Limitation of specific substances/substance groups
Level:
The purpose of this requirement is to limit substances/substance groups that are hazardous to the environment and/or human health. These substances/substance groups are difficult to exclude through general requirementson properties of the substances.
Details
- Type:
- Technical specification
- ID:
- 11291:2
- Group:
- Cosmetic products
Criterion text
The following substances and substance groups shall not be ingredients1 in the product:
- EDTA (CAS 60-00-4)
- substances evaluated by the EU to be PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic) or vPvB (very persistent and very bioaccumulative)2
- substances on the Candidate list3
- substances considered by EU to be endocrine disruptors or potential endocrine disruptors4.
1Ingredient substances are all substances in the product, including additives such as preservatives and stabilizers. However, impurities from raw material production are not included. Impurities are residues from raw material production in concentrations below 0,01 percent by weight in the product. Substances added to a raw material deliberately and with a certain purpose are not considered impurities regardless of concentration.
2Swedish Chemicals Agency, Criteria for phase-out substances – PBT/vPvB.
4This refers to substances on the Endocrine Disruptor Lists, lists I and II.
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 criteria for cosmetic products
Nordic Swan Ecolabel for cosmetic products
- Certificate from the manufacturer of the product that none of the substances/substance groups in the requirement is present in levels above 0,01 weight percent. Safety data sheets and other technical documentation for all the ingredient substances from the raw material suppliers shall be available as a basis for the certificate.
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: Good Environmental Choice, Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
Information about the criterion
Please note that this requirement cannot be verified with safety data sheets for ingredient substances.
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
- 11291:2
- Version date
- 2025-09-30
2025-09-30, Requirement ID 11291:2: The exceptions in the criteria text have been tightened to align with the ecolabels.
2022-07-07, Requirement ID 11291: 1: Update of requirement text and exemption from the requirement.