New York regulators are requiring that consumer brands begin limiting the amount of 1,4-dioxane in personal care and cleaning products (S.4389). For any household cleaning product distributed or sold in the State of New York, the level of 1,4-dioxane may not exceed 2 parts per million (ppm) by December 31, 2022. This requirement is further reduced not to exceed 1 ppm by December 31, 2023.

What is 1,4-Dioxane and How Does It Affect Consumer Products?

Frequently found in cleaning products such as dish soaps and laundry detergents, 1,4-dioxane is a by-product created during the manufacturing of ethoxylated chemicals.

1,4-dioxane is a concern to human and environmental health due to its status as a known or suspected carcinogen by a number of authoritative bodies, including California’s Proposition 65 list, the National Toxicology Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and New York’s S.4380 Regulation. As a result, the sale of household cleaning and personal care products containing 1,4-dioxane will be extremely limited and regulated.

Though most personal care and cleaning products contain less than 5ppm, this is higher than the New York S.4380 mandated requirement of 1ppm. Manufacturers must take action to ensure their products meet the new standards ahead of the regulation deadlines in 2022 and 2023.

Reformulating Cleaning Products with Naturally-Derived, Sustainable Ingredients

Our scientific experts have developed several clean and compliant product formula alternatives to help meet 1-4-dioxane requirements and address market changes.

In considering the need to reformulate to comply with the 1-4-dioxane legislation, current producers of cleaning products will need to review use levels of ethoxylated surfactants in their formulations as well as 1,4 dioxane levels in the specific surfactant grades they are sourcing.

At Univar Solutions, we can assist in working with our supplier partners to provide this information. If this exercise determines that a product needs to be reformulated, strategies for reformulation include lowering the level or replacing the ethoxylated surfactant with another type of surfactant. However, it may be difficult to achieve the same performance at the same total level of surfactant because of the efficiency and effectiveness of ethoxylated surfactants. New solutions to consider include new grades of ethoxylated surfactants with lower residual 1,4-dioxane levels, some of which are produced from naturally derived ethylene oxide. Another approach to lower overall surfactant levels, including ethoxylated surfactants, is to introduce high-performing enzymes into formulations.

Surfactants To Be Mindful of 1,4-Dioxane Concentrations

Anionics
• Ether Sulfates
         • Ammonium Lauryl Ether Sulfates (ALES)
         • Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfates (SLES)

Nonionics
• Alkoxylates

Ethoxylates
• Alcohol Ethoxylates
• Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates (APEs)
• Polysorbates
• Block Copolymers
• Phosphate Esters

Get Started with the Conscientiously Clean Formulation Kit

Univar Solutions’ Conscientiously Clean formulation kit, a set of lab-tested, quality-approved starter formulations developed by Univar Solutions' North America Home and Industrial Cleaning Solution Center.

These cleaning formulas highlight several key ingredients and formulation techniques to help you comply with the 1-4-dioxane regulation. Applicable for a variety of cleaning products, the Conscientiously Clean kit includes an all-purpose cleaner, shower/tub/tile cleaner, mid-tier manual dish soap and a 3x liquid laundry formulation.

It can be difficult to stay on top of new regulations and know which materials to select when reformulating products to comply with them. The chemists and specialists developing technical solutions in our formulation labs can provide the necessary materials and guidance to help you meet the challenges of New York’s S.4389 regulation to lower 1,4-dioxane levels.

Whether you’d like to improve existing products or identify new, enhanced formulations, we are ready to assist you in meeting your product performance goals.


About the Author
Allison Hunter is technical services manager, Global Solution Centers, Univar Solutions. To read more insights about formulating 1,-4-Dioxane-free cleaning formulations, click here. More info: [email protected]