GS-48

Laundry Care Products for Household Use

Our standard specifies performance requirements and environmental and health requirements for household laundry care products, such as concentration, reduced toxicity, biodegradability, and reduced and recyclable packaging. The standard covers the following products labeled for household use:

laundry detergent products
stain and spot removers
bleaches and fabric softeners
anti-static and anti-wrinkle products
fabric refreshers and prewash products
laundry starch/sizing/fabric finish
combination products that may serve several of these functions

Get Certified

Latest version: Edition 1.7, June 23, 2022

Recent Changes: GS-48 underwent corrections and/or clarifications and was re-published on October 25, 2024. For details on the non-substantive changes made to this standard, please see the Standard Documents Library.

Find Products

Full Standard

Download The Standard

GREEN SEAL®

Green Seal is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to use science-based programs to empower consumers, purchasers, and companies to create a more sustainable world. Green Seal sets leadership standards that aim to reduce, to the extent technologically and economically feasible, the environmental, health, and social impacts throughout the lifecycle of products, services, and companies. The standards may be used for conformity assessment, purchaser specifications, and public education.

Green Seal offers certification of products, services, and companies in conformance with its standards. For additional information on Green Seal and contact information, visit greenseal.org.

FOREWORD

Edition. Edition 1.7 was issued on June 23, 2022. It replaces Edition 1.6 from November 11, 2021. Corrections and/or clarifications were last made on August 23, 2024. Information on changes made to this standard can be found on Green Seal’s website.¹

General. The final issued standard was developed in an open and transparent process with stakeholder input that included producers, users, and general interests.

The requirements in the standard are based on an assessment of the environmental, health, or social impacts associated with the products, services, or organizations covered in the scope of the standard. These requirements are subject to revision, and generally cover aspects above and beyond regulatory compliance. This standard neither modifies nor supersedes laws and regulations. Any conformity assessment to this standard requires compliance with all applicable laws and regulations for the manufacturing and marketing of the products.

Provisions for safety have not been included in this standard, since they are supervised by regulatory agencies. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property should be employed for all stages of production, and for all tests that involve safety considerations.

Products, services, or organizations that are substantially similar to those covered by this standard in terms of function and life cycle considerations may be evaluated against the intent of the requirements of this standard, accounting for relevant differences between the intended scope of the Standard and the actual product, service, or organization to be evaluated.

This standard may not anticipate a feature of the product that may significantly, and undesirably, increase its impact on the environment, health, or society. In such a situation, Green Seal will ordinarily amend a standard to account for the unanticipated environmental, health, or societal impacts.

Normative references (e.g., other standards) in this standard intend to refer to the most recent edition of the normative reference. Test methods may be required for product evaluation. Unless explicitly stated that a specified method is the only acceptable one, the intent of the standard is that an equivalent test method may be accepted at Green Seal’s sole discretion.

Certification to this standard shall be awarded only by Green Seal, or, with Green Seal’s explicit written permission, by a third-party certification program conducting on-site audits.

Disclaimer of Liability. Green Seal, as the developer of this standard, shall not incur any obligations or liability for any loss or damages, including, without limitation, indirect, consequential, special, or incidental damages, arising out of or in connection with the interpretation or adoption of, reliance upon, or any other use of this Standard by any party. Green Seal makes no express or implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, nor any other express or implied warranty with respect to this Standard.

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

AATCC. American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists.
ACGIH. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
AISE. Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products.
AOEC. Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics.
ASTM. ASTM International.
BCF. Bioconcentration Factor.
BOD. Biochemical Oxygen Demand.
BTU. British Thermal Unit.
CARB. Air Resources Board for the State of California.
CAS. Chemical Abstracts Service.
CFR. Code of Federal Regulations.
CFU. Colony Forming Unit.
DFG. German Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
DOC. Dissolved Organic Carbon.
EN. European Standard.
EPA. United States Environmental Protection Agency.
FDA. United States Food and Drug Administration.
FIFRA. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
GHS. Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.
GMM. Genetically Modified Microorganism.
HCPA. Household & Commercial Products Association
IFRA. International Fragrance Association.
INCI. International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients.
ISO. International Organization for Standardization.
IUPAC. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
JECFA. Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.
NOP. National Organic Program.
OECD. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
PMRA. Health Canada’s Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency.
SOP. Standard Operating Procedure.
TG. Test Guidance.
ThOD. Theoretical Oxygen Demand.
USDA. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
VOC. Volatile Organic Compound.
WHO. World Health Organization.

