GS-52

Specialty Cleaning Products for Household Use

Our standard means a specialty surface cleaning product or odor remover is safer for human health and the environment than similar products while providing uncompromising performance. It covers sanitizers, disinfectants, and products intended for routine household cleaning of specialty surfaces including but not limited to decks, motor vehicles, outdoor furniture, ovens, and upholstery.

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Latest Version: Edition 2.7, June 23, 2022

Recent Changes: GS-52 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.

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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 life cycle 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 2.7 was issued on June 23, 2022. It replaces Edition from November 11, 2021. Corrections and/or clarifications were last made to this standard on August 23, 2024. Information on changes to the 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

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, a standard setting organization formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials
ATTC. American Type Culture Collection
BCF. Bioconcentration Factor
BOD. Biological Oxygen Demand
CARB. Air Resources Board for the State of California
CAS. Chemical Abstracts Service
CDC. United States Centers for Disease Control
CFC. Chlorofluorocarbon CFU. Colony Forming Unit
CO2. Carbon Dioxide
CFR. Code of Federal Regulations
DOC. Dissolved Organic Carbon
ECHA. European Chemicals Agency
ECVAM. European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods
EN. European Standard
EPA. United States Environmental Protection Agency
Ex-ECB. ex-European Chemicals Bureau
FAO. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
FDA. United States Food and Drug Administration
GHS. Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
GMM. Genetically Modified Microorganism
GREENGUARD Gold. Certification from UL EcoLogo focusing on chemical emission rates. (https://www.ul.com/services/ul-greenguard-certification)
HCPA. Household and Commercial Products Association
IARC. International Agency for Research on Cancer
ICCVAM. Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods
ILO. International Labour Organization
INCI. International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients
IRIS. Integrated Risk Information System.
ISO. International Organization for Standardization
JECFA. Joint Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations/ WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
LOAEL. Lowest-Observed Adverse Effect Level
NIH. United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health
NOAEL. No-Observed Adverse Effect Level
NOP. National Organic Program
NTP. National Toxicology Program
OECD. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
OPP. Office of Pesticide Programs of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
OSHA. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
ThOD. Theoretical Oxygen Demand.
TRI PBT. EPA Toxic Release Inventory Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals
USDA. United States Department of Agriculture
VOC. Volatile Organic Compound
WHO. World Health Organization

1.0 SCOPE

This standard establishes environmental, health, and social requirements for specialty cleaning products intended for household use. For the purposes of this standard, this includes, but is not limited to: boat cleaning products; boat wax, polish, sealant, or glaze products; deck, siding, and outdoor furniture cleaning products; dish cleaning products (automatic and hand); furniture polish products; graffiti remover products; holding tank treatment products; metal cleaning products; motor vehicle cleaning products; motor vehicle wax, polish, sealant, or glaze products; motor vehicle dressing products; waterless motor vehicle cleaning products; tire and wheel cleaning products; motor vehicle windshield washing fluid; odor remover products; optical lens cleaning products; oven cleaning products; drain additive/cleaning products; recreational vehicle tank treatment products; septic tank treatment products; chewing gum remover; upholstery cleaning products; antimicrobial pesticide products (e.g., products covered by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)), and other household cleaning products sold for specialty uses².
This standard includes specialty cleaning products that contain enzymes or microorganisms. This standard does not include products that contain enzymes and are sold in, or designed for use in, spray packaging. This standard does not apply to products intended for industrial and institutional use, printing press cleaning products, laundry care products, air fresheners, or products that serve as sporicides, sterilizers, or used to sterilize critical and semicritical medical devices and equipment. 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 cleaning products with surface materials is not specifically addressed in this standard. Product users should follow the manufacturer’s instructions on compatibility

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

Criteria that include an asterisk (*) in the title are considered foundational criteria³.

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 organic components 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 component 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 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 at 0.01% or more that bioaccumulate or that are known to form degradation products that bioaccumulate. A component 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 component meets the requirement for biodegradability, 2.1.2 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, 4 are typically added for the purpose of releasing substances into a raw material or 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 colorant
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 at 0.01% or more in the undiluted product shall have a flashpoint above 150°F, 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 D 4206 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 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 at 0.01% or more that are optical brighteners.

