NPA Natural Standard for Home Care Products

The Natural Products Association has developed the Natural Products Association Standard and Certification for Home Care Products, which will help "protect and equip consumers to maximize their well being," according to the NPA website.

The NPA describes their Certification as "guidelines that dictate whether a product can be deemed truly 'natural,'" and includes home care products like household cleaners, laundry detergents, and ready-to-use hard-surface cleaners. Certified products would bear the NPA natural home care seal.

As outlined on the NPA website, establishing a standard for natural home care products would help ensure:

• Natural Ingredients: A product labeled "natural" should be made up of only, or at least almost only, natural ingredients and be manufactured with appropriate processes.
• Safety: A product labeled "natural" should avoid any ingredient that has peer-reviewed, scientific research showing human health or environmental risk.
• Responsibility: A product labeled "natural" should use no animal testing in its development except where required by law.
• Sustainability: A product labeled "natural" should use biodegradable ingredients and the most environmentally sensitive packaging.

The criteria for products that want to bear the Natural Certification seal include, but are not limited to:

• Product must be made up of at least 95 percent truly natural ingredients or ingredients that are derived from natural sources, excluding water
• No ingredients with any suspected human health risks
• No processes that significantly or adversely alter the natural ingredients
• Ingredients that come from a purposeful, natural source (flora, fauna, mineral)
• Processes that are minimal and don't use synthetic/harsh chemicals
• Non-natural ingredients only when no viable natural alternative ingredient are available and only when there are absolutely no suspected potential human health risks

To read more about Certification, including how to apply, visit the NPA website here: http://www.npainfo.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=NaturalStandard_homecare

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