initiatives
Charter for Sustainable Cleaning
For more than 20 years, the Charter for Sustainable Cleaning (“the Charter”) has been the European cleaning and hygiene products industry's voluntary sustainability framework.
Managed by Detergents Europe, the Charter supports companies in embedding sustainability across their operations, products and value chains, while providing a common approach to sustainability practices, measurement and reporting.
The Charter takes a lifecycle approach to sustainability, recognising that environmental, social and economic impacts occur throughout a product's journey, from the sourcing of raw materials through manufacturing, distribution, use and end-of-life management.
Its requirements are regularly reviewed to reflect evolving scientific knowledge, sustainability priorities and regulatory developments.
The Charter framework addresses six key sustainability dimensions:
Human and environmental safety
of chemicals and products
Eco-efficiency
Corporate and social responsibility
Occupational health and safety
Use of resources
such as water and energy
Consumer information
to drive more sustainable cleaning and washing habits
The sector’s sustainability progress is measurable
The Charter enables companies to deliver meaningful improvements and measure their progress in reducing CO2 emissions, circularity and resource efficiency, and environmental and human safety. Since it was launched in 2005, the results of the Charter’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have demonstrated tangible and measurable progress in improving the sustainability performance of the cleaning and maintenance products industry. This annual KPI reporting provides a transparent overview of the collective sustainability progress achieved by Charter participants.
Charter membership across the European market
The Charter is open to manufacturers, distributors and retailers placing or selling detergent or cleaning products on the market in the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the UK. There are currently over 170 Charter members, covering the vast majority of the European market. It covers company and product standards in the household care industry and the professional cleaning and hygiene products sector.
Participation in the Charter demonstrates a company’s commitment to continuous sustainability improvement through the implementation of the Charter’s sustainability standards, independent third-party verification and transparent annual performance reporting. Through their participation, companies can demonstrate this commitment to customers, value chain partners, retailers, public authorities and other stakeholders.
Two types of Charter membership ensure coverage through the lifecycle of products: ordinary members include companies manufacturing household or professional detergents or maintenance products, while associate members include retailers, distributors or importers selling such products.
Progress is externally verified
This voluntary industry scheme is distinguished by its independently and externally verified reporting of performance. On an annual basis, companies submit their KPI data, which is evaluated by Deloitte on behalf of the industry association, before being aggregated and published. Independent verification and transparent reporting on the Charter requirements are key features of the scheme and support a consistent and robust industry approach to sustainability. Read more about the role of independent verification.