What Is EPA Safer Choice and Why It Matters for Your Facility

August 6, 2025

Every day, we make choices about the products we use to clean and maintain our spaces, but not all products are created equal. For schools, hospitals, office buildings, and other facilities focused on health, safety, and sustainability, those choices carry extra weight.

That’s where the EPA Safer Choice program comes in.

 

What Is the EPA Safer Choice Program?

The EPA Safer Choice label is a trusted certification developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It helps buyers easily identify cleaning and maintenance products that are safer for people and the environment, without sacrificing performance. Only a small percentage of cleaning products on the market qualify for Safer Choice certification, making the label both selective and meaningful.

Products with the Safer Choice label must meet rigorous criteria:

  • Full Ingredient Review: Every ingredient, including dyes and fragrances, is reviewed for human health and environmental safety.
  • Rigorous Standards: Products must meet EPA benchmarks for toxicity, carcinogenicity, biodegradability, and overall environmental impact.
  • Verified Performance: Safer Choice products are tested for cleaning efficacy, pH, and packaging safety to ensure they perform as well as, or better than, conventional alternatives.

 

Who Benefits from Safer Choice?

Everyone. Whether you are a building service contractor, facility manager, or end user, Safer Choice products bring powerful advantages:

  • Healthier Work Environments: Reduced exposure to harsh chemicals supports the health of custodial teams and building occupants.
  • Sustainability Goals: Certified products help meet environmental benchmarks for clients and internal ESG or green purchasing policies.
  • Compliance Support: Safer chemical choices simplify hazard communication, PPE requirements, and risk management efforts.
  • Green Building Certifications: Many Safer Choice products help contribute to LEED, WELL, and other sustainability-focused certifications.

 

Safer Choice in Action: Canberra’s Certified Solutions

At Canberra, we are proud to support safer cleaning through a wide range of Safer Choice-certified products, available in multiple formats to meet the needs of every facility. From daily floor care to peroxide cleaners, our lineup helps facilities clean with confidence.

Canberra EPA Safer Choice Certified Products:

 

Make the Safer Choice Today

Cleaning products should not compromise health or sustainability in the name of performance. With Canberra’s Safer Choice-certified solutions, you do not have to choose. You get powerful, proven performance with ingredients you can feel good about.

Ready to make the safer choice for your facility? Explore our Safer Choice product line or contact us to learn more about implementation, training, and support.

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