2.1.12 Optical Brighteners. The undiluted product shall not contain any components 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 Alkyl 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 components⁵:

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 (TRI PBT) Chemicals
Triclosan

2.1.17 *Respiratory Sensitization. The undiluted product shall not contain any components 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 at 1% or more in the product that are listed on the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit value (TLV) list carrying a skin notation or substances that are listed on the German Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) maximum allowable concentrations (MAK) list with a skin absorption H notation. Further, the product shall not contain components 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.

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.

Results from peer-reviewed studies or standard in vivo or in vitro test methods may also be accepted. Testing is not required for any component at 0.01% for which sufficient information exists.

Refer to Annex B for potential alternate thresholds for products as powders/solids/non-aqueous liquids.

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 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 apply⁶,⁷

Oral lethal dose (LD50 ) < 5,000 mg/kg
Inhalation lethal concentration (LC50) < 20,000 ppmV at 1 hr
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 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: 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_i = the toxicity value for each component (LD50)
n = number of components

Inhalation toxicity shall be determined from all components 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.

Note: Refer to Annex B for potential alternate thresholds for products as powders/solids/non-aqueous liquids.

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

2.2.3 *Inhalation Toxicity. The product shall meet either 2.2.4.1 or 2.2.4.2.

2.2.3.1 Chronic Inhalation Toxicity. The product as used shall not contain components at 0.01% or more with a vapor pressure above 1 mm mercury at 1 atm pressure and 20°C that are classified as producing significant toxic effects in mammals from repeated inhalation exposure at or below 1.0 mg/L as a vapor according to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Harmonized Integrated Classification System for Human Health and Environmental Hazards of Chemical Substances and Mixtures. For the purposes of this standard, significant toxic effects in mammals from repeated inhalation exposure at or below 1.0 mg/L as a vapor shall be established by a No-Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL), based on a test duration of 90 days at 6 hours per day; values from other exposure regimes shall be estimated (extrapolated) per the principles of Haber’s rule. In lieu of a NOAEL, the Lowest-Observed Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) can be used with a ten-fold safety factor (i.e., LOAEL/10).

2.2.3.2 Chamber Testing. A product as used shall be tested according to the method used for the GREENGUARD Gold Certification Program Method for Measuring and Evaluating Chemical Emissions from Cleaners And Cleaning Maintenance Systems Using Dynamic Environmental Chambers and meet the inhalation toxicity criteria in the method (noted in the table referencing Green Seal Standard GS-37).

2.2.5 *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 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 appropriate protocols in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7346-2 for fish, OEDC Test Guidance (TG) 203 for fish, OECD TG 202 for daphnia, or OECD TG 201 for algae.

2.2.6 *Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Content. VOCs include all organic components at 0.01% or more that have a vapor pressure of greater than 0.1 mm mercury at 1 atm pressure and 20º C. “VOC content” means the total weight of VOCs in a product expressed as a percentage of the product weight.

The VOC content of the product as used shall contain no more than the current regulatory limits of the Air Resources Board for the State of California (CARB) for its product category.

For product categories not regulated by CARB, the VOC content shall not exceed the higher of the following options:

1% by weight.
A limit set by CARB or the South Coast Air Quality Management District for a similar product category, which the manufacturer can prove is more appropriate.

Additionally, the following shall apply:

CARB VOC requirements for glass cleaners shall apply to optical lens cleaning products.
CARB VOC requirements for motor vehicle wax, polish, sealant, or glaze products shall apply to motor vehicle dressing products.
CARB VOC requirements for bug and tar removers shall apply to chewing gum remover products.

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

By summing the percent by weight contribution from all volatile organic components present in the product at 0.01% or more.
According to the California Air Resources Board Method 310 (or equivalent), modified to include all fragrances and all volatile organic components present in the product at 0.01% or more⁸.

Current CARB regulatory limits for VOCs⁹.

