GreenScreen Certified™：Advancing Safer Chemicals Across Industries

Introduction

GreenScreen Certified™ is a third-party product certification developed by Clean Production Action (CPA), a non-profit organization committed to advancing safer chemical practices. This certification applies across a wide range of industries and product types. Each GreenScreen Certified™ standard is developed in collaboration with stakeholders from government agencies, NGOs, and technical experts to ensure the criteria are comprehensive, proactive, and practical.

What Is GreenScreen Certified™?

GreenScreen Certified™ enables brands and manufacturers to demonstrate their commitment to green chemistry and the elimination of harmful substances, including PFAS and other chemicals of concern. Certification requires rigorous evaluation using GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals, a widely respected method for chemical hazard assessment.

This trusted eco-label is recognized by brands, procurement agencies, regulators, and NGOs for helping prevent regrettable substitutions—replacing one hazardous chemical with another—through the use of restricted substance lists and full ingredient screening.

Certified Product Categories

GreenScreen Certified™ currently offers standards for seven product categories across various industries:

1. Cleaners and Degreasers in Manufacturing
2. Firefighting Foams
3. Reusable Food Packaging, Food Service Ware & Cookware
4. Single-Use Food Service Ware & Thermal Paper
5. Furniture and Fabrics
6. Medical Supplies and Devices
7. Textile Chemicals

Detailed Scope of Certification Standards

Cleaners and Degreasers in Manufacturing

This standard covers cleaning products used in industrial manufacturing, particularly electronics, but also applies to other sectors. It includes chemicals used to clean machine parts, housings, and surfaces during production or maintenance.

Excluded:

• Mold release agents
• Cleaners for laboratories or offices
• Surface treatments to promote adhesion

Firefighting Foam

Covers two types of firefighting water additives used to suppress Class A and B fires (per NFPA definitions):

• Foam concentrates (for A, B, or both fire classes)
• Wetting agents (for A, B, or multi-class fires)

Reusable Food Packaging, Food Service Ware & Cookware

Applies to reusable items used in households, institutions, and commercial settings, including:

• Food containers, packaging, utensils, and cookware
• Materials used in these products (e.g., coatings, inks, adhesives, waxes)

Accepted materials:
Glass, ceramics, metals, plastics (virgin/recycled/biobased), wood, bamboo, cork, and composites.

Single-Use Food Service Ware & Thermal Paper

Covers:

• Compostable or recyclable single-use food containers and packaging
• Thermal paper like receipts
• Materials used in these products (e.g., coated paperboard)

Excluded:

• Grocery bags
• Pre-packaged retail food products

Furniture and Fabrics

Applies to:

• Indoor and outdoor commercial and residential furniture
• Furniture materials and components
• Textiles for furniture, home goods, apparel, footwear, drapery, and wall coverings
• Fibers, yarns

Medical Supplies and Devices

Covers a range of products used in healthcare:

• FDA Class I & II medical devices (e.g., catheters, blood pressure cuffs)
• Medical accessories and durable medical equipment (e.g., wheelchairs, infusion pumps)
• Consumable medical products (e.g., gauze, diabetic supplies)
• Materials and parts used in these items

Excluded:

• Pharmaceuticals
• FDA Class III medical devices

Textile Chemicals

Applies to:

• Chemical formulations used in fiber and fabric manufacturing
• Finishing treatments for stain, water, and oil resistance
• Post-treatment cleaners for furniture, garments, and shoes

Certification Levels and Requirements

GreenScreen Certified™ offers tiered certifications depending on the product type. For example, textile chemicals can be certified at four levels:

• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum

Each level reflects increasing stringency regarding hazardous substance restrictions, toxicological review, and analytical testing. Other categories typically have three to four certification levels, customized by product type.

