Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th April 2024 Issue no. 1111
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UL announces new EcoLogo Standard (UL 175) for Sanitary Paper Products
UL Environment, a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories), has launched its revised UL 175 Standard for Sanitary Paper Products, to coincide with the ISSA trade show in Las Vegas.
This new standard consolidates, revises and updates the following five EcoLogo Certification Criteria Documents: CCD-082 Toilet Tissue, CCD-083 Facial Tissue, CCD-084 Table Napkins, CCD-085 Kitchen Towels, and CCD-086 Hand Towels.
Certification of products under the new version of the standard offers numerous advantages for manufacturers, with a main advantage being an even greater focus on protecting human health, as well as additional broad sustainability requirements relating to the sourcing of fibre.
"We are continuously working on advancing our standards to support reduced environmental and human health impacts," explains Angela Griffiths, director of research and service delivery at UL Environment. "As the scientific body of knowledge around the effects of sourcing, manufacturing and using sanitary paper products has increased - and as manufacturing and the manufacturing lifecycle have become more sophisticated, we are updating our standards to reflect this new knowledge and ability in our certifications."
Highlights to the updates in the standards relating to human health & safety include: enhanced restrictions on the use of active components which are potentially bio-accumulative and hazardous, and additional restrictions on use of chemicals which are classified as potentially carcinogenic, which have oral toxicity or which are very toxic to aquatic life, which may cause genetic damage, or which are classified as heavy metals. Additionally, any fragrance used may not include ingredients on the European Union's allergens list and must be IFRA (International Fragrance Association) certified.
Environmental sustainability and impact updates include new criteria on packaging requirements; requirements for the sustainable sourcing of fibre (including a revised recycled content component and clearer rules for how to evidence the sourcing of fibre); improved limits on energy consumption; and requirements for biodegradable organic compound additives, including for optical brighteners.
Existing UL EcoLogo customers who have questions about their current sanitary paper certifications or wish to enquire about renewal should contact Mike Sawchuk at [email protected]. Manufacturers seeking to initiate the EcoLogo certification process should please visit the website or telephone. 1.888.485.4733.
For more information on the new standard, including highlights of the changes, a free copy of the updated standard may be obtained in its entirety at:
www.comm-2000.com
www.ul.com
21st November 2013