Product Category	Effective Date	Limit (%)
Adhesive Remover (Floor or Wall Covering) (Gasket or Thread Locking) (General Purpose) (Specialty)	12/31/2006 12/31/2006 12/31/2006 12/31/2006	5 50 20 70
Dual Purpose Air Freshener/Disinfectant (aerosol) (liquid/pump spray) (solid/semisolid)	1/1/1994 1/1/1993 1/1/1993	60 18 3
Automotive Wax/Polish/Sealant/Glaze (hard paste wax) (instant detailer) (all other forms)	1/1/2005 1/1/2001 1/1/2005	45 3 15
Brake Cleaner	12/31/2010	10
Bug and Tar Remover	1/1/2002	40
Carburetor or Fuel-injection Air Intake Cleaner	12/31/2010	10
Upholstery Cleaner (aerosol) (nonaerosol – dilutable) (nonaerosol – ready-to-use)	12/31/2010 1/1/2001 12/31/2010	5 0.1 1
Disinfectant (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2008 12/31/2008	70 1
Dusting Aid (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2010 12/31/2010	17 3
Electrical Cleaner	12/31/2006	45
Electronic Cleaner	12/31/2007	75
Engine Degreaser (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2010 12/31/2004	10 5
Fabric Refresher (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2006 12/31/2006	15 6
Footwear or Leather Care Product (aerosol) (solid) (all other forms)	12/31/2006 12/31/2006 12/31/2006	75 55 15

Product Category	Effective Date	Limit (%)
Furniture polish (aerosol) (nonaerosol – except solid/paste forms) (all other forms- except solid/paste forms)	12/31/2004 (12/31/2013) 1/1/1994 12/31/2008	17 (12) 7 3
Glass cleaners	12/31/2012	3
Graffiti Remover (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2006 12/31/2006	50 30
Metal Polish or Cleanser (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2012 12/31/2012	15 3
Motor Vehicle Wash (nonaerosol)	12/31/2010	0.2
Odor Remover/Eliminator (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2010 12/31/2010	25 6
Oven or Grill Cleaner (aerosol/pump spray) (liquid) (nonaerosol)	1/1/1993 1/1/1993 12/10/2011	8 5 4
Sanitizer (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2008 12/31/2008	70 1
Spot Remover (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2012 12/31/2012	15 3
Tire or Wheel Cleaner (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2010 12/31/2010	8 2
Wood Cleaner (aerosol) (nonaerosol)	12/31/2006 12/31/2006	17 4

2.2.7 *Animal Testing. To avoid new animal testing, previous test results will be accepted as evidence of meeting a criterion. When existing data is 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 (ICCVAM) or the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), 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 towelettes or other disposable single-use materials if the wipes 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 and 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 at least one of the following¹⁰:

A source-reduced 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 as one of the options listed above

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

5.1.3 Secondary Package. A secondary package shall only be used for concentrates such as solid dish tablets. An exception may be made for packaging of multiple units when at least one of the units is a ready-to-use form and total packaging (primary plus secondary) is a reduction in overall packaging material use.

5.1.4 Aerosol Packaging. Aerosol packaging shall meet the following:

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 3.0 herein and shall not be a hazardous air pollutant (HAP)
For Section 2.2.1 Acute Toxicity and 2.2.4 Inhalation Toxicity, 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, or 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 packaging shall be marked with the appropriate Resin Identification Code to identify the type of plastic for recycling.

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 refillable packages or 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 a plastic primary package; 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 clean soils and surfaces specific to the intended use of the specialty cleaning product effectively, at the most dilute/least concentrated manufacturer-recommended dilution level for routine cleaning.¹¹ Products shall be diluted, as required, just prior to testing using water from the cold tap at no more than 50ºF (10ºC). Exceptions shall be made for dish cleaning products and upholstery cleaning products, which shall perform at the temperatures specified in the corresponding criteria that follow. The following criteria include test methods that are applicable to some product categories, for all other product categories follow section 6.2 Alternative Performance Requirements herein. Requirements for antimicrobial pesticide products are included in section 6.3.4.2 herein.