1.0 SCOPE

This standard establishes environmental, health, and social requirements for products that are used to clean, remove stains, and/or otherwise treat the softness, static, or wrinkle characteristics of laundry. This standard covers and is limited to products designed for household use, including laundry detergent products, fine washable laundry detergent products (for delicates), stain and spot removing products (pre-treatment and stand-alone), laundry additives (bleaching and softening products), fabric softener (liquids and sheets), anti-static products (liquid and sheets), fabric refresher products, anti-wrinkle products, laundry prewash products, laundry starch/sizing/fabric finish products, and combination products that may serve several of these functions. This standard includes products used in home health care, which may include antimicrobial pesticide products (e.g., products covered by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)). This standard does not include products that contain enzymes and are sold in, or designed for use in, spray packaging. This standard includes fabric protectant products but does not address impregnating products with flame retardant or waterproofing properties. This standard does not address carpet or upholstery cleaning and maintenance products or footwear or leather care products. See Appendix 1 for an example list of products included in this standard.

Due to the large number of possible cleaning products, processes, soil types, and cleaning requirements, the compatibility of the products with materials is not specifically addressed in this standard. Product users should follow the manufacturer’s instructions on compatibility.

Where there is more than one criterion that applies, the more stringent criterion applies.

Words and phrases described in the standard that appear in italics have corresponding definitions located in the definitions section of the standard, Annex A.

Criteria that include an asterisk (*) in the title are considered foundational criteria.²

2.0 SAFER CHEMICALS

2.1 Safer Ingredients

2.1.1 *Antimicrobial Agents. Except for antimicrobial pesticide products, the use of antimicrobial agents is permitted only for the preservation or stabilization of the product.

2.1.2 *Aquatic Biodegradability. Each of the individual organic components present at 0.01% or more in the product as used shall exhibit ready biodegradability in accordance with the OECD definition, except for polymers. Biodegradability shall be measured according to any of the following methods: ISO 7827, 9439, 10707, 10708, 9408, 14593; OECD Methods 301A – F; or OECD 310. Specifically, within a 28-day test, the organic component shall meet one of the following criteria within 10 days of the time when biodegradation first reaches 10%:

Removal of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) > 70%
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) > 60%
BOD, as % of Theoretical Oxygen Demand (ThOD) > 60%
CO2 evolution, as % of theoretical CO2 > 60%

Per OECD guidance the 10-day window requirement does not apply to structurally related surfactant homologues.

Alternative Evaluation Options: Substances that Do Not Exhibit Ready Biodegradability.

For organic components at 0.01% in the product as used that do not exhibit ready biodegradability, one of the following options may be acceptable:

The manufacturer may demonstrate biodegradability in sewage treatment plants using the Coupled Units Test found in OECD 303A by demonstrating DOC removal > 90%.
The manufacturer may demonstrate that the compound has low aquatic toxicity (acute LC50 ≥ 100 mg/L for algae, daphnia, or fish) and exhibits inherent ultimate biodegradability with biodegradation rates above 70% (measured as BOD, DOC, or COD), per ISO test methods 9887 or 9888 or OECD 302A-C.

Note: Testing is not required for any organic component present at 0.01% or more in the product as used for which sufficient information exists concerning its biodegradability, either in peer-reviewed literature or databases. In the absence of experimental data, Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship data from EPA’s BioWin (EpiSuite) models may be considered.

2.1.3 *Asthmagens. The undiluted product shall not contain any components present at 0.01% or more that have been identified as asthmagens. Refer to Annex C, Requirement D for potential exemptions for enzymes.

2.1.4 *Bioaccumulating Compounds. The product as used shall not contain any components present at 0.01% or more that bioaccumulate. A chemical is considered to bioaccumulate when it has a bioconcentration factor (BCF) ≥ 500 (or log Kow ≥4). The preferred source of data is from OECD TG 305 (for BCF). If the chemical meets the requirement for biodegradability, 3.14 herein, it may be considered to not bioaccumulate.

