FAQ : SC Johnson

What is the Greenlist™ process?

It's our internally developed environmental classification system that we use to help green the company's chemistry. Created in 2001, the Greenlist™ process helps our scientists select better ingredients and phase out less desirable ones. When SC Johnson scientists create a new product or reformulation, they work to select raw materials with the highest possible ratings. Reformulations must use ingredients that have ratings equal to or better than the original formula. You can learn more about the Greenlist™ process here.

Aren't natural products better?

Not necessarily. "Natural" or home remedies are not necessarily safer, effective or lower in allergens. In fact, many natural products undergo limited or no scientific testing compared to the extensive toxicological evaluations that companies like SC Johnson require for their product formulations. In contrast, SC Johnson products must meet or surpass all relevant regulatory requirements in the United States, Europe and any country where the product will be sold.

What’s the difference between a risk and a hazard?

This is a great question and you’ll sometimes hear about this debate as it relates to chemical laws and regulations. “Hazard” is a property of an ingredient. For example, the hazard from table salt is that it can contribute to high blood pressure. “Risk” is the LIKELIHOOD that the hazard will happen. Using the table salt example, the risk of high blood pressure is low if you don’t eat too much of it. So risk is about the degree of hazard with an ingredient AND the dose that a person receives – meaning the amount and the length of the exposure over time. Some people argue that ingredients with any hazard are harmful. But as with the table salt example, often hazards can be easily managed.At SC Johnson, we take a risk-based approach. This means:

1. Selecting the least toxic ingredient to get the job done.

2. Ensuring that ingredients with hazardous properties are restricted to safe levels and keep to the lowest concentration for the job at hand.

3. Designing products to act quickly, to reduce the amount and duration of exposure.

4. Designing packaging that reduces exposure, for example ensuring a product that could trigger a skin allergy is packaged in a leak-proof container.

5. Designing sprays to minimize inhalation, for example creating bigger droplets of cleaner so they’ll fall to the surface you’re cleaning instead of hanging in the air.

6. Always providing clear label instructions to prevent misuse that could increase the risk of using a product. Labels are there for a reason – please make sure you read and follow instructions.

Want to know more? The U.S. EPA has a great resource on risk assessment here.

At SC Johnson, we take a risk-based approach. This means:

1. Selecting the least toxic ingredient to get the job done.
2. Ensuring that ingredients with hazardous properties are restricted to safe levels and keep to the lowest concentration for the job at hand.
3. Designing products to act quickly, to reduce the amount and duration of exposure.
4. Designing packaging that reduces exposure, for example ensuring a product that could trigger a skin allergy is packaged in a leak-proof container.
5. Designing sprays to minimize inhalation, for example creating bigger droplets of cleaner so they’ll fall to the surface you’re cleaning instead of hanging in the air.
6. Always providing clear label instructions to prevent misuse that could increase the risk of using a product. Labels are there for a reason – please make sure you read and follow instructions.

Want to know more? The U.S. EPA has a great resource on risk assessment here.

If I have allergies, should I use your products?

This is a question that’s best discussed with your doctor based on your personal situation. What we can tell you is that some allergies – such as to pollen, pet dander and mold – may be positively affected by the use of some of our cleaning products in the home. People with these types of allergies also should not experience allergic symptoms from our air care products. Additionally, our North American fragrances are formulated to not contain peanut or tree nut derived ingredients. However, some individuals may have allergies to certain fragrance ingredients. In these cases, we recommend that you contact our consumer help line prior to using SC Johnson products, and they can help you determine which ones would be best for you. You can reach them at 800-558-5252.

Are SC Johnson fragrances safe for people and the environment?

Yes, we believe that all our fragranced products can be used safely if used according to label directions. We meet, and often surpass, the regulatory requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Consumer Safety Product Commission in the U.S. and Health Canada, as well as the standards specified by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA).Ingredients that are part of SC Johnson’s exclusive fragrance palette must live up to the safety standards of the International Fragrance Association as well as our own SC Johnson standards.

Ingredients that are part of SC Johnson’s exclusive fragrance palette must live up to the safety standards of the International Fragrance Association as well as our own SC Johnson standards.

I’ve read that some fragrance ingredients aren’t safe. Should I be worried?

No, you can rest assured that we work closely with our fragrance suppliers to ensure that we have evaluated the ingredients in our fragrances, both for human health and the environment. We meet, and often surpass, the regulatory requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Consumer Safety Product Commission in the U.S. and Health Canada, as well as the standards specified by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA).Plus, at SC Johnson, we take the review of fragrance ingredients a step further. We evaluate them not only under the IFRA standards, but also under our own standards that may look at ingredients differently. We start with the IFRA list and then apply our own internal requirements. These internal requirements may look at the same criteria as IFRA, such as carcinogicity, mutagenicity or reproductive toxicity, but at SC Johnson, we may take a stricter or different view of an ingredient. In some instances, we may also consider additional factors such as consumer confidence with ingredients or other scientific viewpoints.

Plus, at SC Johnson, we take the review of fragrance ingredients a step further. We evaluate them not only under the IFRA standards, but also under our own standards that may look at ingredients differently. We start with the IFRA list and then apply our own internal requirements. These internal requirements may look at the same criteria as IFRA, such as carcinogicity, mutagenicity or reproductive toxicity, but at SC Johnson, we may take a stricter or different view of an ingredient. In some instances, we may also consider additional factors such as consumer confidence with ingredients or other scientific viewpoints.

Do natural products contain fewer allergens than products made from synthetic materials?

Not in all cases. Products made from natural materials may have more allergens than products made from synthetic materials. For example, fragrances made from natural fragrance materials may contain allergens at higher levels than fragrances made from primarily synthetic materials.

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