Which Certifications Do Blueland Products Have—and What Do They Mean?

Have you ever looked at a product boasting a particular set of certifications but had no idea what any of them meant? You’re not alone. Now, more than ever, consumers are educating themselves on the impact of the products they purchase—as well as the ingredients inside. Here at Blueland, we prioritize those that align with the highest standards for human and environmental health. If you take a look at our website, you’ll find various certifications for our specific products. These include:

• The Material Health Certificate™ from Cradle to Cradle

• USDA BioPreferred

• EPA Safer Choice

• Leaping Bunny

• EWG Verified

• National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance™

And since you’re likely wondering—here’s exactly what each means in terms of our products:

What is Cradle to Cradle?

The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program and Institute were developed to establish a global standard for products that are made responsibly, safe for people and the planet, and are part of a circular system. The vision behind Cradle to Cradle is to create a world where safe products are manufactured in a sustainable circular economy to maximize health and wellbeing for consumers and the environment. The Institute aims to nourish collaborative partnerships that equip businesses, governments and other contributors with solutions to innovate the way products are manufactured.

What Is A Material Health Certificate™ From Cradle To Cradle?

This certification verifies that chemicals and materials used in the product are selected to prioritize the protection of human health and the environment, generating a positive impact on the quality of materials available for future use and cycling.

The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Material Health certification evaluates the safety and transparency of a product’s chemical ingredients across four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

• Bronze ensures basic compliance by screening out high-concern substances and assessing at least 75% of the product.

• Silver increases coverage to 95% and excludes harmful chemical classes like halogenated organics and recognized carcinogens.

• Gold requires full (100%) ingredient assessment, with all materials deemed safe for human and environmental health, plus very low or no VOC emissions.

• Platinum builds on gold by requiring a certain number of chemicals with a/b risk ratings as well as certified input materials or an LCA hotspot analysis.

As there are very limited a/b chemicals and certified input materials currently available on the market, Blueland’s current formulations and vessels are limited to Gold (under the v4.1 standard). For more information on what Blueland products have been awarded with the Material Health certification, visit Cradle to Cradle.

What Does Biobased Mean?

Biobased products are derived from raw materials such as plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials. To break it down further, biobased products are assessed on how much “new” carbon is in a substance versus “old” carbon. For example, a plant or a tree contains “new” carbon, while coal contains “old” carbon as it has become inorganic carbon.

What Does A USDA BioPreferred Certification Mean?

The USDA BioPreferred program assesses the ingredients profile of specific products to determine what degree the product is biobased. Biobased products that are awarded this certification should provide an alternative to conventional products that are derived from petroleum.

The USDA assesses the percentage of biobased materials or ingredients in a product by evaluating the amount of “new” organic carbon in a product, then dividing that amount by the sum of the “new” organic carbon plus any “old” inorganic carbon. Water is excluded in this calculation. The USDA then compares this percentage to their standard to determine whether a product will receive the BioPreferred certification. So, are Blueland products biobased?

• Our Dishwasher Detergent Tablets are 100% biobased

• Our Landry Detergent Tablets are at least 95% biobased (Free & Clear is 100%)

• Our Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets are 100% biobased

• Our Foaming Hand Soap Tablets are 81% biobased

What Does The EPA Safer Choice Certification Mean?

The EPA’s Safer Choice label is aimed at helping consumers find products with safe ingredients without sacrificing quality or performance. Companies submit their documentation for review on a voluntary basis as they have rigorously researched and formulated their products to meet the Safer Choice criteria.

What Are The Qualifications For The EPA Safer Choice Certification?

First, the EPA reviews all of the chemical ingredients in the product. The ingredients must meet strict criteria for both human and environmental health, including carcinogenicity, reproductive/developmental toxicity, toxicity to aquatic life, and persistence in the environment. If the product meets this criteria, it means that the formulation is safer for the consumer, their family, and pets, worker’s health in the supply chain, fish, and the environment.

The EPA also evaluates whether VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are included, in an effort to minimize indoor air pollution and respiratory illnesses, as well as the pH level of products to ensure that they minimize potential for skin or eye irritation.

