“Danger.” “Toxic if swallowed.” “May cause skin irritation.” These are the phrases you’re inundated with (and often desensitized to) on the cleaning products you bring into your home. Cleaning shouldn’t feel dangerous, and it definitely shouldn’t mean spreading toxins all over your home.
The truth is, the United States is completely lacking federal regulations that protect consumers from dangerous chemicals hidden in cleaning products. What is noticeably absent is a federal law that would require basic disclosure, much like the food, cosmetic or personal care products you purchase and use inside your home.
At ECOS, we’ve made it our mission to protect consumers. We study, test, validate and select the safest ingredients to use in our cleaning products, and we’re steadfast about the human and environmental impact of every ingredient. In fact, we’ve proudly won the U.S. EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year four times.
With human and environmental health as our top priority, we are proud to introduce “The Nasties” – a list of 500 known toxins we promise to never use in our products. These toxins have been identified by scientific studies as responsible for a variety of negative health and/or environmental effects. Each chemical on our exclusion list is classified by the type of hazard it presents: carcinogen, endocrine disruptor, sensitizer, developmental & reproductive toxin, eye & skin corrosive, mutagen, neurotoxin, environmental toxin, aquatic toxin, petroleum derivative, bioaccumulator or animal derivative.
We hope this list becomes a useful tool for you to better understand ingredients as you choose the cleaning products you bring into your home.
The Nasties |
1,1-Dichloroethane |
1,2-Epoxybutane |
1,2-Hexanediol |
1-Bromopropane |
1-Decanol |
1-Octanol |
2 - Methoxypropyl Acetate |
2,5-Dichloronitrobenzene |
2-Amino-5-Nitrophenol |
2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1 (And) 3-Diol |
2-Butoxyethanol |
2-Carboxy-1-Methylpyridinium Chloride |
2-Hydroxy-N,N-Bis(2-Hydroxyethyl)-N-Methyl Ethanaminium, Methyl Sulfate, Octadecanoate |
2-Methoxy-1-Propanol |
2-Methoxyaniline |
2-Octadecoxyethanol |
3,3-Dichlorobenzidine |
3,3-Dichlorobenzidine Dihydrochloride |
4-Acetylpyridine-N-Oxide |
4-Aminobiphenyl |
4-Chlorobenzotrifluoride |
4-Formylphenylboronic Acid |
9-Dodecenoic Acid, Methyl Ester |
Aa2G / Ascorbyl Glucoside |
Acetaldehyde |
Acetamide Mea |
Acetonitrile |
Acid Blue 182 |
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer |
Acrylic Acid |
Acrylic Acid / Vp Crosspolymer |
Acrylonitrile |
Acrylyl Chloride |
Aerosol Sprays |
Alizarin Cyanine Green F |
Alkyl Polypentoside |
Alkyl(C10-16)Benzene |
Alkyl(C10-16)Benzenesulfonic Acid |
Alkylbenzenes |
Alkylphenol Ethoxylate |
Allyl Isothiocyanate |
Alpha Arbutin |
Alumina |
Amino Methacrylate Copolymer |
Aminoethylethanolamine |
Ammonia |
Ammonium Alum |
Ammonium Hydroxide |
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate |
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate |
Ammonium Polacrylate |
Aqualance |
Arbutin |
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate |
Aspartic Acid |
Atelocollagen |
Auramine Hydrochloride |
Avobenzone |
Azobenzene |
Babassuamidopropalkonium Chloride |
Bbzp (Benzyl Butyl Phthalate) |
Behenalkonium Chloride |
Behenamidopropyl Hydroxyethyl Dimonium Chloride |
Behenoxy Dimethicone |
Behentrimonium Methosulfate |
Benethonium Chloride |
Benzalkonium Chloride |
Benzene (C14-C30) Alkylate |
Benzenesulfonic Acid / 1-Methylethyl |
Benzisothiazoline |
Benzophenone |
Benzophenone-4 |
Benzotriazole |
Benzyl Acetate |
Benzyl Salicylate |
Benzylparaben |
Bha / Butylated Hydroxyanisole |
Bht / Butylated Hydroxytoluene |
Bis Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 |
Bisphenol A (Bpa) |
Blue Ws 1430 |
Borax |
Boric Acid |
Boron Nitride |
Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine |
Blue 1 |
Blue 1 Lake |
Bronopol |
Bumetrizole |
Butoxydiglycol |
Butyl Carbitol Acetate |
Butyl D-Glucoside |
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane |
Butylene / Ethylene / Styrene Copolymers |
Butylene Glycol |
Butylparaben |
Butylphenyl Methylpropianol |
C 11-15 Pareth 12 |
C 12-14 Olefin Sulfonate |
C 12-15 Alkyl Benzoate |
C 12-15 Alkyl Octanoate |
C 13-14 Isoparaffin |
C10-14 Alkyl Benzene Sulfuric Acid |
C10-16 Alcohols |
C11-15 Ethoxylated Fatty Alcohol |
C11-15 Pareth-7 |
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate |
C12-18 Ethoxylated Alcohols |
C12-18 Propoxylated Alcohols |
C12-20 Acid Peg-8 Ester |
C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate |
C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearol Stearate |
Calcium Hypochlorite |
Calcium Phosphate |
Canola Ester Quaternary Amine |
Caprolactam |
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride |
Carbowax / See Polyethylene Glycol |
Carboxymethyl Cellulose |
Carboxymethyl Inulin |
Carmine |
Castor Oil / Ipdi Copolymer |
Cde / Cocomide Dea |
Ceresin |
Certified Colors |
Ceteareth-2-100 |
Ceteareth-5-20 |
Cetearyl Ethylhexanote |
Cetearyl Methicone |
Ceteth-20 Phosphate |
Cetrimonium Bromide |
Cetrimonium Chloride |
Cetylpyridinium Chloride |
Chloramine |
Chlorinated Methanes, Ethanes, And Ethenes |
Chlorine |
Chlorine Dioxide |
Chloropropyltrimethoxysilane |
Chlorpyrifos |
Chromaveil / (Quaternium-95 And Propanediol) |
Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride |
Cocamide Dea |
Cocamide Mea |
Cocamide Mipa |
Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate |
Coceth-4 |
Coceth-7 |
Cocoalkyldimethyl Amine Oxides |
Cocoamphocarboxyglycinate |
Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein |
Coconut Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylate |
Coconut Methyl Ester Ethoxylate |
Coconut Oil Diethanolamide |
Coconut Oil Monoethanolamide |
Copper Disodium Edta |
Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate |
Cupric Nitrate |
Cyclomethicone |
Cyclopentasiloxane |
Cyclotetrasiloxane |
Dbp (Dibutyl Phthalate) |
Deceth-5 |
Decyl Phenoxybenzenedisulfonic Acid |
Dehp (Di 2-Ethylhexl Phthalate) |
Dep (Diethyl Phthalate) |
Di-(Palm Carboxyethyl) Hydroxyethyl Methyl-Ammonium Methyl Sulfates |
Dialkylester Ammonium Methosulfate |
Diamyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate |
Diazolidinyl Urea |
Dicetyldimonium Chloride |
Dicocoethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate |
Didp (Diisodecyl Phthalate) |
Diethanolamine |
Diethyl Sulfate |
Diethylene Glycol Butyl Ether |
Diethylene Glycol Dimethyl Ether |
Diethylene Glycol Hexyl Ether |
Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether |
Dihydrogenated Palmoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium |
Diisopropyl Dimerate |
Dimethicone Copolyol |
Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3 |
Dimethicone Glycereth-2 Cocoate |
Dimethyl Capramide |
Dimethyl Octadecylamine |
Dimethyl Oxobenzo Dioasilane |
Dimethyl Phenyl 2-Butanol |
Dimethyl Succinate |
Dimethyl Sulfate |
Dimethyl Sulfoxide |
Dimethylaminoethyl Acrylate |
Dimethylaminopropyl Amine |
Dimethylformamide |
Dimethylnitrosoamine |
Dinoseb |
Dinp (Diisononyl Phthalate) |
Dipropylene Glycol Methylether |
Dipropylene Glycol N-Butyl Ether |
Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate |
Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate |
Disodium Edta |
Disodium Oleamido Succinate |
Disodium Phosphate |
Disteardimonium Hectoride |
Dmdm Hydantoin |
Dmp (Dimethyl Phthalate) |
Dnhp (Di-N-Hexyl Phthalate) |
Dnop (Di-N-Octyl Phthalate) |
Edta |
Egms / Ethylene Glycol Monostearate |
Emulsifying Wax |
Ethanaminium / 2-Hydroxy-N,N-Bis(2-Hydroxyethyl)-N-Methyl- |
Ethoxydiglycol |
