NSF Now Offers “Safer Chemicals” Testing

NSF International (Ann Arbor, MI) announced it now offers hazardous-chemicals screening so that those ingredients can be replaced with safer alternatives. The testing is being done in accordance with the GreenScreen testing method developed by Clean Production Action, an organization focused on developing solutions for products that are eco-friendlier.

NSF offers the GreenScreen testing as part of its Sustainability Division’s services. NSF’s toxicologists, chemists, and biologists perform the comparative chemical hazard assessments by reviewing product ingredients and formulations according to GreenScreen standards. Chemicals are then given one of four benchmark scores to indicate high or low hazard levels.

“With support from organizations like NSF Sustainability, GreenScreen will help to quickly and effectively move manufacturers toward the use of inherently safer chemicals,” said Lauren Heine, consulting co-director for Clean Production Action, in a press release.

“NSF Sustainability’s Green Chemistry services help companies gain information and an understanding of a chemical’s potential risk so they can choose safer chemical alternatives,” added Tom Bruursema, general manager for NSF Sustainability.

NSF Sustainability offers other chemical hazard assessment programs as well, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment program and GreenBlue’s CleanGredients program.