Biodegradability of surfactants
Level: Advanced
The purpose of the requirement is to limit the spread of surfactants that are not easily biodegradable and therefore can accumulate in the environment. Surfactants are used in large amounts in detergents, and many surfactants are toxic to aquatic organisms.
Details
- Type:
- Technical specification
- ID:
- 11299
- Group:
- Chemical products
- Swedish:
Criterion text
Surfactants in the products shall be readily biodegradable (aerobic) according to OECD's guidelines1, test methods 301(A to F) or 310 or similar test methods and anaerobically biodegradable according to OECD's guidelines1, test method 311 or similar test methods.
Verification
The supplier shall, upon request, be able to present any of for example the following:
- Valid license for any of for example the following labels:
Good Environmental Choice for chemical products
Nordic Swan Ecolabel for Cleaning products
Nordic Swan Ecolabel for Hand dishwashing detergents
Nordic Swan Ecolabel for Dishwasher detergents for professional use
Nordic Swan Ecolabel for Laundry detergents for professional use
Nordic Swan Ecolabel for Laundry detergents and stain removers
Nordic Swan Ecolabel for Care products for vehicles
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Reference to the surfactants DID-numbers on the EU Ecolabel DID-list, part A+B 2016 or later (Detergent Ingredient Database) for all ingoing surfactants, showing that the surfactants are aerobically and anaerobically biodegradable.
-
Raw material supplier's safety data sheets for all ingoing surfactants in the product showing that the surfactants are readily biodegradable and a complimentary test report showing that the surfactants are anaerobically biodegradable according to the test methods in the requirement.
-
Test reports showing that the surfactants are readily biodegradable and anaerobically biodegradable according to the test methods described in the requirement.
Proposed follow-up
Labelling
If the requirement is verified with a label, check that there is a valid license for the product in question. This can be controlled here: Nordic Swan Ecolabel, Good Environmental Choice.
EU Ecolabel's DID-list
If the requirement has been verified with the EU Ecolabel's DID-list ask the supplier to indicate what DID-number each surfactant has. Check that the surfactant is both aerobically and anaerobically biodegradable in the DID-list. In the column for aerobically degradability there should be and 'R' (=readily biodegradable) and in the column for anaerobically degradability there should be a 'Y' (=Yes it is anaerobically degradable).
Safety Data Sheet and test report
The requirement on readily biodegradability (aerobic) can be verified by material safety data sheets for the ingoing surfactants in the products (not safety datasheet for the final product/detergent). See material safety datasheet section "12 Ecological information". In this section it may be stated that "This surfactant complies with the biodegradability criteria as laid down in Regulation (EC) No.648/2004 on detergents". For detergents and cleaning products it is by law a requirement that the surfactants are readily biodegradable, which may be stated in section 12 or 15 in the material safety datasheet.
To check anaerobic degradation a test report is needed. The test report shall have been based on the test methods in the requirement and have results showing that the surfactant is anaerobically biodegradable.
Information about the criterion
Please note that this requirement cannot be verified with the product’s safety data sheet. Safety data sheets for all the ingredient substances in the product are required. More information on this can be found under “follow-up”.
Environmental goals
Versions history
The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.
- Current ID
- 11299
- Version date
- 2019-05-07
- Review date
- 2025-09-25