Doesn't it make you feel good that the EPA, as part of its tribute to Earth Day, announced the approval of more than 2,500 products in its "Design for the Environment" (DfE) safe product labeling program? EPA will be approving cleaning products, too, and will require manufacturers with products bearing the DfE logo to disclose their ingredients.
I can't get too excited about that. Shortly after we were required to submit the chemical ingredients of our products for testing in the CRI/ SOA program, two big carpet mills (who run the CRI) came out with "new" formulas for cleaning compounds and spot removers that they sell through carpet retail stores. How about that for a coincidence?
Why does EPA even get involved in our industry since Consumer Reports and the CRI/SOA program have already tested much of our stuff? Doesn't the EPA trust them? Why do we need the CRI/SOA program if EPA is going to test our products? Pretty soon there will be more "bureaucrats"* wanting our money than there are products to test.
* Whether involved in industry or government, "bureaucrats" are essentially the same. They command big salaries, staff, and expense account, sustain sizable overhead cost and manage a never-ending campaign to ensure their own job security.
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