Safer Choice

Design for the Environment Programs, Initiatives, and Projects

Design for the Environment Programs

Design for the Environment (DfE) developed several different programs and tools to help its stakeholders evaluate human health and environmental attributes of chemicals in products. A complete listing of all recent DfE reports and publications is available.

DfE Alternatives Assessments

Alternatives assessment partnerships bring together environmental organizations, industry leaders, academia, and others to evaluate the environmental and health impacts of potential safer alternative chemicals. The outcome of an alternatives assessments partnership provides industry with information they can use to choose safer chemicals. Learn more about the DfE alternatives assessment partnerships.

DfE Life-Cycle Assessments

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) partnerships evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a product, material, process, or activity. LCA study results can help businesses redesign products and processes to reduce environmental impacts and release of toxic materials. Learn more about the DfE LCA partnerships.

DfE Pesticide Pilot Projects

Modeled after the DfE Safer Product Labeling Program (now the Safer Choice Program), the DfE Pesticide Pilot Projects allow the use of the DfE logo on qualifying antimicrobial pesticide and biopesticide labels. Learn more about the DfE Pesticide Pilot Projects.

Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI)

SDSI offers EPA recognition--and listing on the SDSI web page--to companies using only safer surfactants. Learn more about SDSI.

DfE Workplace Best Practices

Workplace best practices provide practical information on how to minimize pollution and protect workers, consumers, residents, bystanders, and communities. Developed by DfE in partnership with representatives from small businesses, chemical companies, suppliers, communities, local governments, and environmental organizations, they promote the use of safer alternative chemical products and safer, cleaner and more efficient practices and technologies. Learn more about DfE Workplace Best Practices.

Learn more about program history and past projects.

Related EPA Programs

Green Chemistry

EPA's Green Chemistry Program fosters the research, development, and implementation of innovative chemical technologies that prevent pollution in both a scientifically sound and cost-effective manner. It supports fundamental research in the area of environmentally benign chemistry as well as a variety of educational activities, international activities, conferences and meetings, and tool development, all through voluntary partnerships with academia, industry, and other government agencies.

Green Engineering

EPA's Green Engineering Program is introducing a "green" philosophy into undergraduate chemical engineering programs. The program aims to develop and maintain effective communication between educators and practicing engineers. To this end the program has developed text books and workshops for professors.

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing

EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program is a federal initiative that encourages and assists Executive agencies in the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services. The goal of the EPP Program is to help increase the availability of products and services that are environmentally preferable, protect human health, save money, and improve the overall quality of government purchases. Such purchases are required by several Executive Orders, including Executive Order 13693 (PDF) (51 pp, 149 K, About PDF).