Ethoxydiglycol Oleate |
Ethoxylated Oleyl Alcohol |
Ethoxylated Propoxylated C12-C16 Alcohol |
Ethyl Acetate |
Ethyl Diglycol (See Polyethylene Glycol) |
Ethyl Vanillin |
Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid |
Ethylene Glycol |
Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether |
Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene |
Green 3 |
Fatty Alcohol Propoxylate |
Formaldehyde |
Formic Acid |
Fullerene / Buckyballs / Buckminsterfullerene |
Germaben |
Germall |
Glycereth-2 Cocoate |
Glycereth-26 |
Glycereth-7 Cocoate |
Glyceryl (Tetradecanoate) / Hexadecanoate / Octadecanoate / Rici Noleate / Eicosadioate) |
Glyceryl Polyacrylate |
Glycol Ether Butyl Ether |
Glycol Ether Ethyl Ether |
Guanadine / Aminoguanadine |
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride |
Hexahydro-1,3,5-Tris (2-Hydroxyethyl)-S-Triazine |
Hexahydroxystearate / Hexastearate / Hexarosinate |
Human Placental Protein |
Hydrochloric Acid |
Hydrofluoric Acid |
Hydrogenated Polydecene |
Hydroquinone |
Hydrotalcite |
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate / Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer |
Hydroxyethyl-Methyl Ammonium Methosulfate |
Hydroxyhydrocinnamate |
Hydroxy-Methylpentylcyclohexene Carboxyaldehyde |
Hypophosphorus Acid |
Imidazolidinyl Urea |
Imitoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate |
Indigo carmine |
Ipdi / Isophorone Diisocyanate |
Isobutane |
Isobutylparaben |
Isoceteth-20 |
Isocetyl Isostearate |
Isohexadecane |
Isonicotinic Acid-N-Oxide |
Isonitropropane |
Isopentane |
Isopentyldiol |
Isopropyl Methylphenol |
Isopropyl Phenyl Dimethicone |
Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate |
Isopropylparaben |
Isostearyl Isostearate |
Lactamidopropyl Trimonium Chloride |
Lauramide Dea |
Lauramide Mea |
Laurethsulfosuccinate |
Lauryl Methacrylate |
Maleic Acid |
Mea-Containing Ingredients |
Methoxyacetic Acid |
Methoxyisopropanol |
Methoxymethylbutanol |
Methyl Bis Canola Amidoethyl, 2-Hydroxyethyl Ammonium Methylsulfate |
Methyl Bis(Soya Amidoethyl) 2-Hydroxyethyl Quaternary Ammonium Methylsulfate |
Methyl Decenel |
Methyl Gluceth-10 |
Methyl Glyceth-20 |
Methyl Glycol |
Methyl Oxirane Polymer With Oxirane Ethoxylated Alcohol |
Methyl Propanediol |
Methyl Soyate |
Methyl Sulfates |
Methylbenzyl Alcohol |
Methylene Glycol |
Methylenedianiline |
Methylparaben |
Methylrosaniline Chloride |
Methylsilanol Mannuronate |
Microbeads |
Microcrystalline Wax |
Mineral Oil |
Monosodium Phosphate |
m-Phenylenediamine |
Myristyl Ether Sulfate |
N,N-Dimethyl-1-Tetradecanamine-N-Oxide |
Naphthalene |
Nitric Acid |
Nitrilotriacetate |
Nitrobenzol |
Nitromethylidynetrimethanol |
N-N-Dimethylacetamide |
Nonoxynol 10 |
Nonylphenyl Ethoxylate |
Nylon-12 |
Octadecanoate |
Octyl Dimethyl Paba |
Octyl Methoxycinnamate |
Oleamidopropyl Dimethylamine |
Olefin Sulfonate |
Oleth (2-50) |
Oleth-3-Phosphate |
Oxalic Acid |
Oxybenzone |
Paba / Para-Aminobenzoic Acid |
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutylrate |
Panthenyl Ethyl Ether |
Panthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride |
Panthenyl Triacetate |
Parabens |
Paraphenylenediamine |
Parsol |
Pca Ethyl Cocoyl Arginate |
P-Dichlorobenzene |
P-Dimethylaminoazobenzene |
Pearl Powder |
Peg / Ppp-20 / 15 Dimethicone |
Peg 35 (Stearate) / Castor Oil |
Peg 75-Distearate |
Peg-10 / Sunflower Glycerides |
Peg-120 / Methyl Glucose Dioleate |
Peg-120 / Methyl Glucose Trioleate |
Peg-150 / Distearate |
Peg-150 / Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate |
Peg-20 |
Peg-20 / 100 Stearate |
Peg-20 / Glyceryl Triisostearate |
Peg-22 / Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer |
Peg-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate |
Peg-300 / Monoctyl Ether |
Peg-400 / Dioleate |
Peg-55 / Propylene Glycol Oleate |
