Toxics Reduction and Safer Alternatives

The smartest, most cost-effective and healthiest approach to reducing toxic threats is to not use them in the first place. Prevention is key to ensure human and environmental health. 

Waste Prevention Hierarchy

There are products that use ingredients that are less toxic and resources to help you find and use products that are safer.

For consumers:

EPA's Safer Choice program certifies many types of safer products like cleaning products, pet-safe products that can be found at most retailers. To learn more, visit EPA's Safer Choice web page.

Oregon's Toxics Free Kids Act requires manufacturers of children's products sold in Oregon to report products that contain one or more high priority chemicals of concern for children's health and ultimately remove these chemicals or seek a waiver. Visit the Oregon Health Authorities web page  for more information.

For businesses:

It's important that employees and business owners find and use less harmful chemicals. Our programs, such as Safer Choice and Oregon Applied Sustainability Experience, help businesses integrate green and sustainable chemistry concepts when making products. We also provide pollution prevention training and technical assistance which prioritizes finding workable solutions that protect public health and the environment.