Natural Home Care Standard

NHCNaturalStandard040512vfinal(2).
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NaturalProductsAssociation1773TStreet,NW,Washington,DC20009ph:(202)2230101fax:(202)2230250
natural@NPAinfo.orgwww.NPAinfo.org
NaturalProductsAssociationStandardandCertification
forNaturalHomeCareProducts
In order to protect the consumer and best equip the consumer and to maximize the consumers well
being, we have developed Natural Products Association Standard and Certification for Home Care
Products. It is a set of guidelines that will dictate whether a product can be deemed truly natural. It
encompasses select home care products including but not limited to laundry, dish, concentrated and
readytousehardsurfacecleaners,andwipes.
ThefollowingisthestandardasofFebruary1,2012:
AllproductsthatarelabeledorbrandedNaturalmust:
Bemadewithatleast95%allnaturalingredients(notcountingwater)withtheremainderof
ingredientslimitedtoallowedsynthetics(seeAppendixII)
WhatisNatural?
Ingredientsthatcomeoraremadefromarenewableresourcefoundinnature(Flora,Fauna,
Mineral), with absolutely no petroleum compounds. These natural ingredients are made with
thefollowingillustrativelistofallowedprocesses:
AminationofAlcoholsandFattyAcids
Reagents:Ammonia,AlkylAmine
Catalysts:Nickel,Palladium,variousknownotherreducingagents
AgriculturalInputs:Alcohols,Acids,Aldehydes,Ketones
Description:Theprocessofintroducinganamineintoanalcoholorfattyacid.
DistillationofEssentialOils
Reagents:Water(highpressuresteam)

NHCNaturalStandard040512vfinal(2).doc Page2of12
Catalysts:None
AgriculturalInputs:plantmaterial(flowers,herbs,spices,etc.)
Description:Thephysicalprocesstoacquireessentialoilsfromplantmaterial.
EsterificationORTransesterificationtoProduceEsters
Reagents:None
Catalysts:Sulfuric/PhosphoricAcid;KCO
3
,NaCO
3
,NaOH,orKOH
AgriculturalInputs:AcidandAlcohol,e.g.FattyAlcohol,Glycerin,Ethanol,AceticAcid
Description:Theprocessofforminganesterbondbetweenandacidandanalcohol,can
becatalyzedbyeitheranalkalioracid.
EtherificationofGlycerinmakingPolyGlyceryls
Reagents:None
Catalysts:Alkali(NaOHorKOH)
AgriculturalInputs:Glycerin(productoffatsplitting)
Description: The process of forming ether bonds between two compounds of natural
glycerin (see fatsplitting) to form polyglyceryls by heating with an alkali. Polyglyceryl
products are indicated with a number to represent the number of glycerin molecules
linkedtogether.
Extraction
Reagents:CO
2
Catalysts:None
AgriculturalInputs:Plantmaterial(flowers,herbs,spices,etc.)
Description:Thephysicalprocesstoacquireplantextractsfromoriginalplantmaterial.
FatSplittingofOilstoProduceGlycerinandFattyAcids
Reagents:Water(highpressuresteam)

Catalysts:Metal/MetalCompoundCatalysts(ZincOxide,Nickel,Palladium,Platinum)
AgriculturalInputs:Triglyceridefatsandoils;Carbohydrates,Sugars
Description: Theprocessofsplittingnaturalfatsandoilsintoglycerinandfattyacids,a
kindofhydrolysis.
Fermentation
Reagents:None
Catalysts:Enzymes
AgriculturalInputs:Carbohydrates,Sugars,Bacteria,Yeasts,Fungi
Description:Theprocessofconvertingcarbohydratesintoalcoholandcarbondioxideor
organicacids.
GlucosidationofFattyAlcoholandGlucose
Reagents:None
Catalysts:TolueneSulfonicAcid
AgriculturalInputs:GlucoseandFattyAlcohol
Description:Theprocessofattachingglucosetoanalcohol,atypeofetherification(e.g.
CocoGlucoside).
HydrogenationofOils
Reagents:Hydrogen
Catalysts:Nickel,PlatinumorPalladium
AgriculturalInputs:Triglyceridefat/oilusually
Description: The process by which unsaturated bonds are reduced by the addition of
hydrogen with a catalyst, specifically converting unsaturated fatty acids to saturated
onesorwaxestooils.
HydrogenolysisofMethylEstersofanOiltoMakeFattyAlcohols

