Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (Lakewood, CO) announced it is once again raising the bar for household cleaning products with expanded product standards that reflect the latest research and the company’s commitment to human and environmental health.

Natural Grocers first introduced its household cleaning standards in 2016, offering carefully curated alternatives to conventional products. The latest updates reflect growing scientific understanding about the impact of certain ingredients on air quality, ecosystems and overall well-being, the company said.

According to the company, the list of prohibited products now includes more than 100 ingredients. In addition to excluded substances such as phosphates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic colors and chlorine, the new standards prohibit formaldehyde donors, phthalates, parabens, ethanolamines, glycol ethers and quaternary ammonium compounds.

Unlike federal regulations, Natural Grocers requires every brand it sells to provide a complete ingredient list on packaging. There are exceptions for certain fragrance and enzyme blends, but every product must comply with the company’s rigorous safety and environmental standards.

“We’ve always believed that cleaning your home shouldn’t come at the expense of your health—or the environment,” said Raquel Isely, vice president of marketing at Natural Grocers. “That’s why we’re committed to providing our customers with safe, sustainable choices, and making it easy for them to understand exactly what’s in the products they use every day. These updated standards help our customers make confident, informed decisions, whether they’re shopping for dish soap, fabric softener or multi-surface cleaner.”

For more information, visit www.naturalgrocers.com.