6.1.1 Deck, Siding, and Outdoor Furniture Cleaning Products. Deck, siding, and outdoor furniture cleaning products shall remove at least 80% of the particulate soil in ASTM International (ASTM) D4488, A5¹².

6.1.2 Boat, Motor Vehicle, Tire and Wheel, and Waterless Motor Vehicle Cleaning Products. Boat, motor vehicle, tire and wheel, and waterless motor vehicle cleaning products shall remove at least 80% of the particulate soil in ASTM D4488, A5.

6.1.3 Bilge Cleaning Products. Bilge cleaning products shall demonstrate efficacy for degreasing (emulsifying oil, grease, and fuel) and cleaning (removal of soils and mold stains) with an appropriate test method following section 6.2 Alternative Performance Requirements herein.

6.1.4 Boat Wax, Polish, Sealant, or Glaze Products. Boat wax, polish, sealant, or glaze products shall be tested for gloss and smear resistance with an appropriate method following section 6.2 Alternative Performance Requirements herein.

6.1.5 Motor Vehicle Wax, Polish, Sealant, or Glaze Products. Motor vehicle wax, polish, sealant, or glaze products shall perform equivalent to or better than the control product in ASTM D 3836 or ASTM D6625. The control product shall be a national market-leading product.

6.1.6 Dish Cleaning Products. Dish cleaning products are exempt from the water temperature requirement in 2.0 for performance testing, but shall follow any temperature specifications in the criteria below.

6.1.6.1 Automatic Dish Cleaning Products. Automatic dish cleaning products shall demonstrate soil removal efficacy with an appropriate method following section 2.2 Alternative Performance Requirements herein. The product shall be tested on the following types of soils: colored, bleachable soil; dry starchy soil (amylase-specific); and dry proteinaceous soil (protease-specific). The method shall be performed in a household machine and be tested at 130 ± 5 deg F (54.4 ± 3.8 deg C).

6.1.6.2 Rinse Agent Products and Combined Dish Cleaning/Rinse Agent Products for Automatic Dishwashers. Rinse agent products shall achieve a visual rating of at least two (2) when evaluated according to the method in ASTM D3556 or Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) DCC-05A.

6.1.6.3 Hand Dish Cleaning Products. Hand dish cleaning products shall demonstrate soil removal efficacy with an appropriate method following section 2.2 Alternative Performance Requirements herein. The soils used in the comparison testing shall be soils B and D as defined in ASTM D4009, or equivalent. The product shall be tested at 110 °F (43°C).¹³

6.1.7 Furniture Polish Products. Furniture polish products shall be tested for gloss, water and smear protection, and clean-ability (i.e., buffing, soil and dust removal) with an appropriate method following section 2.2 Alternative Performance Requirements herein.

6.1.8 Graffiti Removers. Graffiti remover products shall demonstrate effectiveness in removing graffiti markings (e.g., aerosol paint, felt tip pen, crayon, lipstick) while maintaining the appearance of the underlying substrate (e.g., brick, sandstone, metal, wood) for its marketed use, with an appropriate method following section 2.2 Alternative Performance Testing herein.

6.1.9 Metal Cleaning Products. Metal cleaning products shall have a Cleaning Effectiveness Factor (CEF) of at least 0.80 as measured according to ASTM G122.

6.1.10 Motor Vehicle Windshield Washing Fluid Products. Motor vehicle windshield washing fluid products shall be tested according to CSPA DCC-09 and achieve at least a rating of three (3) in each of the following categories: soil removal, smearing, and streaking. Additionally, “winter formula” products as used shall remain a liquid for at least twenty-four (24) hours at 0°F (-17.8°C).

6.1.11 Optical Lens Cleaning Products. Optical lens cleaning products shall be tested according to CSPADCC-09 and achieve at least a rating of three in each of the following categories: soil removal, smearing, and streaking.

6.1.12 Oven Cleaning Products. Oven cleaning products shall achieve at least a 90% soil removal in CSPA DCC-12 using test soils A or B.

