Dell Tech Laboratories is a regulatory consulting firm that has been providing guidance to manufacturers and users of chemical products for over 22 years, with a focus on regulatory compliance, product safety and government registrations. Our services include product assessments, reviews and classification of products under the Hazardous Product Act, both for consumer and industrial workplace regulations. We are a Canadian General Standards Board certified testing laboratory under the requirements of ISO Guide 25. Our clients include small and medium size manufacturers in Canada and the United States as well as large multinational companies.
With greater environmental concerns in today's world, many different standards and criteria have been developed. Two of the more popular standards have been issued by Green Seal Inc. and the EcoLogo Program. We have compared the Green Seal Industrial and Institutional Cleaners standard GS-37 to the Environmental Choice Industrial and Commercial Cleaners standard ECP-57 (which has since been replaced by EcoLogo) below:
| Category | Green Seal GS-37 | Environmental Choice | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope/Product Categories | General Purpose Cleaner, Bathroom Cleaners (excluding toilet bowl disinfectants, sanitizers) Glass Cleaners (excluding sterilizers, disinfectants, sanitizers | Institutional & Industrial: General Purpose, Degreasers, Bathroom Cleaners, Odour Eliminators, Spot & Stain Removers, Glass Cleaners, Neutral Floor cleaners, Hand Soap, Dish Liquid Soap | EC has more categories. |
| Product Performance Testing | General Purpose – removes 80% of soil in ASTM D4488-95, A5; Bathroom Cleaners – remove 75% of soil ASTM D5345; Glass Cleaners – a rating of 3 in soil removal, smearing, streaking by CSMA test DCC 09 | Effective cleaning as measured by CAN/CGSB-2.11-94 Method 20.3 | Similar. |
| Toxic Compounds | Undiluted product not toxic to humans. Toxic if LD50 <2000 mg/kgInhalation lethal concentration < 20 mg/L. Toxicity measured in whole product | Must not contain > 0.1% of any ingredient that is: acutely toxic substance, toxic and bio accumulating,acutely toxic and not biodegradable,bioaccumulating and not biodegradable | Green Seal does not address bioaccumulation. |
| Carcinogens and Reproductive Toxins | Shall contain only ingredients that are not carcinogens or known to cause reproductive toxins as specified by IARC, NTP, OSHA | Shall not contain carcinogens or reproductive toxins as specified by IARC | Similar. |
| Skin & Eye Irritation | Undiluted product shall not be corrosive to skin & eyes. Dispensing system products can be tested as used. | Must not be corrosive to skin. pH > 2.0, < 13.0 | |
| Skin Sensitization | Undiluted shall not be a skin sensitizer. Disp. system conc. shall be tested as used | Not specified |
| Category | Green Seal | Environmental Choice | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combustibility | Undiluted product shall not be combustible. Flashpoint > 150°F (65.5°C) | Flashpoint > 61°C | EC slightly lower. |
| Smog/Ozone Production/Indoor Air Quality | Product as used has VOC limits.VOC 1% max for General Purpose, 3% max for Glass Cleaners | VOCs must be < 10% by weight | GS has slightly lower limits. |
| Toxicity to Aquatic Life | Shall not be toxic to aquatic life. LC50 for algae, daphnia, fish <100 mg/L | Non-toxic to aquatic life by sub chronic toxicity tests at minimum use dilution for algae, daphnia and fish | Similar. |
| Aquatic Biodegradability | Each organic readily biodegradable by OECD test | Must be readily biodegradable(OECD) whole formulation or each organic ingredient | Similar testing. |
| Eutrophication | < 0.5% P | <2.2% P | |
| Prohibited Ingredients | APEO, dibutyl phthalate, heavy metals, ozone depleting compounds | APEO, aromatic solvents, butoxyethanol, chlorinated solvents, < 5% NTA, < 1% EDTA, ozone depleting products |
| Category | GS-37 | Environmental Choice | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fragrances | Must be identified. | Not specified | |
| Concentration | Must be a concentrate. | May be a concentrate or RTU | |
| Packaging | Primary package recyclable or may be returned and refilled.L | Not specified | |
| Animal Testing | Prefer no animal testing. | Not specified | |
| Training | Operators shall be trained in proper use of product including: dilution, use, disposal and use of equipment. | WHMIS and OSHA require training | |
| Labels | Labels should assist non-English speaking and illiterate personnel. Labels must indicate dilution with cold water, dilution level, use, disposal and protective equipment | Must be identified as not for household use. Detailed use, disposal and recycling directions, must be used temperature 17C below its flashpoint | Both will have to meet workplace-labeling requirements |
In my expert opinion, GS 37 and ECP 57 are very similar with no material overall differences/impact regarding safety or protection for the environment.
John Ott
Dell Tech Laboratories Ltd.
Senior Business Development Manager