Reagents:HydrogenfromNaturalGas
Catalysts:Methanol;Nickel,Platinum,Palladium
AgriculturalInputs:MethylorEthylEsterofTriglyceridefat/oil(fat/oiloriginalaginput)
Description: The process by which hydrogen is utilized to break chemical bonds
converting a fatty acid ester into the fatty alcohol and methyl or ethyl alcohol
(whichever is used for the ester). This process can also be utilized directly on the fatty
acidwithoutconversiontotheesterfirst.
HydrolysisofComplexProteinsintoSimpleAminoAcids
Reagents:Water
Catalysts:EnzymesorAlkali(KOHorNaOH)
AgriculturalInputs:Proteins,Carbohydrates,Sugars
Description: The process of breaking down complex proteins into watersoluble amino
acidsorpeptides(ifpartiallyhydrolyzed).
OxidationwithMildAgents
Reagents:DiluteH
2
O
2
,O
2
,SilverandCoppersalts
Catalysts:Silver,Copper
AgriculturalInputs:PlantbasedAlcohols,Aldehydes
Description: The process by which alcohols and aldehydes are converted to acids by
oxidation.
ProteinFragmentAcylationtomakee.g.CocoylGlutamate
Reagents:KOHorNaOH
Catalysts:PhosphorousTrichlorideorThionylChloride
AgriculturalInputs:FattyAcidandProteinFragment

Description: The process of attaching a fatty acid to a nitrogencontaining compound.
Thefattyacidisconvertedtoafattyacidchloridebeforeattachmenttothenitrogenof
aproteinfragment(e.g.glutamicacid).
SaponificationofOilstoMakeSoap
Reagents:Alkali(KOHorNaOH)
Catalysts:None
AgriculturalInputs:Triglyceridefatsandoils
Description:Theprocessbywhichfatsoroilsaresplitintotheglycerinandthefreefatty
acidsbytheadditionofanalkali,atypeofhydrolysis.
SulfationofFattyAlcoholtomakee.g.SodiumCocoSulfate
Reagents:Sulfate/SO
3
andNaOH
Catalysts:None
AgriculturalInputs:FattyAlcohol
AdditionalNote:SodiumLaurylSulfate(SLS)frompetrochemicalsourcesnotallowed
Description:Theprocessofconvertingafattyalcoholintothesulfateestertoproducea
surfactant.
SulfonationofNonAlcoholstomakeSulfonatedAnionics(methylesters,etc.)
Reagents:SO
2
,SO
3
,SulfuricAcid
Catalysts:None
AgriculturalInputs:MethylorEthylEsterofTriglyceridefat/oil(fat/oiloriginalaginput)
viadehydratedplantbasedalcohol
Description: The process by which an SO
3
group is attached to the carbon atom of
esters.
Anallowedsynthetic*nonnaturalingredient(seeAppendixII)canbeused:
Only when there is not a readily available, commercially viable, natural alternative
ingredientequivalent
Only when there are no suspected human health hazards as identified by appearing in the
authoritativelistsofprohibitedingredients
Onlywhenrequiredfortradeacceptableproduct
Onlywhenmadeusingallowedprocesses
Only when synthetic does not appear on the Prohibited Processes nor Prohibited
Ingredientslistbelow
Atnomorethana5%cumulativelevelinthefinalformulation(calculationsdonotinclude
water)
*Synthetic definition is based on the NOP definition and is a substance which has been
formulated or manufactured by a chemical process outside of the list of allowed processes
or was derived from a source other than a naturally occurring plant, mineral or animal
source.
Ingredientsthatareprohibited:
Animalbasedmaterialswheretheanimalisharmed
Byproductsofanimalrenderings
Ingredients that have suspected human health hazards as indicated by authoritative
organizationsandappearingontheProhibitedSubstancelists:
o Nocarcinogens
1
,mutagens
2
orreproductivetoxicants
3
1
Carcinogens:IARCGroup1,2A,2B;REACHCarcinogens1,2;NTPKnownorReasonablyAnticipatedHuman
Carcinogens;EPAIRIS;Prop65Carcinogen(relevantexposuresforconsumerproductuseormanufacturing);
NIOSHPotentialCarcinogen;EPAIRISCarcinogenAssessment
2
Mutagens:REACHMutagenCategory2

