Sodasan: Environmental Cleanser Standards | Sodasan Wasch- und Reinigungsmittel GmbH

Environmentally protective laundering, washing, cleaning

Environmental Cleanser Standards

The Standards were defined by an independent, third party group which established and initially regulated the efficacy of the production and useage of environmental cleansers. The categories addressed included the sourcing and transporting of the raw ingredients, and the manufacturing, usage, advertising, and labeling. These standards apply specifically to "Natural" manufacturers of "ecological" detergents and/or cleaners in addition to the any current provisions of the law.

Technology and Workplace

Safety and Operational tasks cannot deteriorate the environmental quality of working conditions. Any waste created in the production process must be recycled. Materials used in the operation of machines and equipment must be environmentally compatible.

Ingredients

The following ingredients are not to be used in the manufacturing of the products or pre-products:
Products using gene technology and/or gene technology processes, irradiation or treatment with microwaves.
Storage and transportation of ingredients must be such that quality impairment and ecological damage remain as slight as possible.
Preference must be given to alternatives (with the same quality level of raw materials) which offer the shortest distance of transportation, and recyclable packaging.
Organic should be used whenever available. Organic and Conventional raw materials must be subject to strict spatial separation, to ensure the Organic ingredients are not mistaken for Conventional materials and that a mixture of the two is impossible.

Demands on Supplier

The supplier must document by means of suitable proof, that the quality of the processed ingredients corresponds to their declaration. Acceptable means include Delivery notes, bills, certification documents, and packaging.
In addition: Logbooks for documentation of the incoming products must reflect product designation, quantity, identification of cultivation method, and the number of the producer and the name of the certifying organization.
Carbon elements whether structurally basic, linked or coupled, must be derived from renewable raw materials. Animal raw materials are permitted only if raised humanely where the animals are not killed specifically for these materials. (IFOAM Standards) If a vegetable source of ingredients exists, they are to be used.

Demands on Plant Production

All vegetable ingredients should be certified organic, or come from rank growth. Production of raw materials should take place as close as possible to the processing site, with regionally produced materials preferred.

Manufacturers must strive for multiple use ingredients. Cold processed oil used to manufacturer any environmental soap and is to be the same high grade food oil thus supporting quality ingredient manufacturing growers and facilities.

Demands on the Materials After Use

Ingredients of the products cannot cause acute or chronic damage to the sewage or conduction into other environmental areas after usage or from the manufacturing process.

Guarantees

Products must be easily biologically biodegradable according to international standards; not able to be eliminable, or simply physically degradable.

Demands on biodegradablilty:

Primary must be at least 98% and Mineralization at least 75%. Aerobic degradability must be complete, and the possibility of aerobic degradability must be proven.

Aquatic toxicity may not exceed legal limits, to achieve "eco-label".

Heavy metals ( whether natural or due to processing) are to adhere to strictest legal limits. Additives containing up to very low limits of nickel, copper and zinc are permissible.

Not permissible are ingredients with active agents such as lead, chrome, cadmium, or mercury. Gaseous elements are not permitted, for ecological reasons, including boron, nitrogen, phosphorus.

Organic ingredients are preferably eliminated in the sewage and cannot impair the use of this sewage in any way, for example in agriculture.

All compliance must be proved in actual use or comparable materials published in relevant and documented studies.

All claims must be scientifically verifiable.

Inorganic Components

Natural minerals are to be used only when abundant deposits exist, and when the mining is done under consideration of environment and landscape protection. Regional sourcing is preferred. Alkalis are permitted only when no other safe alternative exists.

Demands on Human Toxicity

No known carcinogenic, teratogen, or mutagen are permitted as raw materials. Any trace of skin irritating metals may not exceed the strictest standards.
Raw materials and compounds marked dangerous by law are not permitted.
Finished products must adhere to a pH value in range of 2.0 - 12. 0
Products cannot be irritating to mucus membranes. They must carry a child proof lid marked with warnings and first aid descriptions.
All products where skin contact is possible, in actual use or as residue on the cleaned goods, must be well tolerated by the skin.
Animal testing is prohibited
All enzymes and optical brighteners are fundamentally prohibited.
Microbial materials are not permitted except as the inert, inactive preservative method. The products cannot generate dust or aerosols.

Processing

Processing must be accomplished with the least intensity as possible; that is with minimal energy demand, water consumption, and waste production. Chemical modifications must be carried out with as few steps as possible, with slightest energy employment, and without the emergence of any carcinogenic or mutagenic substances. Chlorine reagents or solvents are not permitted. Petrochemicals are only permitted as part of synthesis, in continuous recycling. Outside sourced raw materials must comply to same documentation as primary ingredients produced on site. Insufficiently degradable materials like EDTA, NTA, phosphates or toxicologically problematic materials are not permitted even in trace amounts.

Packaging

All packaging must consist of recyclable raw materials. Any other packaging must be easily separable. Cardboard used must contain 90% waste paper. Polyethylene and polypropylene bottles are to be used whenever possible because they can be recycled or refilled. Bulk containers are to be returnable to the manufacturer.

Cleaning

All surfaces in contact with storage, transport, and production must be cleaned with physical/mechanical processes (not chemical), and cleaners that adhere to this guideline.

Analysis of Pollution

Regular monitoring of the raw materials for contamination prior to processing is required and will allow manufacturers to aassure acceptable amounts. Contamination must meet or exceed the limits for nutrition in humans. Testing must include checking for compounds like PCB's, dioxines, radioactivity and pesticides.

Usage

Usage shall be in component parts, detergent, water softeners, bleach separate. Instructions shall be given for degree of soil present in laundry, with comment to use less if in doubt. Products must be offered as concentrates.

Declarations

Packages must give standard advice to consumers, encouraging them to understand the burden on the environment and must educate that even environmentally safe products need to be used sparingly. Labels and inscriptions must weather multiples use, of low impact adhesives and solvents, and inks.

Product Names

Products names and brand names may not contain terms: BIO-, ECO-, and Nature -. These names can mislead the consumer. All graphics in labels and consumer materials must refrain from implication that these products may be harmless to the environment. Images specifically omitted are lakes, brooks, as well as their typical inhabitants. All statements of the effect on the environment are to be omitted. Fundamentally inadmissible are statements offering non-polluting and environmental safety in connection with product characteristics. Use of materials from Certified organic ingredients can be declared. All ingredients are to be declared in unambiguous terms, non-chlorine is ok. All ingredients labels must be declared with all ingredients withexact percentages of each ingredient according to German detergent law.