2020 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award Winners: Profiles

Below are profiles for each of the 2020 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award Winners.

• Apple, Cupertino, CA
• BASF Home Care and I&I Cleaning Solutions, Florham Park, NJ
• Berkley Green, Uniontown, PA
• The Clorox Company, Oakland, CA
• Defunkify, Eugene, Oregon
• DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences, Palo Alto, CA
• ECOS, Cypress, CA
• Grove Collaborative, San Francisco, CA
• Hazardous Waste Management Program, King County, WA
• Household & Commercial Products Association, Washington, DC
• Jelmar, LLC, Skokie, IL
• Lemi Shine, Austin, TX
• Naval Supply Systems Command Weapons System Support, Mechanicsburg, PA
• PROSOCO, Lawrence, KS
• PurposeBuilt Brands, Gurnee, IL*
• Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Seattle, WA
• Seventh Generation, Burlington, VT
• Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, NY

*Formerly Weiman Products

Go back to the Partner of the Year Awards home page.

Apple, Cupertino, CA

Apple is recognized for its efforts to advance the use of chemicals that meet Safer Choice criteria. Apple developed an internal Apple Safer Cleaner Criteria based on Safer Choice criteria, among other assessment tools, to determine the safer chemical status of chemicals used in its manufacturing processes. In 2019 Apple assessed 33 new cleaners, bringing the total to more than 50 safer cleaner and degreaser alternatives approved for use in its supply chain. Of note, Apple has promoted Safer Choice and its Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL) directly to suppliers in their annual Supplier Responsibility report and at other industry forums. In 2019, Apple assessed more than 110 new chemicals, which included reviewing product formulations and test reports, understanding the specific circumstances for use, and conducting exposure assessments to proactively eliminate risks to people and the environment as a result of using the proposed chemicals. Safer Choice commends Apple for its commitment to using safer chemicals in its manufacturing processes to ensure that the people working in its supply chain, and its customers, are protected.

BASF Home Care and I&I Cleaning Solutions, Florham Park, NJ

BASF Home Care and I&I Cleaning Solutions (BASF) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Innovator. In 2019, BASF expanded its efforts to raise awareness about safer chemical ingredients. BASF created a sustainability brochure highlighting their commitment to providing a diverse listing of 63 of their safer ingredients on a database of chemical ingredients pre-approved for use in Safer Choice-certified products. In 2019, BASF distributed more than 2,000 copies of an educational piece on their safer chemicals and Safer Choice and reached more than 24,000 people through social media and printed articles. BASF launched a new Home Care and I&I Cleaning website that features their safer ingredients and how they meet Safer Choice safer chemical criteria. They spread international awareness about Safer Choice and the value of chemical ingredients that meet Safer Choice criteria while holding customer workshops and online webinars in Mexico. Safer Choice commends BASF’s dedication to developing and educating the public about safer chemical ingredients.

Berkley Green, Uniontown, PA

Berkley Green is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Since becoming a Safer Choice partner in 2007, Berkley Green has continually added new products with ingredients that meet the Safer Choice program’s rigorous human health and environmental criteria. In 2019, Berkley Green certified 21 products. Berkley Green consistently showcases their support for Safer Choice by displaying the label on the front of all certified products. Safer Choice commends Berkley Green for leadership in highlighting the environmental and health benefits of its 70 Safer Choice-certified products.

The Clorox Company, Oakland, CA

The Clorox Company (Clorox) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Clorox has been a Safer Choice partner since 2007. In 2019, Clorox had two new products certified, bringing the total number of Safer Choice-certified products to 21. Clorox provided digital content for suppliers to use in their online stores selling their Safer Choice-certified products. In addition, Clorox’s newly developed website lists ingredient disclosures for all certified products and includes Spanish translations. Safer Choice applauds Clorox for their longstanding commitment to developing products with safer chemical ingredients.

Defunkify, Eugene, Oregon

Defunkify is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Defunikfy became a Safer Choice partner in 2019 and developed an innovative green chemistry process that has, as its starting point, the selection of ingredients that meet Safer Choice criteria from the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL). Defunkify added nine certified products in 2019. Defunkify posted about Safer Choice on their website and reached 40,000 consumer views in 2019. Safer Choice commends Defunkify for their commitment to developing products with safer chemical ingredients.

DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences, Palo Alto, CA

DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences (N&B) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Innovator. DuPont N&B is a manufacturer of enzyme technology used by product manufacturers in Safer Choice-certified cleaning products. Enzymes offer a range of sustainability improvements, including cold-water wash capability for detergents. In 2019, DuPont N&B added eight new ingredients to a database of ingredients that are pre-approved for use in Safer Choice-certified products. DuPont N&B worked with Safer Choice partners to supply enzymes for their products resulting in seven new Safer Choice-certified products in 2019. DuPont N&B also conducted reformulation to better meet Safer Choice criteria and removed two ingredients that did not meet the criteria. This resulted in 34 enzyme ingredients that became acceptable for use in Safer Choice-certified products in 2019. Safer Choice commends DuPont N&B for their commitment to developing safer chemical ingredients.

ECOS, Cypress, CA

ECOS is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. ECOS has been a Safer Choice partner since 2008. In 2019, ECOS submitted 61% of their recognized formulas for renewal with the program, illustrating their continued commitment to and belief in Safer Choice. ECOS also increased their offering of Safer Choice-certified products in 2019, reaching a total of more than 140 products. In 2019, ECOS’ Safer Choice-certified products were featured at several major trade shows, including the largest natural products show in the world. ECOS has partnered with schools and museums to educate local communities and children with hands on green chemistry experiences. This partnership has led to reaching 11,000 students to date. Safer Choice commends ECOS’s dedication to formulating and raising awareness of products with chemical ingredients that meet Safer Choice criteria.

Grove Collaborative, San Francisco, CA

Grove Collaborative is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. In 2019, Grove Collaborative became a partner and certified all six soaps in their hand soap collection. Grove Collaborative created a Consumer Scientist position to dedicate a full-time resource to the Safer Choice certification process. Of note, Grove Collaborative trains their “Grove Guides” or personalized customer service representatives to educate customers about the Safer Choice program. Safer Choice applauds Grove Collaborative for their commitment to developing products with safer chemical ingredients.

Hazardous Waste Management Program, King County, WA

Hazardous Waste Management Program, a local government collaborative, in King County, Washington, is recognized for its efforts to advance the use of chemicals that meet Safer Choice criteria. The Hazardous Waste Management Program had extensive community outreach activities in 2019, including safer cleaning workshops, safer cleaning classes at community colleges, train-the-trainer sessions, tables at community events, one-on-one residential education, and more, reaching almost 5,000 people directly. Of note, in 2019, close to 1,000 cleaning kits containing educational materials about safer cleaning practices and a Safer Choice-certified dish soap were distributed to the community. A training curriculum on Safer Choice was also created for their staff. Safer Choice is featured on their website and in multiple publications, some of which are translated into more than a dozen languages. Safer Choice commends the Hazardous Waste Management Program for leadership in educating their community about the environmental and health benefits of products with safer ingredients.

Household & Commercial Products Association, Washington, DC

Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) is recognized for advancing the use of chemicals that meet Safer Choice criteria. HCPA is a trade association representing companies that manufacture and sell products used for cleaning, protecting, maintaining, and disinfecting homes and commercial environments. Safer Choice recognizes HCPA for hosting sessions on chemical ingredients that meet Safer Choice program criteria at its 2019 membership meetings. In addition, HCPA provided a forum for manufacturers and formulators to discuss best practices for achieving Safer Choice certification of products and marketing those products to consumers. Safer Choice commends HCPA for its commitment to educating its membership and the public about safer chemical ingredients.

Jelmar, LLC, Skokie, IL

Jelmar, LLC is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Jelmar, a woman-owned company, has been a Safer Choice partner since 2004. In producing content for television, online video, and advertising delivered to mobile devices, Jelmar includes the Safer Choice label to demonstrate its commitment to making products with safer ingredients. Jelmar reached an audience of over 817.3 million in 2019 featuring the Safer Choice label in its advertising. Jelmar also reached more than 14,000 people with messages about Safer Choice through its social media channels. Jelmar reached more than 45,000 people through influencers who provided information on their certified products with safer ingredients. In 2019, Jelmar displayed the Safer Choice label on flyers and marketing materials at seven tradeshows. Safer Choice applauds Jelmar for reaching such a wide audience with messages about the environmental and health benefits of Safer Choice-certified products.