2.1.5 *Carcinogens and Reproductive Toxins. The undiluted product shall not contain any components that are carcinogens or reproductive toxins. The undiluted product shall not contain any components at 0.01% or more that, according to published uses,³ are typically added for the purpose of releasing substances into a raw material or the final product, if those substances are carcinogens.

Note: Refer to Annex C for the exemption of titanium dioxide in products that contain enzymes.

2.1.6 Colorants. Each colorant shall meet one of the following:

Be certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and permitted for ingestion
Be a natural component
Not have any of the following heavy metals intentionally added: arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, hexavalent chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, and selenium

2.1.7 *Combustibility. The undiluted product shall not be combustible. The product or 99% by volume of the product components present at 0.01% or more in the undiluted product shall have a flashpoint above 150°F (65.5°C), as tested using either the Cleveland Open Cup Tester (ASTM D92-05a), the Abel Closed-Cup method (ISO 13736), or the Pensky-Martens Closed-Cup method (ISO 2719). Alternatively, the product shall not sustain a flame when tested using ASTM D4206 Standard Test Method for Sustained Burning of Liquid Mixtures Using the Small Scale Open-Cup Apparatus.

2.1.8 *Endocrine Disruptors. The undiluted product shall not contain any components that are on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) List of Chemicals for Tier 1 Screening that have been shown to disrupt hormones (e.g., have estrogen- or androgen-mediated effects), tested according to the EPA Series 890 – Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program Test Guidelines.

2.1.9 *Formula Disclosure for Certification. For certification to this standard, all of the formula components shall be disclosed to the certification program, including the chemical name, the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number, and the levels (% by weight) of each component in the formula.

2.1.10 *Fragrances. All fragrances used shall be produced and handled following the code of practice of the International Fragrance Association (IFRA).

2.1.11 *Mutagens and Neurotoxins/Systemic Toxins. The undiluted product shall not contain any components that have been identified as mutagens or neurotoxins/systemic toxins.

2.1.12 Optical Brighteners. The undiluted product shall not contain any components present at 0.01% or more that are optical brighteners.

2.1.13 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). The undiluted product shall not contain any components that are Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

2.1.14 *Products Containing Enzymes. Products that contain enzymes shall meet all Annex C criteria.

2.1.15 *Products Containing Microorganisms. Products that contain microorganisms shall meet all Annex D criteria.

2.1.16 Prohibited Components. The undiluted product shall not contain the following components:

2-butoxyethanol
Alkylphenol ethoxylates
Halogenated organic solvents
The heavy metals lead, hexavalent chromium, or selenium; either in the elemental form or compounds
Nitro-musks
o-Phenylphenol
Ozone-depleting compounds
Phthalates
Polycyclic musks
Toxic Release Inventory Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals
Triclosan

2.1.17 *Respiratory Sensitization. The undiluted product shall not contain any components present at 0.01% or more that have been identified as respiratory sensitizers. Refer to Annex C, Requirement D for potential exemptions for enzymes.

2.1.18 *Skin Absorption. The undiluted product shall not contain components present at 1% or more in the product that are listed on the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit value list carrying a skin notation, or substances that are listed on the German Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) maximum allowable concentrations list with a skin absorption H notation. Further, the product shall not contain components present at 0.01% or more in the undiluted product that sum to 1% in the formula that are listed on ACGIH or DFG with the same target organ.

2.1.19 *Skin and Eye Damage. The undiluted product shall not cause skin corrosion or cause serious eye damage. For purposes of demonstrating compliance with this requirement, data may be evaluated for each of the product’s components present at 0.01% or more in the undiluted product. If these components, at their concentrations in the undiluted product, are not shown to cause skin corrosion or serious eye damage, then the product will not be considered to cause skin corrosion or serious eye damage. Results of peer-reviewed studies or standard in vitro or in vivo test methods may also be accepted. Testing is not required for any component for which sufficient information exists.

Further, a product is considered to cause skin corrosion or to cause serious eye damage if it has a pH less than or equal to 2.0 or greater than or equal to 11.5, unless data prove otherwise.

Note: Refer to Annex B for potential alternate thresholds for powder/solid/non-aqueous liquid products.

2.1.20 *Skin Sensitization. The undiluted product shall not be a skin sensitizer. For purposes of demonstrating compliance with this requirement, data may be evaluated for each of the product’s components present at 0.01% or more in the undiluted product. If these components, at their concentrations in the undiluted product, are not shown to be skin sensitizers, then the product will not be considered to be a skin sensitizer.