o Noendocrinedisruptors
4
o Noingredientsidentifiedashazardouswaste
5
o Noenvironmentallypersistent,bioaccumulative,ortoxiccompounds
6
Ingredientsthataremadewith,butnotlimitedtothefollowingprocesses:
o Processeswhichareinconsistentwiththe12PrinciplesofGreenEngineering
7
o Processes which create undesirable byproducts or impurities such as 1,4dioxane,

parabens,heavymetals,formaldehyde,suchas:
Benzeneprocessingwhichcreatesparabens
Acidificationofethoxylateswhichproduces1,4dioxane
Petrolatum/Mineral Oil/Paraffin produced from petrochemical sources which
containundesirableimpurities
o Processes which create carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins, or endocrine
disruptors
o Processes which use ingredients or create byproducts that could become hazardous
waste
o Processes which use or create environmentally persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic, or
neurotoxiccompounds
o Processeswhichuseanimalbyproductswheretheanimalisharmed
3
ReproductiveandDevelopmental:Prop65Devel;Prop65Male,FemaleRepro;REACHReproTox1,2
4
EndocrineDisruptors:EUCat1,2andwithdataqualitycategoryDQ1
5
HazardousWaste:RCRAlistsU,P,D
6
CERCLA/SARA313PBT;EUPOPs;RCRAWasteMinimization;EPAPriority;InterimReviewfortheStrategyfor
CooperationandNetworkingBetweenEUMemberStatesandEFSAPBTAssessment;EUvPvT
7
P.Anastas,2003,http://portal.acs.org/portal/PublicWebSite/greenchemistry/about/principles/WPCP_007505

The following is an illustrative list of classifications of ingredients that are prohibited (see
AppendixIIIforalongerlistofprohibitedingredients):
o ParabensSyntheticpreservativesthatarepotentialendocrinedisrupters
o Petrolatum/Mineral Oil/Paraffin Nonrenewable byproducts of crude oil with
potentiallydangerousimpurities
o Synthetic Glycols Petroleum derived synthetic chemicals that can potentially draw
otherchemicalsintothebloodstream
o PhthalatesSyntheticfragrancecomponentsthatarepotentialtoxins
o Ethoxylated ingredients (like Sodium Myreth Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEGs
or PPGs) which are made in part with the petrochemical ethylene oxide and results in
1,4Dioxaneasatracecontaminant(1,4Dioxaneclassifiedasapossiblecarcinogen)
o Ethanolamines like MEA/DEA/TEA Foam and viscosity boosting ingredients that can
interactwithotheringredientstoformnitrosamines,aknowncarcinogen
o Synthetic polymers (PVP/Acrylates) that contain residual PAHs (polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons)
o Formaldehyde Donors (DMDM Hydantoin/ Diazolidinyl Urea) Preservatives that work
byreleasingformaldehyde
o Syntheticfragrances
o Syntheticcolorants
OtherProductRequirements:
Noanimaltestingexceptwhererequiredbylaw
Transparency and full disclosure of ingredients on product label per CSPA Voluntary
IngredientCommunicationsProgramutilizingINCIlabelingstandards,whenapplicable
CompliancewithFTCandNADguidelines
StrivetomaximizeuseofrecyclableandPCRmaterialsinpackaging