 

Lemi Shine, Austin, TX

Lemi Shine is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Lemi Shine has been a Safer Choice partner since 2017. In 2019, Lemi Shine had three products approved for Safer Choice certification. As of 2019, 19 of Lemi Shine’s 25 products were Safer Choice-certified. Safer Choice commends Lemi Shine’s dedication to raising awareness about the Safer Choice label through digital ads, sales presentations, tradeshows, web pages, and social media. One ad on Facebook that showcased their Safer Choice-certified products was displayed 1.9 million times.

Naval Supply Systems Command Weapons System Support, Mechanicsburg, PA

Naval Supply Systems Command Weapons Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) is recognized for its efforts to advance the use of chemicals that meet Safer Choice criteria. The Hazardous Material Control and Management (HMC&M) and Pollution Prevention (P2) Department of NAVSUP WSS maintains regulatory compliance for hazardous material (HAZMAT) located at more than 70 Navy installations worldwide and promotes P2 supply initiatives through the reuse, reduction, and substitution of HAZMAT across the Navy. In a pilot project in 2019, NAVSUP WSS increased the number of Safer Choice-certified products available for purchase by three and a half times which resulted in the pilot sites increasing the number of Safer Choice-certified products they purchased by fifteen times. They conducted on-site communication programs educating users about the meaning of Safer Choice certification. Safer Choice commends NAVSUP WSS for the success of the pilot program which introduced Safer Choice to up to 34,000 military, DoD civilians, contractors, and family members.

PROSOCO, Lawrence, KS

PROSOCO is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. PROSOCO has been a Safer Choice partner since 2016. PROSOCO is a small business that manufactures specialty construction cleaners for professional use. In 2019, PROSOCO reformulated three of their products and added a new product for Safer Choice certification. PROSOCO displayed Safer Choice-certified products and provided handouts at an international conference in 2019 that reached 900 participants. PROSOCO also provided a presentation and facility tour to members of the Kansas Women’s Environmental Network. Safer Choice applauds PROSOCO for their commitment to developing products with safer chemical ingredients for professional use.

PurposeBuilt Brands*, Gurnee, IL

PurposeBuilt Brands is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. PurposeBuilt Brands launched a corporate-wide sustainability initiative in 2019 that was embraced throughout the company and highlighted their new Safer Choice partnership as an essential component. PurposeBuilt Brands hired a Research & Development Green Initiatives Chemist to focus on Safer Choice certification. PurposeBuilt Brands first evaluated every product in each of the company’s seven consumer brand portfolios and then prioritized those to be submitted to Safer Choice “as is” or reformulated for submission. Throughout 2019, PurposeBuilt Brands reformulated numerous products and had three certified. PurposeBuilt Brands featured the Safer Choice label prominently on the front packaging of these certified products and on e-commerce channels. Safer Choice commends PurposeBuilt Brands for their commitment to formulating products with safer ingredients.

*Formerly Weiman Products

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Seattle, WA

Sea Mar Community Health Centers (Sea Mar) is recognized for its efforts to advance the use of chemicals that meet Safer Choice criteria. Sea Mar Community Health Centers is a community-based organization that provides comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington state. In 2019, Sea Mar taught in-home safer cleaning practices to 76 Spanish-speaking households in South King County, WA and provided education on Safer Choice-certified products. The training was well received by the community. Safer Choice congratulates Sea Mar for raising awareness about the health benefits of using products with safer ingredients.

Seventh Generation, Burlington, VT

Seventh Generation is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Seventh Generation has been a Safer Choice partner since 2009. In 2019, Seventh Generation added 22 Safer Choice-certified products, bringing their total to 51 certified products. Seventh Generation consistently uses the Safer Choice Standard as a key part of seeking new raw materials and engages with suppliers to encourage development of safer chemical ingredients. Safer Choice commends Seventh Generation for their continued dedication to protecting people and the planet.

Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, NY

Wegmans Food Markets is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Retailer. Wegmans has been a Safer Choice partner since 2014. In 2019, Wegmans introduced eight new Safer Choice-certified products, bringing their total to 25 store-branded Safer Choice-certified products. They also sell 22 Safer Choice-certified products from national brands. Safer Choice commends Wegmans for educating consumers about products with chemical ingredients that meet Safer Choice criteria through their emails and digital coupons, in-store displays, and direct mail advertisements. Safer Choice also commends Wegmans for its commitment to transition all Wegmans-brand household cleaning products, laundry detergents, and dish detergents to Safer Choice-certified formulas.