Peg-6 / Caprylic / Capric Glycerides |
Peg-7 / Glyceryl Cocoate |
Pentachlorophenol |
Pentaerythrityl Distearate |
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl |
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate |
Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate |
Pentylparaben |
Peracetic Acid |
Perchloroethylene |
Perfluorohexane |
Perfluorooctane Sulfonate |
Petrolatum |
Petroleum Distillates (NAPTHAS) |
Phenol |
Phenylbenzimidazole-5-Sulfonic Acid |
Phenylparaben |
Phenyltrimethicone |
Phosphates |
Placental Protein |
Polaxamer 335 |
Poly-4-Vinylpyridine-N-Oxide |
Polyacrylamide |
Polyacrylate-13 |
Polybutene |
Polydecene |
Polyethylene Glycol |
Polyethylene Glycol Monococoate |
Polyethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether |
Polyethylene Oxide |
Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate / Eicosadioate |
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate |
Polyimide 1 |
Polyisobutene |
Polymeric Blue Dye |
Polyoxyethylene Stearyl Ethers |
Polypropylene Glycol |
Polypropylene Terephthalate |
Polyquaternium 7 / 10 / 11 / 51 |
Polysorbate 20 |
Polysorbate 60 |
Polysorbate 80 |
Polyurethane-14 |
Polyvinyl Pyrolidone (Pvp) |
Polyvinylpyrrolidone |
Potassium Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate |
Potassium Alum |
Potassium C12-13 Alkyl Phosphate |
Potassium Iodide |
Potassium Isononanoate |
Potassium Myristate |
Ppd / P-Phenylenediamine |
Ppg-12 / Smdi Copolymer |
Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether |
Ppg-30 Butyl Ether |
Ppg-4-Laureth-8 |
Ppg-5 Laureth-5 |
Ppg-6 C12-15 Pareth-12 |
Propoxylated Alcohol |
Propyl Gallate |
Propylene Carbonate |
Propylene Glycol Alginate |
Propylenimine |
Propylheptyl Caprylate |
Propylparaben |
Providone / Polyvinylpyrolidone |
Pvp / Eicosene Copolymer |
Pvp Copolymer |
Quaternium-15 |
Quaternium-18 |
Quaternium-87 |
Quaternium-95 |
Red 4 |
Red 4 Lake |
Red 40 |
Red 40 Lake |
Salt Of Triethanolamine Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate |
Selenium Sulfide |
Silver Chloride |
Soapstone / Talc |
Sodium 2-isopropylbenzenesulfonate |
Sodium Acrylate |
Sodium Acrylic Acid |
Sodium Acrylic Acid-Maleic Anhydride Copolymer |
Sodium Chlorite |
Sodium Dioctyl Sulfosuccinate |
Sodium Ferrocyanide Decahydrate |
Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate |
Sodium Hypochlorite |
Sodium Metabisulfite |
Sodium Monochloroacetate |
Sodium Myreth Sulfate |
Sodium Peg-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate |
Sodium Petroleum Sulfonate |
Sodium Polyacrylate |
Sodium Sulfite |
Sodium Trideceth Sulfate |
Sodium Xylene Sulfonate |
Sorbitan Isostearate |
Soyamidopropalkonium Chloride |
Squalane (Non Vegetable Source) |
Starch, 2-Carboxyethyl 2-Methyl-3-Oxo-3-[[3-(Trimethylammonio)Propyl]Amino]Propyl Ether, Chloride |
Stearalkonium Hectorite |
Stearamidopropyl Dimethyl Amine |
Stearoxytrimethylsilane |
Styrene |
Sulfated Castor Oil |
Sulfourus Acid |
Sulfur Dioxide |
Sulfuric Acid |
Synthetic Beeswax |
Synthetic Wax |
Taed / Tetra Acetyl Ethylene Diamine |
Talc |
Tea-Lauryl Sulfate |
Tea-Oleate |
Tert-Butyl Alcohol |
Tetrachloromethane |
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate |
Tetrasodium Edta |
Thiotic Acid |
Tolnaftate |
Toluene |
Tribehenin |
Tributylphenol Polyglycol Ether |
Trichloroethylene |
Trichloroisocyanuric Acid |
Triclocarban |
Triclosan |
Trideceth-12 |
Tridecyl Neopentanoate |
Triethylhexanoin |
Trimethylsiloxysilicate |
Tripropylene Glycol Methyl Ether |
Tripropylene Glycol N-Butyl Ether |
Trisodium Edta |
Trisodium Nitrilotriacetic Acid |
Trisodium Phosphate |
Tromethamine Stearate |
Tropolone |
Ultramarines |
Undecoylium Chloride Iodine Complex |
Urea Formaldehyde Copolymer |
Wheatgermamidopropyl Dimethylamine |
Yellow 6 |
Yellow 6 Lake |
Zinc Carbonate |
Zinc Pyrithione |