Sustainability Mandates in the EU & USA: Impact on Cleaning Products

Sustainability Mandates in the EU & USA: Impact on Cleaning Products

In recent years, sustainability regulations in the European Union (EU) and the United States (USA) have significantly reshaped the cleaning product industry. With growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products and government pressure to reduce environmental harm, manufacturers and brands are adapting fast — or being left behind.

From ingredient bans to plastic packaging restrictions, these mandates are not just suggestions — they are the new rules of the game.

In this article, we’ll explore:

• What sustainability mandates are currently in place in the EU and USA

• How these laws affect cleaning product formulation, packaging, and labeling

• What brands and factories must do to stay compliant

• Why adapting now gives you a competitive edge in global markets

🌍 What Are Sustainability Mandates?

Sustainability mandates are laws or regulations aimed at:

• Reducing pollution

• Limiting plastic waste

• Improving product safety

• Promoting eco-friendly innovation

• Encouraging transparency in product labeling

These mandates cover everything from the ingredients used in laundry detergent to the material of your packaging box.

For cleaning product manufacturers, understanding these mandates is critical — especially if you export to the EU or USA.

🇪🇺 EU Sustainability Mandates

The European Union has some of the strictest environmental regulations in the world. Here are some key directives:

1. REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006)

• Governs the use of chemical substances

• Requires full disclosure of ingredients

• Bans or restricts harmful chemicals like phosphates, parabens, and certain preservatives

✅ Impact on cleaning products: You must reformulate with safe, approved ingredients and provide detailed ingredient lists (INCI).

2. Detergent Regulation (EC 648/2004)

• All ingredients must be biodegradable

• Enforces labeling for allergens, surfactants, and enzymes

• Mandates full online ingredient disclosure

✅ Impact: No more greenwashing. Products must meet eco-formulation standards and provide transparent labels.

3. Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU 2019/904)

• Targets plastic packaging, lids, and wrappers

• Encourages paper, cardboard, or compostable packaging

• Requires extended producer responsibility for waste

✅ Impact: Liquid detergents in plastic jugs are being replaced by plastic-free laundry sheets and refillable systems.

4. Green Claims Directive (2024 Proposal)

• Aims to stop misleading marketing (greenwashing)

• Brands must prove environmental claims with scientific evidence

✅ Impact: “Eco-friendly,” “green,” or “natural” labels must be backed by test reports or certifications.

🇺🇸 USA Sustainability Mandates

While less centralized than the EU, the USA is seeing rapid progress on both federal and state levels.

1. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

• Regulates the use of new and existing chemicals

• Manufacturers must notify EPA before using certain substances

✅ Impact: Cleaning product factories must test and register chemical ingredients before production.

2. California Proposition 65

• Requires warning labels on products containing certain chemicals linked to cancer or reproductive harm

• Applies even if products are manufactured outside California

✅ Impact: Many cleaning formulas must be retested or adjusted for the California market.

3. Plastic Packaging Bans (State Level)

• States like New York, California, and Oregon are banning or taxing plastic packaging

• Encouraging compostable, refillable, and minimal-waste formats

✅ Impact: Brands must consider low-waste packaging like kraft boxes or dissolvable pouches.

4. FTC Green Guides (Federal Trade Commission)

• Guidelines for making environmental claims in marketing

• Terms like “biodegradable,” “compostable,” and “recyclable” must be truthful and substantiated

✅ Impact: Companies must support claims with real test data or face legal action.

🧼 How These Mandates Affect Cleaning Product Development

To comply with EU and USA mandates, cleaning product manufacturers must now:

✅ 1. Reformulate Products

• Use biodegradable surfactants

• Eliminate phosphates, EDTA, formaldehyde donors

• Incorporate plant-derived and low-toxicity ingredients

✅ 2. Change Packaging

• Switch from plastic jugs to:

  • Cardboard boxes

  • PVA water-soluble film

  • Compostable refill packs

✅ 3. Improve Label Transparency

• List all ingredients clearly

• Disclose allergens and allergens’ purpose

• Show net quantity, usage instructions, shelf life

✅ 4. Obtain Certifications

• EU: Ecolabel, COSMOS, REACH

• USA: EPA Safer Choice, USDA BioPreferred, Leaping Bunny

Certifications not only prove compliance but build consumer trust.

🌱 Opportunities for Brands and Factories

Adapting to sustainability mandates is not just about avoiding penalties — it opens huge opportunities:

🌍 1. Enter Global Markets

Regulations are often a barrier to entry. By being compliant, you can export confidently to:

• EU

• USA

• Australia

• Japan

• Middle East

🚀 2. Build Eco-Friendly Brands

Consumers increasingly want clean, conscious, low-waste products. Compliance helps you:

• Tell a stronger brand story

• Earn trust through transparency

• Tap into Gen Z and Millennial eco-buying power

🤝 3. Win B2B & Retail Contracts

Many retailers and distributors require:

• MSDS and COA

• REACH or EPA registration

• Non-toxic formulas

• Low-waste packaging

Compliance makes your product retail-ready.

🏭 What We Offer as a Compliant Manufacturer

As a professional cleaning product factory, we offer:

• 🌿 Biodegradable, sulfate-free, and phosphate-free formulas

• 🧴 Plastic-free packaging (sheets, paper wrap, compostable bags)

• 📜 REACH, MSDS, SGS, and EPA-compliant documentation

• ✅ Low MOQ & private label support

• 🌍 Export-ready solutions for USA, EU, Asia, and the Middle East

We help you stay ahead of regulations while growing your brand responsibly.

✅ Conclusion

Sustainability mandates in the EU and USA are reshaping how cleaning products are made, marketed, and packaged. Brands and manufacturers who adapt early will not only stay compliant but also win consumer trust, access global markets, and build a future-ready business.

💡 The key? Work with an OEM/ODM partner who understands green chemistry, eco-packaging, and international compliance.

📩 Need help updating your product line? Contact us for compliant formulas, packaging ideas, and sample development.