OtherRequirementsforProductCertificationundertheNPANaturalProgram:
Allingredientinformation(i.e.rawmaterialsources,processinginformation)mustbe
disclosedinsubmissiondocumentation
60%ofthebrandmustqualifyforNPANaturalCertificationregardlessofwhether60%
actuallyundergoescertification
ProductCertificationtermistwoyearsandproductswillbereviewedeverytwoyearsto
maintaincertification

NaturalProductsAssociationStandardandCertificationforNaturalHomeCareProducts
Appendices
I.Illustrativelistofallowednaturalingredients
II.Allowedsynthetic*(AS)ingredientsthosetemporarilyallowedinthestandard:
Nonparaben,nonformaldehydedonatingsyntheticpreservatives
o Methylisothiazolinone
o Phenoxyethanol
o Dehydroaceticacid
Notes:
Total use of allowable synthetic ingredients may not exceed 5% of the total formula
(calculatedwithoutwater)
Thesesyntheticingredientsarereviewedannuallyforeliminationfromthestandard
Thesesyntheticingredientsmaynotcontainanyoftheprohibitedingredientsorprohibited
processes
III.Prohibitedingredientsillustrative(i.e.,nonexhaustive)list
A.ByTypes/Classes:
SyntheticPetrochemicalIngredients
SyntheticPreservativesnototherwisespecificallyallowed
SyntheticFragrances
SyntheticColorants
Compoundswithethoxylate,PEGorthesuffixethintheingredientname
Compoundswithsarcosinateintheingredientname
Compoundswith"MEA","DEA"or"TEA"intheingredientname
Compoundswithtaurateintheingredientname
Compoundswithsultaineintheingredientname
Compoundswithsulfosuccinateintheingredientname
CompoundswithPPGintheingredientname
B.Specificingredients:

AmmoniumLaurylSulfate
Amodimethicone
BehentrimoniumMethosulfate
Butyleneglycol
Carbomer
Ceteareth20
CetrimoniumChloride
CocoDEA
CocoamidopropylBetaine
Cyclopentasiloxane
DiazolidinylUrea
Dimethicone
DisodiumCocoamphodiacetate
EDTA
EthyleneGlycol
EthylHexylGlycerin
Glycereth7Cocoate
Isoceteth20
IsopropylPalmitate
LauramideMEA
LaurylDEA
Methoxycinnamate
OlefinSulfonate
OleylBetaine
Parabens(methyl,propyl,butyl,etc.)
PEG150Distearate
PEG7GlycerylCocoate
Polyquaternium10
SodiumCocoylSarcosinate
SodiumHydroxymethylglycinate
SodiumLaurethSulfate
SodiumLauroylSarcosinate
SodiumLaurylCarboxylate
SodiumLaurylSulfoacetate
SodiumMyrethSulfate

SoyamidopropalkoniumChloride
StearamidopropylDimethylAmine
Note:
Includes synthetic silicone or petroleum compounds that are not specifically excepted
elsewhereinthestandard
The Natural Standard requires all colorants in finished products to be all natural to receive
certification.Thiseliminatesanycolorantingredientsthatrequiretheuseofpetrochemical
materialsforprocessingaswellasothersyntheticallysourcedadditives.
TheNaturalStandardrequiresallfragrancesinfinishedproductstobeallnaturaltoreceive
certification. This effectively eliminates fragrance ingredients that require the use of
petrochemical solvents for extraction as well as syntheticallysourced additives, these
fragrance ingredients include absolutes, concretes, gums, resins, exudates, essential oils,
isolatesandchemicals*.
*Anynaturalfragranceingredientsareallowed,iftheextraction/processingusesanallowedprocessas
statedinTheNaturalStandard.

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NHCNaturalStandard040512vfinal(2).

o Processes which create undesirable byproducts or impurities such as 1,4dioxane,

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