The green certification organization Green Seal announced it has banned so-called “forever chemicals” from products it certifies, meaning that any product that carries a Green Seal label cannot contain per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The list of now-banned chemicals includes more than 12,000 substances.
“Purchasers and manufacturers know the hazards of this class of toxic chemicals but lack reliable ways to ensure products are PFAS-free,” said Doug Gatlin, CEO of Green Seal in a release. “Green Seal’s standard criteria now eliminate PFAS throughout the product formula supply chain for certified cleaning and personal care products while maintaining performance requirements, so buyers can choose safer, healthier, and effective products with confidence.”
PFAS, which are bioaccumulative toxins, meaning they accumulate in water supplies, soil, and even humans, are especially hazardous because they persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
Green Seal says the ban applies both to long-chain PFAS, which it has previously prohibited, and now short-chain PFAS as well.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
