One of the aims and benefits of cleaning is to prolong the longevity of goods or belongings. Goods and textiles that are well maintained can last a lifetime or more, contributing very directly to a more sustainable lifestyle.
Many of the specialist products that are part of the A.I.S.E. product portfolio serve to maintain: surface cleaners, laundry products, floor and building care products, metal treatment products in manufacturing installations. However, the group of products we refer to specially as ‘maintenance products’ here includes air care products, waxes and polishes (shoe and leather care) and insecticides.
Indoor Air Care
Substances emitted while cooking or cleaning, or from furniture, paint, and other building materials are often referred to as indoor air pollutants. These substances can compromise indoor air quality and have the potential to impact the health and comfort of occupants in indoor environments. Common indoor air pollutants include chemicals that can evaporate into the air and are released from various sources, including paints, solvents, cleaning products, and building materials. It is therefore essential that safe use information is clearly communicated to users to avoid harmful exposure.
Air care products in A.I.S.E.’s portfolio refers to all types of air fresheners such as sprays or aerosols, electric, liquid or gel formats, scented candles or air fresheners for the car. These products are very popular, bringing a fresh scent to an enclosed space such as a car or a toilet, and adding a general sense of wellbeing in shared public spaces such as restaurants and shops. In industrialised countries, we spend the majority of our time indoors. More than half the world’s population is based in towns and cities today, where we tend to live with more closed than open windows. There is therefore a growing awareness of the need and desire for good indoor air quality.
The factors affecting the quality of the air that we breathe indoors are complex. They include ventilation, humidity, warmth/cold and cleanliness and hygiene. Substances in the air can range from dust particles and mould spores, aerosolised fats and oils emitted while cooking and cleaning, or from furniture, paint or other building materials.
Safe use is always a top priority
The safe use of maintenance products is of paramount importance, and A.I.S.E. is making continual commitments on product safety that go beyond legislation. These include icons to engage consumers towards safe behaviour when using products. Products (such as air fresheners) that are classified as hazardous under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation in Europe are required to carry a precautionary statement as defined in CLP. In addition to this, companies may choose to add A.I.S.E.’s relevant safe use icon, for example, keep away from children.
Product safety through responsible design, manufacturing and safe use
The safety and the wellbeing of consumers is the over-riding priority for the industry. In order to promote best practices in the industry and to help increase awareness and understanding about the safe use of air care products, A.I.S.E. runs a product stewardship programme for air fresheners. This initiative encourages all manufacturers of air freshener products to go beyond the EU legal requirements and commit to responsible manufacturing, marketing and communication so that consumers can make informed choices about the products that they buy.
How indoor air care is regulated in the EU
Products in the air fresheners category must be compliant with several pieces of EU legislation:
- Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008
- Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals REACH (EC) No 1907/2006
- Directive on restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances – (76/769/EEC)
- EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988
- EU Aerosol Dispensers’ Directive (EU) 2016/2037
Exposure health risk assessment
A.I.S.E. is actively involved in ongoing work at European level to contribute to a better understanding of indoor air quality and how to improve it, on behalf of its members who place air care products on the market. Alongside other industry sectors we take part in Europe-wide efforts to better understand and improve indoor air quality, including ongoing work focusing on the potential effects of consumer products on indoor air, and how indoor air quality can be measured to secure quality and comfort for all.
At the EU level, A.I.S.E. has been involved in EPHECT, an EU health risk assessment of exposure to household consumer products that aims to identify and quantify key indoor air pollutants emitted by consumer products with the objective of proposing adequate risk reduction measures if appropriate.
