company, Oakland, Calif.

 

Colgate-Palmolive, New York, N.Y.

 

Design for the Environment Logo Redesign Coalition: Environmental Defense Fund, The Natural Resources Defense Council, The Clorox Company, The Procter & Gamble Company, and Reckitt

 

Dirty Labs Inc., Portland, Ore.

 

ECOS, Cypress, Calif.

 

Grove Collaborative, San Francisco, Calif.

 

The Hazardous Waste Management Program, Seattle, Wash.

 

Holloway House, Inc., Fortville, Ind.

 

The Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga.

 

Household & Commercial Products Association, District of Columbia

 

Jelmar, LLC, Skokie, Ill.

 

Lemi Shine, Austin, Texas

 

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, San Francisco, Calif.

 

Mother Africa, Kent, Wash.

 

Novozymes North America, Raleigh, N.C.

 

The ODP Corporation, Boca Raton, Fla.

 

The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio

 

PurposeBuilt Brands, Gurnee, Ill.

 

Sensitive Home, Greenbrae, Calif.

 

Solutex, Sterling, Va.