2.2 Safer Products

2.2.1 *Acute Toxicity. The undiluted product shall not be toxic to humans. A product is considered toxic if any of the following criteria apply:⁴ ⁵

Oral lethal dose (LD50) < 5,000 mg/kg
Inhalation lethal concentration (LC50) < 20,000 ppmV at 1 hour
Dermal lethal dose (LD50) < 2,000 mg/kg

For purposes of demonstrating compliance with this requirement, existing acute toxicity data for each of the product’s components present at 0.01% or more in the undiluted product may be used. These data are used to calculate a weighted average that assumes that the toxicity of the individual components is additive. The toxicity values are adjusted by the weight of the components in the product and summed using the following formula:

Where,

TP = toxicity of the product
wt_i = the weight fraction of the component
TV = the toxicity value for each component (LD50)
n = number of components

Inhalation toxicity shall be determined from all components present at 0.01% or more in the undiluted product, when the component has a vapor pressure greater than 1 mm Hg at 1 atm pressure and 20°C.

Refer to Annex B for potential alternate thresholds for powder/solid/non-aqueous liquid products.

2.2.2 *Eutrophication. The undiluted product shall not contain phosphorus at more than 0.5% by weight.

2.2.3 *Toxicity to Aquatic Life. The product as used shall not be toxic to aquatic life. A product is considered not toxic to aquatic life if the lowest available and most representative acute LC50 data for fish, daphnia, or algae is greater than or equal to 100 mg/L. For purposes of demonstrating compliance with this requirement, data for each of the product’s components present at 0.01% or more in the product as used may be used to calculate a weighted average (as in section 2.2.1).

The preferred sources of data come from the following protocols: International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7346-2 for fish, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Test Guidance (TG) 203 for fish, OECD TG 202 for daphnia, and OECD TG 201 for algae.

2.2.4 *Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Content. The VOC content of the product as used shall not exceed the current regulatory limits of the Air Resources Board for the State of California (CARB) for VOCs in its product category. For product categories not regulated by CARB, the following limitations on VOC level (by weight) shall not be exceeded:

Laundry detergent products: 4%
Bleaching products, not sold as laundry detergent products: 8%
Softening products: 4%
Other products: 1%

The VOC content shall be determined in one of the following ways:

By summing the percent by weight contribution from all organic components present in the product at 0.01% or more that have a vapor pressure of greater than 0.1 mm mercury at 1 atm pressure and 20º C.
According to the California Air Resources Board Method 310 (or equivalent), modified to include all fragrances and all organic components present in the product at 0.01% or more.⁶

Current CARB regulatory limits for VOCs.⁷

Product Category	Effective Date	Limit (%)
Laundry Prewash Aerosol/solid	1/1/1994	22

Product Category	Effective Date	Limit (%)
Laundry Prewash All other forms	1/1/1994	5
Laundry Starch/Sizing/Fabric Finish Product	1/31/2008	4.5

2.2.5 *Animal Testing. To avoid new animal testing, previous test results will be accepted as evidence of meeting a criterion. When existing data are not available, the preferred methods for new testing include methods that replace, reduce, or refine animal use, particularly those recommended by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods or the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods, unless indicated otherwise. In addition, other non-animal (in-vitro) test results, modeling data, data from structural analogs, and other lines of evidence may be accepted, provided that the methods are peer-reviewed and applicable. Specific in vitro or modeling methods may be noted in the standard, but additional options may be accepted by the certification program.

Further, a mixture need not be tested if existing information demonstrates that each of the applicable components complies with the criterion.

3.0 RESPONSIBLE SOURCING

**3.1 *Disposable Wipes.**

Products that are sold in a ready-to-use format may contain disposable wipes/towelettes/sheets or other disposable, single-use materials if they are made from agricultural products, wood pulp, and other cellulosic materials. An exception shall be made for reusable wipes/towelettes/sheets that are intended to be used multiple times (e.g., three or more uses).

4.0 LOW-IMPACT MANUFACTURING

Documentation shall be provided that the production of the product meets the following social responsibility requirements:

4.1.1 Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. Workers shall have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and their right to bargain collectively shall be recognized and respected. An exception shall be made for inmate workers.