6.1.13 Upholstery Cleaning Products. Upholstery cleaning products shall be tested for cleaning efficiency and resoiling resistance with an appropriate method following section 6.2 Alternative Performance Requirements herein. Upholstery cleaning products may be diluted with warm or hot water where required by the test method or performance considerations if the product is proven to suffer significant performance degradation in cold water.

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 cleaning,¹⁴ using an objective, scientifically-validated method conducted under controlled and reproducible laboratory conditions. The water temperature requirement in 2.0 shall apply, unless the noted exceptions in 6.1.6 for dish cleaning products and 6.1.13 for upholstery cleaning products apply. Test methodology and results shall be documented in sufficient detail and provided to the certification program.

6.3 Product Label

6.3.1 Label Use and Disposal Directions. The product label shall have explicit disposal, recycling, reuse, or refill instructions, proper and clear directions for use, and appropriate precautions and recommendations for the use of personal protective equipment. Direct release products shall include instructions describing best management practices (such as choosing a site with the potential for runoff to be diverted to a sanitary sewer or detention pond) for recapture of waste water. Boat cleaning products and bilge cleaning products shall be labeled with explicit instructions that bilges should be pumped out at marina facilities and not overboard and that the boat should be cleaned away from shorelines.

6.3.2 Label Dilution or Dosage Directions for Concentrates. For concentrates, the label shall not instruct users to dilute with hot or warm water unless tested otherwise to meet the performance requirements in Section 6 herein (e.g., upholstery cleaning products and dish cleaning products), and shall state the recommended level of dilution or dosage (e.g., for products that use manual dilution or dosage, state amount of product in common and measurable terms such as milliliters, teaspoons, or capfuls).

6.3.3 Labeling of Dish Cleaning Products for Resource Conservation.

6.3.3.1 Hand Dish Cleaning Product. The hand dish cleaning product label shall include a statement encouraging energy and water conservation during the use of the hand dish cleaning product, such as, “Conserve energy and water and avoid running the water continuously when washing dishes,” or equivalent language as approved by the certification program.

6.3.3.2 Automatic Dish Cleaning Product. Automatic dish cleaning product labels shall include a statement encouraging energy and water conservation, such as, “Conserve energy and water and run a full load of dishes whenever possible,” or equivalent language as approved by the certification program.

6.3.4 *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 Ingredient Dictionary, in order of predominance. Where an INCI name does not exist for an ingredient, alternative nomenclature may be used¹⁵. 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.

6.3.4.1 Consumer and User Communication. The product ingredient line (6.3.4 herein) 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.

6.3.4.2 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.

6.3.5 Claims and Transparency

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

6.3.5.1.1 Products Making Antimicrobial Claims. Antimicrobial pesticide products shall have label instructions that the product should only be used on surfaces 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.

6.3.5.1.2 Minimum Risk Pesticides. Minimum risk pesticide labels shall include a statement indicating that a pre-cleaning step is needed for heavily soiled surfaces.

6.3.5.2 Antimicrobial Pesticide Products. Any product that makes an antimicrobial, disinfecting, or sanitizing claim shall be a registered antimicrobial pesticide product, or an on-site, device-generated solution, or a minimum risk pesticide-based product. Minimum risk pesticide-based products shall demonstrate that they meet the efficacy requirements for the target organism in accordance with appropriate FIFRA Efficacy Test Protocols.

Products that are manufactured and sold outside of the US shall demonstrate that they meet appropriate efficacy requirements for the target organism(s).

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

6.3.5.4 *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.

6.3.5.5 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 used14.

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 Concentrates and Dosing. Products may be sold in a ready-to-use form except for boat cleaning products, motor vehicle cleaning products, and deck, siding, and outdoor furniture cleaning products, which shall be concentrated to at least 1:8.

7.0 TRADEMARK USE REQUIREMENTS

7.1 Trademark Use.

Any use of the Green Seal® Certification Mark or the Green Seal name, e.g. on the product, product label, packaging, secondary documents, or promotional materials, must be in accordance with Green Seal’s Trademark Use Guidelines.17

7.2 Misleading Claims.

Green Seal trademarks shall not be used in conjunction with any modifying terms, phrases, or graphic images that might mislead consumers as to the extent or nature of the certification.