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EPA Safer Choice Program
The EPA Safer Choice program (formerly Design for the Environment, or DfE) certifies individual cleaning products that meet strict ingredient safety standards. It is not a firm-level certification — it is a product label program administered by the EPA that manufacturers apply for on behalf of their products.
What EPA Safer Choice Certifies
A product earns the EPA Safer Choice label when every ingredient, including fragrance and preservatives, has been reviewed by EPA scientists and verified as safer for human health and the environment. The key criteria:
- No chemicals of concern — no carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or endocrine disruptors
- Biodegradability — surfactants must be ultimately biodegradable
- Aquatic toxicity — product must not be acutely toxic to aquatic organisms
- Packaging — recyclable packaging preferred; concentrated formulations scored higher
As of 2024, the EPA Safer Choice database contains over 2,000 certified products across industrial and institutional cleaning categories, including degreasers, surface cleaners, floor care products, and disinfectant formulations.
How to Use EPA Safer Choice in Specialty Cleaning
For specialty cleaning contractors, EPA Safer Choice compliance means specifying certified products and documenting their use on client sites. This is relevant for:
- Pressure washing: Sodium hypochlorite-free or low-concentration formulations for soft-washing; Safer Choice-certified degreasers for concrete and parking structure cleaning
- Floor care: Safer Choice-certified strippers, finishes, and scrubbing chemicals (key for healthcare and schools)
- Window cleaning: Most major concentrated window cleaning solutions (Ettore, Unger, Ecolab) offer Safer Choice-certified product lines
- Post-construction cleaning: Safer Choice-certified general cleaners for final-phase residential construction
Documentation for clients: Download the EPA Safer Choice data sheet for each product you use and maintain a product safety file by client site. Many LEED and Green Seal auditors will ask for this documentation during certification reviews.
Key Manufacturers with Safer Choice Product Lines
- Ecolab — Institutional cleaning, floor care, and sanitation; large Safer Choice portfolio
- Betco — Commercial floor care, degreasers, and disinfectants; active Safer Choice program
- Spartan Chemical — Institutional and industrial; multiple Safer Choice-certified lines
- Simple Green — Consumer and commercial; flagship All-Purpose Cleaner is Safer Choice certified
- Zep Commercial — Industrial degreasers; select products carry Safer Choice label
Green Seal GS-37 Certification for Cleaning Service Companies
Green Seal GS-37 (Standard for Commercial and Institutional Cleaning Services) is the most widely recognized firm-level green cleaning certification in the US commercial market. It certifies your company — not just your products — against a comprehensive set of environmental health and safety requirements.
GS-37 Requirements
Green Seal GS-37 certification requires compliance across four domains:
1. Product requirements: All cleaning products must be third-party certified as environmentally preferable (EPA Safer Choice, ECOLOGO UL 2759, or Green Seal certified). This covers general-purpose cleaners, floor care products, and specialty chemicals.
2. Environmental health and safety: Training program for all employees on safe product use, PPE requirements, and OSHA Hazard Communication Standards (29 CFR 1910.1200). Documentation of training completion required.
3. Equipment requirements: Vacuum cleaners must meet HEPA filtration standards; auto-scrubbers must have systems to minimize chemical and water use. Equipment must be maintained per manufacturer specifications.
4. Management practices: Written green cleaning policy; system for tracking product use and environmental outcomes; documented process for receiving and acting on client feedback.