4.1.2 Freedom of Labor. There shall not be forced or bonded labor or use of child labor.

4.1.3 Freedom from Discrimination. There shall not be discrimination in terms of race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership, political opinion, national extraction, or social origin such that it affects the opportunity or treatment in employment. There shall be no support or tolerance of corporal punishment, physical or verbal coercion, sexual or other harassment, intimidation, or exploitation.

4.1.4 Occupational Health and Safety. A safe and hygienic workplace environment shall be provided with access to potable water. Adequate steps shall be taken to minimize the hazards of the workplace and workers shall receive health and safety training to prevent accidents and injury.

4.1.5 Conditions of Employment. Workers shall work under fair conditions of employment. Wages, working hours and overtime shall meet at a minimum the national legal or industry benchmark standard and regular employment shall be provided.

5.0 SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING

5.1 Packaging Materials

5.1.1 Primary Package. The primary package shall be one of the following:

A source-reduced primary package
Recyclable
Contain 25% post-consumer material
A refillable package with an effective take-back program
An alternative approach that has been independently proven to have a similar life cycle benefit to at least two of the above approaches for a substantial majority of communities may be acceptable

5.1.2 Secondary package. Secondary packaging shall only be used for concentrates. An exception shall be made for packaging of multiple units when at least one of the units is a ready-to-use form, including but not limited to spray-dispenser bottles, and when total packaging (primary plus secondary) is a reduction in overall packaging material use.

5.1.3 *Concentrated Product Packaging. Concentrates are prohibited from being packaged in spray-dispenser bottles, disposable wipes, or other ready-to-use primary package types.

5.1.4 Aerosol Packaging. Aerosol packaging shall meet the following:

Aerosol packaging propellant shall meet all of the product-specific sustainability requirements in section 3.0 herein and shall not be a hazardous air pollutant
Manufacturers shall demonstrate that recycling programs for aerosol packaging are available to a substantial majority of communities where the product is sold
Manufacturers shall provide documentation establishing why aerosol packaging is necessary for a given product addressing environmental, health, and performance considerations
Aerosol packaging propellant shall meet all of the product-specific sustainability requirements in section 2.0 herein and shall not be a hazardous air pollutant
For Section 2.2.1 Acute Toxicity herein, aerosol packaging components will be evaluated regardless of vapor pressure level
The product contents from the nozzle to the point-of-delivery shall be in a form that does not contain any inhalable or respirable particles, such as but not limited to foams. If the product contents are delivered in particle form, the particles between 10-2.5 microns shall not comprise more than 1% of the total particles and no particles shall be below 2.5 microns.

5.2 Packaging Label

5.2.1 *Resin Identification Code. If plastic, the primary package shall be marked with the appropriate Resin Identification Code.

5.3 Restricted Substances

5.3.1 *Heavy Metal Restrictions. The heavy metals lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium shall not be intentionally introduced. Further, the sum of the concentration levels of these metals shall not exceed 100 ppm; an exception is allowed for primary packages that would not exceed this maximum level but for the addition of post-consumer material.

5.3.2 *Other Restrictions. Phthalates, bisphenol A, and chlorinated packaging material are prohibited from being intentionally introduced to plastic packaging; an exception is allowed for primary packages that would not have added phthalates, bisphenol A, or chlorinated packaging material but for the addition of post-consumer material.

6.0 VERIFIED PERFORMANCE AND CLAIMS

6.1 Product Performance.

Each product shall demonstrate that it performs its intended use effectively at the most dilute/least concentrated manufacturer-recommended dilution level for routine use. Concentrate products shall be diluted, as required, just prior to testing using unheated water from the tap. Performance tests shall be conducted as comparison tests against a benchmark product under the following test conditions:

Product	Wash Cycle Temperature	Rinse Cycle Temperature	Water Hardness
Benchmark Product	Set to the temperature specified by ASTM D4265 for the machine type being used⁸	Tap Cold⁹	Moderately hard water (120 – 150 ppm)‡ The calcium/ magnesium ratio of the hardness minerals (expressed as calcium carbonate) should be adjusted for different water hardness according to ASTM D4265¹¹
Test Product	Cold water (68 +/- 5°F, 20 +/- 3°C)†or the lowest claimed effective temperature, if lower than cold water	Tap Cold⁹

† Exception to Wash Cycle Temperature: For antimicrobial pesticide products, the Test Product shall be evaluated at the temperature needed for antimicrobial activity. If the antimicrobial activity does not contribute to other functions of this product, then the cold water temperature shall be used for testing those other purposes.

