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

Abstract

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 TM , 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.

Use of prospective and retrospective risk assessment methods that simplify chemical mixtures associated with treated domestic wastewater discharges

“…The underlying consumption data for the pharmaceuticals are based on the European Union country with the maximum per capita use for each medicinal product based on 2008 usage data (Eurostat ). For substances used in cleaning products, product consumption rates using the Environmental Safety Check tool (Pickup et al ) were used in combination with typical concentrations of the substance in the respective product. In the case of personal care products, annual sunscreen consumption rates and typical concentrations of the nanoparticles zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium oxide (TiO) were obtained from the German association of personal care product makers (The German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association ).…”

“…The data were collected for 3 species groups (algae, daphnia, and fish), representing primary producers, primary consumers, and predators. As an additional data source, the Environmental Safety Check tool (Pickup et al ) was utilized, which provides environmental safety evaluations of cleaning and maintenance products. Supporting documentation was also accessed via the web link (Pickup et al ).…”

“…As an additional data source, the Environmental Safety Check tool (Pickup et al ) was utilized, which provides environmental safety evaluations of cleaning and maintenance products. Supporting documentation was also accessed via the web link (Pickup et al ). The LAS and quaternary amine benzalkonium chloride (BAC) are mixtures in themselves and consist of several homologs and (in the case of LAS) isomers.…”

“…Because the exact composition of these mixtures in the environment is not known, effects data for these substances were chosen such that they reflect an average composition of the substances as used in commercial products. Toxicity evaluations for LAS and BAC have been performed by Human and Environmental Risk Assessment () and Environmental Safety Check (Pickup et al ), respectively.…”

Ecodesign of cosmetic formulae: methodology and application

“…This process is geared towards generating a competitive advantage by finding the best solution related to consumer needs (functionalities, cost), technical feasibility and environmental footprint. Different trials have previously been described for assessing the environmental impact of chemical‐based products when discharged into the environment, through different methods or models, such as the chemical footprint , USEtox ® or Environment Safety Check (ESC) .…”