Why EWG Matters: A Guide to Safer Living and Cleaner Choices

In the world of wellness, amidst the murky waters of greenwashing, false claims, and total lack of regulation on harmful ingredients there is an organization that does have your health & the sustainability of our environment declared as mission-critical. Environmental Working Group was established in 1993 to empower people through breakthrough research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment. With a US government that has only banned 11 ingredients since 1938 (Europe has banned 1600) we simply cannot count on legislation to protect our health or that of the environment.

What does EWG do?

EWG is a non-profit funded by individual donations and grants from charitable organizations. They employ teams of scientists who evaluate ingredients, and their impact on human health & the environment. They publish lists like the harmful ingredient list & the restricted list which discuss ingredients that are harmful/unacceptable, or potentially safe within specific amounts or use restrictions. They maintain & constantly add to large databases of products across personal care, household cleaning, and food to rate the safety to humans & the environment based on their ingredients, transparency, manufacturing practices, etc.

EWG Verified

EWG came out with its verified mark in 2015. The verified mark means the product has been comprehensively evaluated and meets the strict criteria set by EWG for product safety, transparency, and environmental impact. 2,280 personal care & household products have the verified mark, many of which we carry at Free Living Co.

Why do we like EWG

At Free Living Co we don't want to recreate the wheel but rather be part of the ground swell effort already underway. While there are a few resources that have human & environmental safety as their guiding light, like Made Safe, Yuka, Think Dirty, all of which we like, we find EWG to be the most established & strictest "gold standard" on the market today.

1 thing

If clean living is overwhelming, exhausting, or frustrating to you, here is a suggestion: download the EWG Healthy Living app. As you finish a product, scan it before buying again. If it turns out to be orange or red, consider replacing it with something cleaner. You can search the EWG Skin Deep database for cleaner personal items or the guide to healthy cleaners for home goods.

Live free,
Dana

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Environmental Working Group (EWG)?

EWG is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 that evaluates the safety of ingredients in personal care, cleaning, and food products. Their scientists research chemical impacts on human health and the environment, publishing widely used safety databases.

What does EWG Verified mean on a product?

EWG Verified is a certification indicating a product has been comprehensively evaluated and meets EWG's strict standards for ingredient safety, full transparency, and responsible manufacturing practices.

Why does the US allow more toxic ingredients than Europe?

The US has banned only 11 cosmetic ingredients since 1938, while the EU has restricted or banned over 1,600. There is no pre-market safety review required for cosmetic ingredients in the US, placing the burden of proof on consumers rather than manufacturers.

How do I use the EWG database to check a product?

Visit EWG's Skin Deep database for personal care products or the EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning for household products. Search by product name or ingredient to see safety ratings, hazard flags, and ingredient transparency scores.

Are EWG-verified products worth the cost?

EWG Verified products offer confirmed ingredient transparency and safety that standard 'natural' or 'clean' labels cannot guarantee. For products used daily on skin or in the home, the peace of mind and reduced chemical exposure are well worth the investment.