GreenScreen Certified™ Process

Here’s an overview of the certification process:

1. Applicant registers on the GreenScreen Certified website.
2. Applicant contacts REACH24H to initiate the product review process.
3. REACH24H confirms whether the product falls within the certification scope.
4. REACH24H reviews the product according to standards and compiles a complete product review report.
5. REACH24H provides the product review report to CPA.
6. CPA conducts the certification review after receiving payment.
7. REACH24H or the applicant supplements information based on review comments.
8. CPA notifies the applicant of the certification results.
9. Applicant signs a license agreement with CPA.
10. CPA lists the certified product on its official website and sends the certified product certificate to the applicant.

Why Work with REACH24H?

As an approved GreenScreen Certified™ Reviewer, REACH24H provides certification services for all seven product categories.

Additional services include:

• GreenScreen List Translator™ screenings and GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals assessments
• Analytical testing supervision to meet standard requirements
• Supply chain engagement to gather data across manufacturers and suppliers
• Tailored consulting to meet client-specific needs

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does certification take?
Typically 1–4 months, depending on the product, certification tier, and preparation time before submission.

What does certification cost?
Costs vary based on:

• Certification level (e.g., Bronze vs. Gold)
• Number of chemicals in the product
• Number of products assessed
• Reviewer fees

For a detailed quote, contact REACH24H.

Are analytical tests required?
Yes. All products must undergo PFAS testing, typically via Total Fluorine (TF) analysis. Additional targeted tests may apply based on the product standard.

Is an on-site audit required for GreenScreen Certification?

No, it is not required. However, to ensure that the product meets all the specified lists and threshold requirements, a third-party GreenScreen reviewer or CPA may need to directly contact the applicant’s suppliers to obtain necessary confidential data.

What is the validity period of a GreenScreen Certification?

A GreenScreen Certification is valid for up to five years, consistent with the validity period of the referenced certification standard. Once expired, the product must undergo a new review to maintain its certification. As hazard data, regulatory environments, and safer technologies continue to evolve, the certification standards are updated every five years to better align with the principles of safer chemical strategies.

During the certification period, annual updates are required to verify that the product remains consistent with its originally certified formulation, ensuring all certified products and materials continue to meet the GreenScreen Certification standard.

How can concerns regarding GreenScreen Certification results be addressed?

GreenScreen Certification includes established procedures for complaints and appeals. For details, you can contact REACH24H Consulting Group.

Is it possible to pre-screen a product to assess its eligibility for GreenScreen Certification?

Yes. As the certification standards are publicly available free of charge, applicants can conduct a preliminary screening to better evaluate whether their products can meet the certification requirements. CPA recommends that applicants familiarize themselves with the certification criteria outlined in the specific GreenScreen Certification standard they are applying for.

First, determine whether you can provide the necessary chemical inventory information for the CPA. Then, review the Restricted Substances Lists (RSLs) to see if the product contains any prohibited chemicals that would disqualify it. If you are seeking Silver or higher certification, it is recommended to use platforms like Pharos or Toxnot to check the List Translator scores and public GreenScreen Benchmark scores of the chemicals in your product. This helps identify any LT-1 or Benchmark-1 scores, which would make the product ineligible for certification. Lastly, if you already have analytical testing data, verify that your product meets the limits set by the applicable certification standard.

Alternatively, you may also contact REACH24H for assistance in pre-screening your product for certification eligibility.

Can using ingredients listed on the U.S. EPA Safer Chemical Ingredient List (SCIL) simplify the GreenScreen Certification process?

Yes. The SCIL will soon be incorporated across all GreenScreen Certification standards. For Gold-level certification, any chemicals listed on the U.S. EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredient List do not require a GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals assessment.

Our Strengths

Strong Technical Expertise
Our team includes professionals with academic backgrounds in pharmacy, chemistry, environmental science, and veterinary medicine, as well as toxicologists certified by the Chinese and American toxicology societies.

Extensive Evaluation Experience
We have accumulated years of experience in hazard and risk assessments for chemical substances and various product types.

Broad Industry Coverage
We currently offer certification services for products in the construction, textile, electronics, and food industries, with plans to expand into more sectors in the future.

International Service Capability
Our multilingual service team covers Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, and Hindi-speaking regions, enabling us to efficiently serve international clients anytime, anywhere.