‡ Exception to Water Hardness: Where a manufacturer can demonstrate marketing is regional in an area of lower or higher water hardness, an alternate hardness range similar to the regional average shall be recommended to the certifying body for review on a case-by-case basis.

The following criteria include test methods that are applicable to some product categories, as specified below; for all other product categories, follow section 6.2, Alternative Performance Requirements. Products specifically addressed in section 6.1 may use an alternate test under section 6.2 as long as the relevant characteristics specified under 6.1.1, 6.1.2, and 6.1.3 are tested.

6.1.1 Laundry Detergent Performance. Laundry detergent products shall demonstrate performance equivalent to or better than a benchmark product. The benchmark product shall be the appropriate American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) standard reference laundry detergent¹¹ or a national market-leading product in its category.

6.1.1.1 Cleaning. Laundry detergent products shall demonstrate general detergency and stain removal on manufacturer recommended laundry (e.g., cotton, polyester, or cotton/polyester blend) using ASTM D4265, with instrumental or visual analysis, for a minimum of four of the following stains: tea, blueberry, grass, ballpoint pen ink, used motor oil, blood, wine, coffee, mustard, spaghetti sauce, gravy, makeup, chocolate syrup, grape juice, or a modified Spangler artificial sebum soil. Any stains marketed for use by the product shall be included in the four stains.

6.1.1.2 Color Care. Laundry detergent products shall demonstrate that they maintain color fastness of manufacturer recommended laundry (e.g., cotton, polyester, or cotton/polyester blend) using the procedure in ASTM D4265 or AATCC 124 (using machine washing and a 4- or 6-pound load size) by assessing color change after 5 wash cycles, with appropriate instrumental or visual analysis.

6.1.2 Stain and Spot Removal Performance.¹² Stain removing products and bleaching products shall demonstrate performance equivalent to or better than an appropriate benchmark product in their category for removing stains on manufacturer recommended laundry (e.g., cotton, polyester, or cotton/polyester blend) using ASTM D4265, with instrumental or visual analysis, for four of the following stains: tea, blueberry, grass, ballpoint pen ink, used motor oil, blood, wine, coffee, mustard, spaghetti sauce, gravy, makeup, chocolate syrup, grape juice, or a modified Spangler artificial sebum soil. Any stains marketed for use by the product shall be included in the four stains.

6.1.3 Softening Performance. Softening products shall demonstrate that they perform equivalent to or better than an appropriate benchmark product in their category on manufacturer recommended laundry (e.g., cotton, polyester, or cotton/polyester blend) using the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) DCC-13 series evaluating softness (13B), water absorbency (13D), and static control (13F, using one of described evaluation methods).

6.2 *Alternative Performance Requirements. Alternatively, the product shall demonstrate that it performs equivalent to or better than a nationally recognized or market-leading product of its type, compared at the most dilute/least concentrated manufacturer-recommended dilution level for routine use, using an objective, scientifically validated method conducted under controlled and reproducible laboratory conditions. The requirements for test conditions in 6.1 shall apply, unless otherwise needed for antimicrobial activity for antimicrobial pesticide products. Test methodology and summarized results shall be documented in report format and provided to the certification program.

6.3 Product Label

6.3.1 Label Language.

6.3.1.1 Dilution for Concentrates. For concentrates, the manufacturer’s label shall not instruct users to dilute with hot or warm water unless tested otherwise to meet the performance requirements in Section 6.0 herein and shall state the recommended level of dilution (e.g., for products that use manual dilution or dosage, state amount of product in common and measurable terms such as milliliters, ounces, teaspoons, pumps, or capfuls).

6.3.1.2 Dosing Directions. For products that are used with wash water,¹³ the product label shall clearly and prominently provide directions for dosing normal loads, small loads or those with light soils, and large loads or those with heavy soils (e.g., state amount of product in common and measurable terms such as milliliters, ounces, teaspoons, pumps, or capfuls).

6.3.1.2.1 Water Hardness Dosing. For products that are used with wash water,¹⁴ the product label shall clearly and prominently provide recommended dosing requirements for the expected water hardness levels.

