LINCOLNWOOD, Ill. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the worldwide cleaning industry association ISSA and more than 30 of its member companies as environmental leaders under the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program’s Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) at a formal ceremony held Nov. 19 in Washington, D.C.
The SDSI recognizes environmental leaders that voluntarily commit to or otherwise promote the use of safer surfactants. Surfactants are one of the most common ingredients used in cleaning-product formulations. “Safer” surfactants break down quickly to nonpolluting compounds and help protect aquatic life in both fresh and salt water.
“This type of positive recognition from the EPA speaks highly of the cleaning industry and ISSA-member companies in particular as environmentally progressive,” said ISSA Director of Legislative Affairs Bill Balek. Balek noted that out of the approximately 50 companies recognized under the SDSI, the vast majority were ISSA members.
The SDSI has two categories of recognition: Champion and Partner. ISSA was recognized as a Champion, the highest level of recognition offered under the SDSI. ISSA formulator members recognized as Champions have demonstrated the use of only safer surfactants in products as well as documented a strategy for ensuring that only such ingredients are used.
ISSA members recognized as Partners under the initiative have committed to using only safer surfactants in their product formulations by a definite date as well as documented a strategy that ensures they fulfill that commitment.
ISSA congratulates all of its member companies recognized as Champions and Partners by the SDSI; they are listed below:
ISSA-Member SDSI Champions
- Auto-Chlor System
- Bissell Professional
- Chemco Corp.
- ChemLink Laboratories
- Clean Control Corp.
- Corporate Express, a Staples Co.
- Earth Friendly Products
- Eco Concepts
- Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
- JohnsonDiversey
- Multi-Clean
- PDQ Manufacturing
- Procter & Gamble Professional
- Reckitt Benckiser Professional
- Spurrier Chemical Cos.
- State Chemical
- Sysco Corp.
- The Dial Corp., a Henkel Co.
- U.S. Formula Technology
- Vaska
ISSA-Member SDSI Partners
- Athea Laboratories
- Canberra Corp.
- Clorox Professional Products
- Daley International
- Gent-L-Kleen Products
- Hillyard
- Host/Racine Industries
- Momar
- Mt. Hood Solutions
- National Chemical Laboratories
- Nilodor
- Rochester Midland Corp.
- 3M (Building and Commercial Services Division)
A complete list of companies honored by the EPA under the SDSI is available online.