It is the start of 2025, and we are celebrating the implementation of the first restrictions under both the Safer Products for Washington Program and the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act!
Some of these are first-in-nation bans and all of them together make Washington the leader in protecting the health of people and the environment from harmful chemicals in products. These ground-breaking laws are a product of many years of hard work by Toxic-Free Future, our partners, legislative champions, government agencies, leading businesses, and many individuals across the state.
Safer Products for Washington
Under the Safer Products for Washington Program, as of January 1, 2025, the following are restricted for sale in Washington state:
- PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in aftermarket stain and water-resistance treatments and carpets and rugs
- Orthophthalates in vinyl flooring and in fragrances in beauty and personal care products
- Organohalogen flame retardants in indoor electric and electronic products with plastic external enclosures
- Organohalogen flame retardants and some organophosphate chemicals in many recreational products made from polyurethane foam
- Alkylphenol ethoxylates in laundry detergent
- Bisphenols in drink can linings
The Safer Products for Washington law (originally sponsored by Rep. Doglio and Sen. Rolfes), passed in 2019, directs state agencies to identify products that are large sources of high-priority chemicals and provides authority to take action to reduce them. Washington’s Department of Ecology can ban or require disclosure of harmful chemicals in a wide range of products, from plastics and personal care products to electronics and building materials. It can also require companies to provide full ingredient information in products to make regulatory determinations under the law. Work is completed in five-year cycles; the restrictions listed above are the first to go into effect under the program, from its Cycle 1 priority chemical and product combinations. In each case, Ecology identified safer, available solutions.
Also part of the Safer Products for Washington program, as of January 31, 2025, manufacturers are required to report the following to the Washington Department of Ecology:
- Organohalogen flame retardants in outdoor electric and electronic external enclosures
- Organohalogen flame retardants in recreational covered wall padding
- Bisphenols in food can linings
The results of this reporting will provide information for Ecology to guide possible future restrictions.
Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act
Separately, one of the strongest laws in the nation, the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, (originally sponsored by Rep. Mena) is taking effect as of January 1, 2025. The following intentionally added chemicals are now banned in beauty and personal care products in Washington:
- PFAS
- Formaldehyde
- Lead
- Mercury and mercury compounds
- Methylene glycol
- Ortho-phthalates
- m-Phenylenediamine and its salts
- o-Phenylenediamine and its salts
- Triclosan
For existing stock, the restrictions under the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act take effect on January 1, 2026.
More work remains to ensure that all of the restricted chemicals are replaced with safer solutions, but “banning the bad” is a critical incentive to do just that, while protecting Washington residents from known, unnecessary, highly hazardous chemicals.
Senior Project Manager
Cheri Peele joined Toxic-Free Future in 2022 to play a leadership role in both the Retailer Report Card and public policy advocacy. She has worked for over 20 years to create and implement leadership strategies for the transition to safer chemicals.