GS-37 Certification Process
- Application — Submit firm application to Green Seal; review of business information and service scope
- Documentation review — Submit product lists, training records, equipment inventory, and green cleaning policy
- On-site audit — Third-party auditor visits your facility and/or a client site; interviews employees and reviews documentation
- Certification issuance — Green Seal issues certificate valid for one year; annual renewal required
- Annual renewal — Annual documentation submission; periodic re-audit (typically every 3 years for full on-site audit)
Cost: Application fee plus annual certification fee varies by company size:
- 1–25 employees: ~$1,200–$1,800/year
- 26–100 employees: ~$2,200–$3,500/year
- 101+ employees: ~$3,500–$6,500/year
Markets Where GS-37 is Required or Preferred
- Healthcare facilities — Joint Commission (JCAHO) facilities increasingly use GS-37 as a vendor qualification criterion
- K–12 schools and higher education — California, New York, and Illinois have state laws mandating green cleaning in schools; GS-37 is the most common compliance pathway for vendors
- Government contracts — Federal executive order mandates green cleaning in federal buildings; GS-37 is a recognized standard
- LEED-certified buildings — GS-37 supports multiple LEED OM credits (see below)
LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance: Specialty Cleaning Credits
LEED for Operations and Maintenance (LEED OM) is the USGBC certification pathway for existing buildings. The Cleaning section of LEED OM awards credits for green cleaning practices, and specialty cleaning contractors are directly relevant to multiple credit categories.
Relevant LEED OM Credits for Specialty BSCs
Green Cleaning — High-Performance Cleaning Program (1 point): Requires a comprehensive green cleaning policy, documented use of certified products, HEPA vacuum requirement, and cleaning chemical log. Specialty BSCs contribute by documenting their specialty products and methods in the building's green cleaning program.
Green Cleaning — Entryway Systems (1 point): Addresses the use of walk-off mats and entryway cleaning systems to reduce particulate tracked into the building. Relevant for BSCs providing floor care and entryway maintenance.
Integrated Pest Management, Erosion Control, and Landscape Management (1 point): Relevant when specialty BSCs perform exterior cleaning with chemical discharge to adjacent landscaped areas; proper stormwater and chemical management supports this credit.
Green Cleaning — Custodial Effectiveness Assessment (1 point): Requires documented inspection of cleaning effectiveness using APPA standards. Specialty BSCs should maintain inspection reports (pre- and post-service) that can be provided to the building's LEED consultant.
What LEED Compliance Means in Practice for Specialty Contractors
When a client building is pursuing or maintaining LEED OM certification, they will ask specialty contractors for:
- A complete product list with third-party certification status (EPA Safer Choice or ECOLOGO)
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all products used on site
- A written green cleaning policy applicable to your specialty work
- Training documentation for all technicians (OSHA HazCom, product handling)
- Post-service inspection reports and any deviation logs
Maintaining these documents in a standard "LEED Compliance Package" by client type (healthcare, office, education) reduces the administrative burden of each new LEED account.
ISSA CIMS-GB: Cleaning Industry Management Standard — Green Building
CIMS-GB (Cleaning Industry Management Standard — Green Building) is ISSA's comprehensive firm-level certification program. It is more demanding than Green Seal GS-37 but widely recognized in large commercial and government markets. "GB" designation adds the green building module to the base CIMS certification.
CIMS-GB Requirements
CIMS-GB evaluates six core areas:
- Customer Focus — documented client communication and satisfaction measurement
- Human Resources — hiring, training, and retention programs
- Health, Safety, and Environment — OSHA compliance, PPE programs, chemical safety
- Environmental Sustainability — product selection, green cleaning policy, waste reduction
- Management Commitment — leadership engagement, continuous improvement documentation
- Building Codes and Standards — compliance with applicable state/local cleaning regulations
The GB module specifically adds requirements for certified green product use, environmental training, and documentation aligned with LEED and Green Seal standards.
Certification cost: $2,200–$6,800 annually depending on company size; includes a third-party assessor audit and ISSA logo licensing.