Finally, partners that are evaluated for the Safer Choice label must provide proof of sustainable packaging against criteria defined in the Safer Choice Standard. For example, the Safer Choice Standard requires that any paperboard used in packaging is made of 100% recycled content—or actively working toward that goal.

Which Blueland Products Are EPA Safer Choice Certified?

Currently, our Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets, both Dishwasher and Laundry Detergent Tablets and classic Foaming Hand Soap Tablets are EPA Safer Choice certified However, our other products are currently awaiting assessment and only use ingredients on the EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List. For more information on what Blueland products that meet the Safer Choice criteria, visit EPA Safer Choice.

What Does The Leaping Bunny Certification Mean?

Leaping Bunny is committed to providing consumers with the ability to identify products that have not been tested on animals and do not contribute to animal cruelty. This means that the formulation and ingredients of Leaping Bunny certified products have not undergone new animal testing.

Virtually every ingredient, even water, has been tested on animals in the past. The Leaping Bunny Program seeks to prevent future animal testing so companies must agree not to conduct any animal testing after a fixed cut-off date. The Leaping Bunny Standard is the only one that guarantees a product to be free of new animal testing.

This means that the company has not purchased ingredients, formulations, or products from a third party or supplier that conducted, commissioned, or been party to animal testing on the ingredient, formulation, or product purchased since its cutoff date.

Furthermore, certified companies must recommit to the program annually and must be open to independent audits to ensure their supply chain management system is free of animal testing.

What Does It Mean To Be EWG Verified?

The EWG (Environmental Working Group) Verified mark is becoming an increasingly important label for consumers due to their strict criteria and standards for health and safety. EWG currently evaluates and awards labels for skincare products, cleaning products, and now baby care products. These categories all have different sets of criteria, so for the purpose of our products, we will focus on the criteria established for cleaning products.

How EWG Evaluates Cleaning Products

First and foremost, EWG evaluates products based on health standards. Products that receive the label must be formulated to minimize potential harm to people and the environment, disclose all intentionally added ingredients, fragrance allergens, and nanomaterials. They must meet stringent air quality standards and pass testing for shelf stability in an appropriate period of time.

Companies that are awarded the label for these efforts must also disclose the results of third-party efficacy testing, follow standard ingredient naming guidelines, follow best manufacturing practices, and submit all information on potential substantial product hazards to the Consumer Product Safety Commission or the EPA if the product is a registered disinfectant, as well as EWG.

Ongoing Monitoring and Compliance

Should EWG award a product with their label, they also reserve the right to perform random product testing at any time to make sure the formulation is still in compliance with their standards. Additionally, EWG reviews and updates their “Unacceptable” and “Restricted” lists annually to ensure that no harmful ingredients are excluded from these important lists.

What Blueland Products Are EWG Verified?

Currently, our Free & Clear Laundry and Dishwasher Detergent Tablets are verified. We are one of the first dishwasher and laundry detergents to receive the verification. While not all of our products are verified, none of our products use ingredients on the EWG Unacceptable List.

What Is the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance?

The National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance™ is a trusted mark that helps individuals with eczema and sensitive skin identify products that are safe and suitable for daily use. Since 2008, the Seal has signified that a product is free from known irritants and allergens as outlined in the NEA’s Ecz-clusion List.

To earn the Seal, products must also undergo a rigorous scientific review and pass one or more validated clinical (non-animal) safety tests, like the Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT), Cumulative Irritancy Test (CIT), and Safety in Use (SIU). These evaluations help ensure the product meets the highest standards for sensitivity and skin compatibility.

What Blueland Products Have the Seal of Acceptance?

The National Eczema Association (NEA) Seal of Acceptance™ primarily applies to cosmetics and a limited selection of household cleaning products. At this time, the NEA does not certify products that contain fragrance. Currently, only our Free & Clear Laundry product is NEA-certified, but we are actively prioritizing the NEA’s Ecz-clusion List when reviewing ingredients across our portfolio.