Clariant goes extra mile in support of eco-label eligibility for cleaning product manufacturers

Selected range of dyes and pigments that meets Nordic and EU Ecolabel criteria
Demonstrates Clariant's commitment to go extra mile in delivering sustainable solutions to customers serving personal care, household and industrial cleaning sectors
Debuts at SEPAWA 2012 in Fulda, Germany (Booth 658 - 660), October 23-25, 2012

Muttenz, October 23, 2012 – Clariant supports customers in their pursuit of eco-label status for consumer and industrial cleaning products, with the unveiling of a core range of colorants (dyes and pigments) that meets the requirements of the Nordic Ecolabel “Nordic Swan” and the EU Ecolabel.

Clariant’s portfolio of recommended dyes, pigments and pigment preparations for the use in products bearing eco-labels is suitable for a broad variety of applications including professional cleaners, as well as cleaning products found in daily life - from laundry and dishwasher detergents, to soaps and cosmetic products.

In order to be eligible for the Nordic and EU Ecolabel, ingredient formulations for each individual cleaning product group must fulfill certain criteria regarding safety towards health or the environment, for example the ban or limitations on certain hazardous substances, the aquatic toxicity or biodegradability. Additionally for some cleaning product categories, specific criteria for colorants are defined, such as approval for use in foodstuffs or having no bio-accumulation potential. Under the EU Ecolabel this affects certain personal care products (soaps, shampoos and hair conditioners). The Nordic Ecolabel defines colorant specific criteria for a broad range of cosmetic products and detergents (cleaning, dishwash and laundry agents).

Clariant’s colorants suitable for the use in products bearing eco-labels meet the requirements for not being bio-accumulating. Assessment of the logKow (partition coefficient oil/water) values indicates that all the colorants meet the lowest threshold defined in the corresponding Nordic Ecolabel and EU Ecolabel product group guidelines.

To ensure it offers only the most suitable products, Clariant has also taken the voluntary step of only choosing colorants which are free of any hazard label. This is not explicitly specified within the eco-label criteria.

Clariant’s Duasyn® and Sanolin® water soluble dyes are available in liquid or powder form and cover a wide range of shades within the color spectrum. Pigments and pigment preparations complete the range and offer Clariant’s customers a broad variety of color solutions to formulate all desired cleaning products. The full range will be presented publicly for the first time at the 59th SEPAWA Congress for the detergents, cosmetics and perfume sectors in October 2012.

“Eco-labels help consumers to choose products which have a reduced environmental impact and have become an important marketing and quality tool to demonstrate that the highest high environmental standards are fulfilled. Our recommendations ensure the use of safer colorants within the diverse cleaning product groups and provide differentiation opportunities to manufacturers serving these sectors,” comments Norbert Merklein, Vice President Business Segment Plastics & Special Applications Clariant.”