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Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) 

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EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) Program is pleased to 

recognize Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) 

Champions and Partners. 

What is the Safer Detergents Stewardship 

Initiative?

Through the Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI), 

EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) Program recognizes 

environmental leaders who voluntarily commit to the use of 

safer surfactants. Safer surfactants are surfactants that break 

down quickly to non-polluting compounds and help protect 

aquatic life in both fresh and salt water. Nonylphenol 

ethoxylates, commonly referred to as NPEs, are an example of 

a surfactant class that does not meet the definition of a safer 

surfactant. 

The Design for the Environment Program has identified safer 

alternative surfactants through partnerships with industry and 

environmental advocates. These safer alternatives are 

comparable in cost and are readily available. CleanGredientsTM 

is a source of safer surfactants and can be found at 

www.CleanGredients.org. 

One-page fact sheet on SDSI (PDF) (1 pg, 196K, About PDF). 

What is the Recognition?

Champion is the highest level of recognition offered under SDSI. At this level, the participant 

is invited to an awards ceremony, is listed on the EPA SDSI Web site as a Champion, and 

SDSI Recognition Ceremony 

Photos 

The SDSI Recognition Ceremony 

was held on November 19, 2008 

in the Ronald Reagan Building 

and International Trade Center 

in Washington, DC. Click here to 

view photos.

Safer Detergent Stewardship 

Initiative 

Design for the Environment (DfE) Last updated on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009.

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/formulat/sdsi.htm

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may use a special logo in their literature to help explain their participation in the program. 

The Partner category provides recognition of significant accomplishment towards the use of 

safer surfactants. Partners will be listed on the EPA SDSI Web site and may be granted 

recognition as Champions in the future. 

Who is Eligible for Recognition?

EPA's DfE Program recognizes businesses engaged in the production or use of surfactants, as 

well as those involved in the purchase or distribution of products containing surfactants. 

Others, including not-for-profit organizations, may qualify through actively encouraging the 

use of safer surfactants. 

How do I Apply for Recognition?

An application for recognition (PDF) (8 pp, 197K, About PDF) is available for download. Be sure 

you have version 7 or 8 of Adobe Reader to fill out and save a copy of the form. The 

application includes the criteria for Champion and Partner status. 

The review process is closed at this time. If you wish to submit an application, DfE will keep 

it on file and contact you if the recognition process opens in the future. 

If you would like more information, please contact David Difiore (difiore.david@epa.gov). 

SDSI CHAMPIONS

Champion is the highest level of recognition offered under SDSI. Champions have been 

invited to an awards ceremony and may use the SDSI logo in their literature to help explain 

their participation in the program. SDSI Champions are listed below. 

Chemical Manufacturers

Champions in this category have achieved the following—They have:

Demonstrated the manufacture of only safer surfactants; 

Documented a strategy for ensuring the manufacture of only safer surfactants. 

BASF Corporation 

Product Formulators

Champions in this category have achieved the following—They have:

Demonstrated the use of only safer surfactants in products; 

Documented a strategy for ensuring that only safer surfactants are used in products. 

Auto-Chlor System 

Barricade Fire Gel 

Bissell Homecare Inc. 

Chemco Corporation 

ChemLink Laboratories LLC 

Clean Control Corporation 

Corporate Express, a Staples Company 

Earth Friendly Products 

Eco Concepts, Inc. 

EcoDiscoveries 

GEMTEK Products LLC 

Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP 

JohnsonDiversey, Inc. 

Klipper Group 

Method 

Naturell 

PDQ Manufacturing 

Pure & Gentle Soap Inc. 

Reckitt Benckiser, Inc. 

SafeWash Technologies 

S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. 

Seventh Generation, Inc. 

Spurrier Chemical Companies Inc. 

State Chemical Solutions 

SYSCO Corporation 

The Dial Corporation, A Henkel Company

The Procter & Gamble Company 

US Formula Technology 

U.S. Polychemical Corporation 

Virox Technologies Inc. 

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Retailers/Distributors

Champions in this category have achieved the following—They have: 

Demonstrated that only safer surfactants are included in products intended for sale; 

Documented a strategy for ensuring that only safer surfactants are included in 

products intended for sale. 

EPIC Cleaning Products

Institutional Purchasers

Champions in this category have achieved the following—They have: 

Demonstrated the purchase of products containing only safer surfactants; 

Documented a strategy for ensuring that purchased products contain only safer 

surfactants. 

Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System 

Others

Champions in this category have achieved the following—They have: 

Demonstrated outstanding efforts to encourage the use of safer surfactants 

GreenBlue 

ISSA -- The Wordwide Cleaning Industry Association 

Sierra Club 

Textile Rental Services Association of America and Uniform and Textile Service Association 

SDSI PARTNERS

Partners are recognized for significant accomplishments towards the use of safer surfactants. 

Partners may be granted recognition as a Champion in the future, if appropriate. The SDSI 

Partners are listed below. 

Product Formulators

Partners in this category have achieved the following—They have: 

Committed to manufacturing only safer surfactants by a date that is reasonable for 

the organization’s circumstances; 

Documented a strategy for ensuring the manufacture of only safer surfactants. 

Retailers/Distributors

Multi-Clean Inc. 

Natural Soap Formulas

VASKA

Athea Laboratories 

Canberra Corporation 

Daley International 

Flexocleaners.com 

Gent-l-kleen Products, Inc. 

HAZfree Inc. 

Hillyard Inc. 

Jaws International Ltd 

Jelmar 

Momar, Inc.

Mt. Hood Solutions 

National Chemical Laboratories, Inc. 

New Dawn Manufacturing Company 

NILODOR, INC. 

Orange TKO Industries Inc. 

Racine Industries, Host and Von Schrader 

Divisions 

Rochester Midland Corporation 

The Clorox Company 

3M (Building and Commercial Services Division)

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Partners in this category have achieved the following—They have:

Committed to using only safer surfactants in products by a date that is reasonable for 

the organization’s circumstances; 

Documented a strategy for ensuring that only safer surfactants will be used in 

products. 

Institutional Purchasers

Partners in this category have achieved the following—They have:

Committed to using products containing only safer surfactants by a date that is 

reasonable for the organization’s circumstances; 

Documented the active encouragement of the use of safer surfactants. 

County of Riverside, Custodial Services Division 

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago 

Others

Partners in this category have achieved the following—They have: 

Documented the active encouragement of the use of safer surfactants 

Clean Production Action

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