A risk-based, product-level approach for assuring aquatic environmental safety of cleaning products in the context of sustainability: The Environmental Safety Check (ESC) scheme of the A.I.S.E. Charter for Sustainable Cleaning
Authors: Pickup John Alexander , Dewaele Joost , Furmanski Nicola L , Kowalczyk Agnieszka , Luijkx Gerard CA , Mathieu Sophie , Stelter Norbert 
Published: February 2016

Cleaning products have long been a focus of efforts to improve sustainability and assure safety for the aquatic environment when disposed of after use. The latter is addressed at ingredient level through environmental risk assessment, including in formal frameworks such as REACH. Nevertheless, in the context of programs to improve overall sustainability, stakeholders demand both environmental safety assurance and progress at product level. Current product-level approaches for aquatic toxicity (e.g., USEtox™, Critical Dilution Volume) can be seen as predominantly hazard-based. The more logical approach would be risk-based, because ecotoxicity is generally threshold-dependent and hazard-based assessment produces conflicts with risk-based learnings. The development of a risk-based approach to assess formulated products is described: the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (A.I.S.E.) Charter Environmental Safety Check (ESC), which is consistent with the scientific principles underlying REACH. This is implemented through a simple spreadsheet tool and internal database of ingredient parameters including predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) and removal rate. A novel feature is applying market volume information for both product types and ingredients to permit a risk-based calculation. To pass the ESC check, the projected environmental safety ratio (PESR) for each ingredient as formulated and dosed (unless cleared by a published risk assessment or exempted as inherently low risk) must be less than 1. The advantages of a risk-based approach are discussed. The strengths and limitations of various possible approaches to standard-setting, product-ranking and driving continuous improvement in respect of potential ecotoxic impacts on the aquatic environment are considered. It is proposed that as ecotoxicity is generally accepted to be threshold-dependent, with no effect below the threshold, the most constructive approach to continuous improvement of sustainability with regard to ecotoxicity is to focus efforts on instances where the safety margins for ingredients as used in specific products are narrow. This necessitates a risk-based approach. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:127–138. © 2016 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

Key Points

Safe disposal of cleaning products in the aquatic environment is traditionally assessed at the ingredient level through environmental risk assessment. In the context of sustainable development, stakeholders demand both environmental safety assurance and progress at product level, yet existing product-level approaches regarding aquatic toxicity are predominantly hazard-based. This article describes a novel risk-based approach and operational scheme for assessing the potential aquatic environmental impact of individual types of cleaning products (formulations). Strengths and limitations of possible approaches are discussed, and the best approach is to focus on instances where safety margins for ingredients as used in specific products are narrow, necessitating a risk-based approach.