Choosing the Right Green Credentials for Your Market
Not every specialty BSC needs all four credentials. The optimal certification portfolio depends on your target market segment.
| Target Market | Priority 1 | Priority 2 | Priority 3 | Annual Investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K–12 schools | Green Seal GS-37 | EPA Safer Choice products | State compliance docs | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Healthcare | Green Seal GS-37 | CIMS-GB (for large accounts) | EPA Safer Choice products | $3,500–$10,000 |
| Federal government | CIMS-GB | Green Seal GS-37 | EPA Safer Choice products | $4,000–$10,000 |
| LEED-certified buildings | EPA Safer Choice products | Green Seal GS-37 | LEED OM documentation package | $1,200–$4,500 |
| General commercial | EPA Safer Choice products | Green Seal GS-37 (optional) | — | $0–$1,800 |
| Higher education | Green Seal GS-37 | CIMS-GB (for large campuses) | EPA Safer Choice products | $2,200–$7,000 |
Green Cleaning for Specialty Services: Application by Vertical
Green certification requirements vary significantly by specialty service type. The most challenging green compliance requirements fall on pressure washing (stormwater and chemical discharge) and restoration (mold, biohazard, and chemical remediation).
Pressure washing: The primary green compliance challenge is stormwater runoff containing cleaning chemicals. NPDES permit requirements under the Clean Water Act (40 CFR Part 122) apply to commercial pressure washing operations that discharge to storm drains. EPA Safer Choice products reduce the regulatory burden but do not eliminate the obligation to manage discharge. Containment, vacuum recovery, and proper disposal are required in most jurisdictions regardless of product certification.
Window cleaning: The lowest green compliance complexity. EPA Safer Choice-certified concentrates are widely available (Ecolab, Unger, Ettore). The primary IEQ concern is fragrance-containing products in occupied buildings — choose fragrance-free formulations for healthcare and school accounts.
Floor care: VCT strippers and finishes are the most significant green chemistry challenge in floor care. Many conventional floor strippers contain strong alkaline compounds and high-VOC solvents. Safer Choice-certified floor care lines (Betco, Spartan, Ecolab) are available but typically cost 15–25% more per unit. For LEED OM buildings, the premium is non-negotiable.
HVAC duct cleaning: The primary green concern is the chemical treatment step (biocide application for mold/bacteria). EPA has specific guidance on biocide use in HVAC systems; only EPA-registered antimicrobials are permitted, and NADCA cautions against routine biocide use without documented contamination. Use the mildest effective product and document the application for LEED compliance packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EPA Safer Choice certification required for my cleaning products?
No federal rule requires it for commercial cleaning generally. Safer Choice becomes mandatory through specific clients or building standards instead — LEED-certified buildings, state school laws, healthcare systems, and government accounts are where you'll see it written into the requirements. Everywhere else it works as a competitive differentiator, and that edge is getting sharper as more buyers put chemical questions into their bid packets.
Does Green Seal GS-37 apply if I only do specialty work like pressure washing and window cleaning?
Yes. GS-37 applies to cleaning service companies broadly, and the standard draws no line between specialty and routine cleaning. If pressure washing and window cleaning sit in your scope, the products and methods you use on those jobs have to comply the same way a nightly janitorial chemistry would. There is no lighter specialty tier to certify under.
I run a small specialty crew with zero certifications — what's the first move?
Switch your chemistry to EPA Safer Choice-certified products before you spend a dollar on anything else. The cost delta is modest, typically $0.05 to $0.20 more per unit of concentrate, and the payoff is immediate: you can document Safer Choice compliance on any proposal you send out tomorrow. Firm-level certification is worth pursuing later, once that documentation is already helping you win bids.
Which buyers actually check green credentials before awarding work?
Healthcare, government, and LEED-certified building clients are the ones who put it in writing, joined by schools in states whose laws specify green cleaning products. General commercial buyers rarely mandate anything, which is exactly why credentials read as a differentiator with that group rather than a gate. Sort your target accounts by which of those two categories they fall into, then decide how much certification you actually need to buy.
How we built this guide
Opora editorial sources from BLS OEWS wage tables, ISSA-447 production rates, NCCI workers' compensation classifications, EPA List N, OSHA 29 CFR standards, and primary state regulatory filings. We don't recycle blog posts — we audit primary documents.
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