Chemical Information Document
Version 1.0 January 2018

ALKYLPHENOL ETHOXYLATES (APEOs)
Other Names

Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEOs; NPEs):
Polyethylene glycol nonylphenyl ether
Octylphenol Ethoxylates (OPEOs; OPEs):
Polyethylene glycol octylphenyl ether

CAS Number

Substance

9002-93-1

Polyethylene glycol 4-(tert-octylphenyl) ether

9036-19-5

Polyethylene glycol mono(octyl)phenyl ether

68987-90-6

Poly (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha(octylphenyl)-omega-hydroxy-, branched

List continued in “Additional Information”

May Be Found In▪
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Industrial laundry detergent▪
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Impregnating agents

Scouring agentsAPEOs are primarily used as detergents in thetextile wet processing industry but they are also
used in the leather industry as degreasing
products and in small quantities as emulsifiers
or wetting agents in some dyestuff and pigment
preparations.

Uses in the Supply Chain
APEOs are common ingredients in many chemical
formulations used to produce apparel and footwear
materials. They have been widely used as surfactants oremulsifiers in detergents, scouring agents, dye-dispersingagents, printing pastes, spinning oils and wetting agents.
Legislation around the world restricts the presence ofAPEOs in finished products. Leading apparel and footwear
brands have restricted or banned the use of APEOs inproduction of their products.

(e.g., wool and leather)
Wetting agents
Softeners
Spinning oils (yarn and fabric)
Emulsifier/dispersing agents for dyes
and prints
Degreasing agents for leather hides
Leather-finishing preparations
De-gumming agents for silk production
Dyes and pigment preparations
Polyester padding
Down/feather fillings
Binders for interlinings
Facility cleaning products

Why Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APEOs) are Restricted1▪ APEOs can degrade into alkylphenols (APs) in the environment.
▪ Some APs are very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
▪ Some APs are suspected of damaging human fertility and unborn children.
▪ See the Guidance Document on Alkylphenols for more information on this class of chemicals.
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Sourcing Compliant Materials from Your Suppliers▪ Contact your suppliers and explain that you require their manufactured materials to be compliant with thecurrent AFIRM RSL limit. 2▪

This includes fibers, yarns and fabric since APEOs have been widely used in spinning lubricants, sizing,pretreatment, dyeing, printing, finishing and coating. APEOs have also been widely used in industrial laundry
detergents.

▪

Pay special attention to suppliers of wool, wool blends and leather, since APEOs have been widely used for
scouring and as a dispersing agent for dyeing.

▪

Suppliers who use APEOs in production for other clients may have contaminated machinery that can introduce
APEOs into their manufactured materials. Work with suppliers who have phased out the use of APEOs for allclients.

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Cleaning agents for equipment and maintenance may contain APEOs that can contaminate materials.
Cleaning agents should not contain intentionally-added APEOs.

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Share this information sheet with your material suppliers and instruct them to work with their chemicalsuppliers to source APEO-compliant chemical formulations using the guidance in the next section.

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Have your suppliers confirm that their manufactured materials meet the current AFIRM limit with a certificationor, if necessary, by providing a test report from a third-party laboratory.

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Perform risk-based checks of your suppliers’ materials by submitting samples to a third-party laboratory fortesting to ensure the limit is not exceeded.

Sourcing Compliant Formulations from Your Chemical Suppliers▪ Contact your chemical suppliers and explain that you require chemical formulations such as textile finishing
agents, dyeing chemicals, adhesives, printing inks and others with no intentionally added APEOs.
Concentrations of APEOs in chemical formulations used for wet processing should be compliant with thecurrent ZDHC MRSL whenever applicable. 3▪

Pay special attention to textile and leather auxiliary suppliers who supply chemicals for dyeing, printing,finishing, laundering, scouring and coating formulations.

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APEOs are often used as a dispersing agent in solvent-free, synthetic-leather manufacturing.

▪

Have your chemical suppliers confirm that their chemical formulations meet the ZDHC MRSL limits with acertification or, if necessary, by providing a test report from a third-party testing laboratory wheneverapplicable.

▪

Perform risk-based checks of your chemical suppliers’ formulations by submitting samples to a third-party
laboratory for testing to ensure the ZDHC MRSL limits is not exceeded whenever applicable.

▪

Discuss with your chemical supplier whether the below safer alternatives are suitable substitutes for yourproduction needs.

APEOs may also be found in many fibre/yarn/fabric spinning lubricants and sizes.
Check the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of all chemical formulations to ensure that none of the APEO CAS
Numbers listed in this Information Sheet is as an ingredient.

Safer Alternatives
The following substances have been identified as examples of safer alternatives by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Design for the Environment Program (DfE). They may be suitable for your production needs. Any chosenalternative must be compliant with the limits stated above as well as any brand specific limits.
2

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68439-46-3
68131-39-5
64366-70-7
68515-73-1
68411-30-3
151-21-3
9004-82-4
1338-41-6

C9-11 alcohols, ethoxylated (6EO)
C12-15 alcohols, ethoxylated (9EO)
Oxirane, methyl-, polymer with oxirane, mono(2-ethylhexyl ether); Ecosurf EH-9
Glucopyranose, oligomeric, decyl octyl glycosides
Benzenesulfonic acid, C10-13-alkyl derivs., sodium saltSodium lauryl sulfate
Polyoxy(1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-sulfo-omegadodecyloxy-, sodium salt
Sorbitan monostearate

Additional Information
US EPA Design for the Environment Alternatives Assessment for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-06/documents/npe_final.pdf
Visit ECHA’s Candidate List of substances of very high concern to view dossiers for many restricted substances
https://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table.
There are many potential CAS numbers which comprise the APEO class of chemistries. Some of the more common
ones are listed below:CAS Number

Substance

9002-93-1

Polyethylene glycol 4-(tert-octylphenyl) ether

9036-19-5

Polyethylene glycol mono(octyl)phenyl ether

68987-90-6

Poly (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(octylphenyl)-omega-hydroxy-, branched9016-45-9

Poly (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(nonylphenyl)-omega-hydroxy-26027-38-3

Poly (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(4-nonylphenyl)-omega-hydroxy-37205-87-1

Poly (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(isononylphenyl)-omega-hydroxy-68412-54-4

Poly (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(nonylphenyl)-omega-hydroxy-, branched127087-87-0

Poly (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(4-nonylphenyl)-omega-hydroxy-, branched

References
1Hazard information per harmonized classification and labelling approved by the European Union. Source: EuropeanChemicals Agency, http://echa.europa.eu/
2 Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management Group (Ed.). (2018, January 31). Restricted Substances ListRetrieved http://afirm-group.com/afirm-rsl/
3 Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (Publication). (2015, December). Retrieved

http://www.roadmaptozero.com/programme/manufacturing-restricted-substances-list-mrsl-conformity-guidance/3