6.3.1.3 Use Directions. The product label shall clearly and prominently provide directions for use and any appropriate precautions or recommendations for the use of personal protective equipment.

6.3.1.3.1 Cold Water Wash Directions. For products that are used with wash water,¹⁴ the product label shall clearly and prominently provide directions for using cold water wash temperatures or lower temperatures when possible; an exception shall be made for antimicrobial pesticide products, which should state the temperature needed for antimicrobial activity.

6.3.1.3.2 Full Loads. For products that are used with wash water,¹⁴ the product label shall clearly and prominently provide the recommendation to run full loads of laundry.¹⁴

6.3.1.4 Disposal Directions. The product label shall clearly and prominently provide directions for applicable disposal, recycling, reuse, or refill instructions for the package.

6.3.2 *Ingredient Line. The product label shall list the product ingredients using the naming convention of the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI), or the HCPA Dictionary, in order of predominance. Where an INCI name does not exist for an ingredient, alternative nomenclature may be used.¹⁵ Ingredients in concentrations of less than 1% may be listed in any order after those in concentrations of more than 1%. A chemical function or chemical class descriptor may be used to protect trade secret information.

6.3.2.1 *Consumer and User Communication. The product ingredient line shall be made available to end-users in an easily accessible means in addition to the product label, such as the company website or technical data sheet.

6.3.3 Claims and Transparency

6.3.3.1 *Antimicrobial Claims. Except for antimicrobial pesticide products, antimicrobial, antibacterial, disinfecting, or sanitizing product claims are prohibited.

6.3.3.1.1 Products Making Antimicrobial Claims. Antimicrobial pesticide products shall have label instructions that the product should only be used on fabric soils or laundry conditions that have been identified to be at risk for disease transmission or where required by regulation. Equivalent language may be approved by the certification program.

6.3.3.2 *Organic Claims. Organic claims shall only be based on certified-organic component content and shall be supported with documentation that they meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP), or programs determined to be equivalent by or have recognition agreements with the USDA NOP.

6.3.3.3 *Natural and Biobased Claims. Only the following natural and biobased, or related, claims are allowed when the product meets the criteria outlined:

“100 percent Natural”, “All Natural”, “100 percent Biobased”, or “All Biobased” shall only contain natural or biobased components, respectively, excluding water, and with no petroleum, silicone, or synthetic components
“Natural” or “Biobased” products shall contain 95% natural, naturally-derived, or biobased components, respectively, excluding water.
Claims on specific product components being “natural” or “biobased” may be permitted if it is a natural or biobased component

6.3.3.4 *Fragrance and Allergen Labeling. The product label shall declare if a fragrance has been added or if no fragrance has been added and shall also indicate any allergen components present in the product at 0.01% or more (e.g., “Contains allergen [allergen’s INCI name]”). Where an INCI name does not exist, alternative nomenclature may be used.15

6.3.3.4.1 *Fragrances. The general term ‘fragrance’ may be used for fragrance components; in this case, the product label shall direct end-users to additional information. A list of the fragrance components that are present in the product at 0.01% or more shall be made available to end-users in an easily accessible means, such as the company website or technical data sheet. Chemical class descriptors may be used to protect trade secret information. Alternatively, the company may provide a link to the IFRA Transparency List,16 or a subset of this list.

Note: Additional Product Label Requirements

For products sold as powders/solids/non-aqueous liquids, refer to Annex B.
For products containing enzymes, refer to Annex C.
For products containing microorganisms, refer to Annex D.

6.4 Product Design.

6.4.1 Concentration and Compaction. The following products shall be concentrated or compacted in order for the normal/medium load dose per kg of dry, soiled laundry of the undiluted product to be at the following levels: Product	Concentrated**	Ultra-Concentrated
Liquid laundry detergent products	16.2 ml/kg (0.25 fl.oz./lb) or less	8.1 ml/kg (0.125 fl.oz./lb) or less
Solid/Powder laundry detergent products. (An exception shall be made for products sold as sheets)	13.7 g/kg (0.22 oz/lb) or less.	5.0 g/kg (0.08 oz/lb) or less
Softening products, not sold as laundry detergent products (An exception shall be made for products sold as sheets)	8.4 ml/kg (0.13 fl.oz./lb) or less.	4.5 ml/kg (0.07 fl.oz./lb) or less