The period before birth and the first eighteen months after represent one of the most vulnerable periods in a person’s life when it comes to exposures to toxic chemicals. It is also the time in a parents’ journey where they are most open to learn about safety issues. Baby products and brands vary in their attention to safety issues, and can fall behind when it comes to sustainability considerations. But our choices about which products to use can have important implications for a person’s development and health for the rest of their lives.

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Types of products included in this category: Skin care, hair care, diapers, wipes, feeding, sleeping, sun care

The products we use to clean our homes and clothes have long been a source of concern when it comes to ingredients and have also seen the greatest improvements in safety. Because these products are made up entirely of chemicals with varying degrees of toxicity, they represent an obvious target when it comes to opportunities for choosing safer alternatives. Ingredient transparency and safety has come a long way in this industry but fragrances can still represent a source of concern. Not only is it easier to choose safer products that protect our families, we can also help protect aquatic creatures since these products often go down the drain and into local rivers and the ocean.

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Types of products included in this category: Dish soap, dishwasher detergent, toilet cleaning, surface cleaning, hand soap, laundry, odor management, toilet paper, paper towels

Some of the largest exposures to toxic chemicals in the home can come from furniture like couches, chairs, carpet, and mattresses. This important category lacks transparency around which chemicals and materials are used, and certifications are less mainstream, making it a hard category for consumers to safely shop. Sustainability and sourcing issues are also relevant to this industry, considering where furniture is made, how workers are treated, and their workplace exposures to many of these toxic materials. Products in this category are often difficult to recycle, making circular approaches and producer responsibility important.

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Types of products included in this category: Sofas, sectionals, love seats, couches, chairs, tables, lighting, rugs, bed frames, shelving, storage

Products and materials like paint, flooring, fixtures, adhesives, and others are a higher risk category for consumer exposure to toxic chemicals and ongoing safety issues. In the past sustainability has been a lower priority for brands in this space considering the utilitarian nature of how we use these products. Advances in green building requirements and certifications along with increased consumer interest in supporting brands that prioritize safety and sustainability is leading to deeper action by brands on these issues.

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Types of products included in this category: Indoor paint, exterior paint, exterior wood stain, resilient flooring, carpet, faucets, cabinet hardware, doorknobs, lighting, storage.

Childhood is a critical window for development and studies show how children have increased exposure to toxic chemicals through their unique behaviors (crawling on the ground and putting their fingers in their mouths). The hazards for children’s products span products and categories including plasticizers, hormone-disrupting compounds, heavy metals, PFAS, and flame retardants.

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Types of products included in this category: Toys, games, art supplies, crafts, jewelry, make-up, costumes, puzzles, dolls, books, stuffed animals

The materials used in cookware, food packaging, food storage, to-go containers, and kitchen electronics represent critical potential routes of exposure to toxic chemicals in our day to day lives. Public awareness has grown around some kinds of problem chemicals in these products like plasticizers and more recently forever chemicals (fluorinated compounds) like PFAS. Some brands have seized the opportunity to make safer alternatives that are “free-from” these specific chemicals, but may lack a comprehensive approach to safety and sustainability.

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Types of products included in this category: cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools, utensils, kitchen electronics, tableware, cutting boards, knives, food storage

The majority of us use personal care items a day, like soap, shampoo, cosmetics, and lotions, yet there are still documented safety issues with various ingredients. Lack of transparency around ingredients, like fragrance, continue to leave consumers in the dark and there is widespread clean-washing and green-washing. Ingredients and packaging used in the beauty industry pose significant environmental and social impacts to communities and ecosystems around the world. These products are commonly packaged in small format, mixed material plastic packaging, much of which is not curbside recyclable or has safety concerns.

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Types of products included in this category: Skincare, haircare, bodycare, hand soap, cosmetics, body wash, sun care, moisturizer, makeup, hair accessories