Steve Bennett leads the scientific affairs, regulatory affairs, international affairs, and strategic alliances and industry relations functions, including retail engagement, at the Household Commercial Products Association (HCPA). He is responsible for leading the scientific department, developing science policies and positions, and providing scientific guidance on issues covering HCPA’s product divisions. He is currently leading HCPA’s TSCA implementation efforts and is the staff executive for the Floor Care and Pest Management Divisions. Bennett also serves as the association’s primary external spokesperson on scientific, technical and sustainability issues.
Ahead of HCPA’s Annual Meeting, XPAND2020, which will be held online Dec. 7-9, Bennett took time to correspond with Happi.com about the latest news in home care.
Happi: How has COVID-19 impacted the household care business overall?
Bennett: At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) activated the Emerging Viral Pathogens Guidance. Under this Guidance, companies provided the Agency with existing data to show that their products were effective against a harder-to-kill virus. This helped the EPA identify disinfectant products that could be used against SARS-CoV-2, the strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19. In a time of panic and uncertainty, Americans took comfort in the fact that the trusted and familiar products they’ve used to clean their homes, and that businesses use to clean workspaces, could protect them from this new public health threat.
As a result of the pandemic, the demand for disinfectants significantly increased and it was important that the industry manage the supply chain to avoid major disruptions and keep these critical products in the hands of the public.
The EPA implemented certain temporary flexibilities to minimize supply chain disruptions and help manufacturers. For example, the EPA made it possible for manufacturers of disinfectant products to obtain certain ingredients from alternate suppliers without first notifying the EPA about the change. This includes commodity active ingredients for products on List N and commodity inert ingredients for any registered pesticide. This has helped supply chains run efficiently during a time when resources are limited and getting products in the hands of Americans is imperative.
It should be noted that the temporary flexibilities still allow the EPA to maintain the high level of public health standards it requires, and the Agency has indicated that they may consider adopting some of these policies permanently to help eliminate unnecessary administrative burdens, pending stakeholder input.
Happi: What are consumers looking for right now in their disinfectants, bathroom cleaners, multi-purpose sprays?
Bennett: First and foremost, consumers want products that are safe. That is, they want products that will get the job done without causing any harm to human health or the environment. Consumers can be confident that, when used as intended and according to the directions on the label, household products are both safe and effective.
Additionally, consumers want simple and convenient products that are easy to use, which is why wipes have been so popular recently. Wipes provide a simple, yet effective, delivery form.
Consumers also want to know what ingredients are in their products – and that these ingredients are safe. That’s why companies are using third-party certifications, like the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice program, to verify that the ingredients in their cleaning products meet certain health and environmental criteria.
Specific to COVID-19, consumers want to know that their disinfectants will kill SARS-CoV-2, the strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19. There has been an increased emphasis on cleaning and disinfecting to protect against the threat of COVID-19, which makes it critically important for consumers to use products according to the directions on the label. Consumers should pay special attention to the dwell time (how long a product should remain wet on the surface so the active ingredients have time to work) since under- or overuse of a product could cause it to be ineffective.
Happi: What are the latest developments in household cleaners specifically? What ingredients fuel their formulations?
Bennett: The household products industry has done a tremendous job of managing the supply chain throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Even with limited resources, companies are working around-the-clock to manufacture products at record levels.
Sustainability has been a key focus for formulators and manufacturers because products made with natural and more sustainable ingredients are becoming more important to consumers and influencing their purchasing decisions.
Additionally, by focusing on more sustainable ingredients, manufacturers of household products can help minimize supply chain disruptions, as well as minimize – or even eliminate – using chemicals of concern while still maintaining (or, in some cases, improving) a product’s efficacy.
Happi: Any future trends to look out for in household cleaning products?
Bennett: As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, cleaning and disinfecting products will remain in high demand for the foreseeable future. Consumers will continue to rely on these products to protect their families and homes from the threat of COVID-19.
Additionally, ingredient communication will remain a priority for cleaning product companies. Now more than ever, consumers demand transparency about the ingredients that are in their products.
In 2017, HCPA led the industry effort in California to pass the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act, which requires cleaning product manufacturers to disclose the ingredients in their products. This ensures that consumers have the information they need to make informed decisions about the products they use to stay safe and healthy. Currently, New York is trying to create its own ingredient communication standards – and other states will most likely follow suit.
However, conflicting state requirements just won’t work. If one state requires the listing of a certain ingredient in a product, but another state does not, which label should the consumer trust?
That’s why HCPA is working so diligently with allied trade associations and key stakeholders to establish a national standard, based on the California Cleaning Product Right to Know Act, that would provide clear and consistent information about the products people use to ensure their homes are clean and safe.
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