If you’re marketing household cleaners, personal care or cosmetic products for consumers in New York or California, you need to understand current regulations regarding 1,4 dioxane concentrations.
1,4 Dioxane is a synthetic chemical used as a solvent and stabilizer in industrial formulations and processes. However, it is also a byproduct of certain chemical manufacturing processes involving ethylene oxide (EO).
While not intentionally added to formulations, 1,4-dioxane can appear as a residual component in common surfactants used to formulate home and personal care products, including alkyl ether sulfates (i.e., SLES), polyethylene glycols (PEGs), and ethoxylated alcohols.
According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, 1,4-dioxane has been detected in groundwater at sites throughout the United States, with particularly concerning levels in Long Island’s sole source aquifer and near legacy industrial and hazardous waste sites.
The compound presents a significant environmental challenge due to its persistence and toxicity.
Its removal from drinking water supplies requires complex and costly treatment technologies. Perhaps most troubling: 1,4-dioxane is classified as a probable human carcinogen, or what regulators refer to as a “hidden carcinogen” in consumer products.
The Regulatory Landscape: What You Need to Know
New York Regulations
New York has implemented the strictest 1,4-dioxane limits in the nation, with deadlines that have already passed:
Household Cleaning and Personal Care Products:
- Less than 2 ppm by December 31, 2022
- Less than 1 ppm by December 31, 2023
Cosmetic Products:
- Less than 10 ppm by December 31, 2022
These regulations apply to products sold in New York State, regardless of where they’re manufactured.
California Disclosure Requirements
California’s approach focuses on transparency through CA SB258, which took effect in January 2020:
For products containing more than 10 ppm 1,4-dioxane:
- Online disclosure required (as of 2020)
- On-label disclosure required (as of 2021)
Who Needs to Pay Attention?
If you’re formulating any of the following consumer product categories using ethoxylated ingredients, these regulations apply to you:
- Household cleaners and degreasers
- Institutional and industrial (I&I) products
- Glass and window cleaners
- Rinse aids
- Hard surface cleaners
- Vehicle care products
- Personal care products (i.e., shampoo, conditioner, soap, bath gels, and other bath products)
- Cosmetics
Key ingredient categories to watch:
- Alcohol ethoxylates
- EO/PO block copolymers
- Sodium laureth sulfates (SLES)
- Any surfactant produced using ethylene oxide
These surfactants deliver critical performance properties, including foam modification, surface wetting, degreasing, emulsification, and dispersion, making them difficult to reduce or simply eliminate from formulations.
High-Performance Alternatives That Meet 1,4 Dioxane Compliance Standards
Luckily, there are several surfactant options that enable formulators to reduce or eliminate the presence of 1,4 dioxane in their formulations while maintaining, and in some cases, improving performance characteristics along with additional environmental benefits.
Low 1,4-Dioxane Ether Sulfates
For formulators who want to keep using ether sulfate chemistry, low 1,4-dioxane versions offer a direct path to compliance.
Example: Stepan’s PLUS and ULTRA Series
Stepan offers a portfolio of low 1,4-dioxane ether sulfate surfactants, including their PLUS and ULTRA series, such as Steol CS-230, CS-270, CS-370, and CS-460 — available in both natural and synthetic variations depending on claims and formulating objectives.
These products contain a maximum of 15 ppm residual 1,4-dioxane on a 100% active basis at the point of manufacturing. This means that the high-active versions (70% ether sulfate) will contain a maximum of 10 ppm residual 1,4-dioxane, while low-active (30%) ether sulfates will contain a maximum of 4 ppm, bringing you below the regulatory threshold in either case. Of course, you should still conduct your own testing to confirm your formulation’s 1,4 dioxane concentration before entering the market.
Stepan also offers 1,4-dioxane-free options, including non-SLES anionic surfactants designed for high-foaming, hard surface cleaners without ether sulfates.
These include linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, such as Bio-Soft D-40 and D-62 LT; DDBSA (such as Bio-Soft S-101); and methyl ester sulfonates such as Alpha-Step MC-48 and PC-48, which also deliver a high bio-derived content.
Biosurfactant Solutions
Formulators can also explore reformulating with new biosurfactant options.
For example, Holiferm offers acidic, high-foam (HoneySurf HF) and lactonic, low-foam (HoneySurf LF) sophorolipid biosurfactants featuring excellent performance and environmental profiles.
Learn More About Acidic vs Lactonic Sophorolipid Biosurfactants
These surfactants have demonstrated strong results compared to traditional “green” surfactants such as alcohol ethoxylates and glucosides.
Holiferm’s biosurfactants are entirely 1,4-dioxane-free and suitable for a wide range of home care, hard surface, detergent, and mild personal care or cosmetic formulations.
Interested in formulating with sophorolipid biosurfactants? Contact us to learn more about sourcing and application support.
Custom Low or No 1,4 Dioxane Surfactant Blends
For formulators looking for a complete surfactant package designed to meet their unique performance goals, we also produce custom blends under our Sta-Mulse® line. Our Sta-Mulse products combine high-performance ingredients to achieve low or no 1,4-dioxane formulations for industrial and institutional cleaning applications.
This approach allows us to collaborate directly with both new and established formulators to create market-ready, high-functioning products that meet performance and sustainability targets while complying with regulations in markets such as New York and California.
Final Thoughts
As state-level restrictions continue to tighten, reformulating for compliance is not just a regulatory necessity but a competitive advantage. Whether you’re reducing 1,4-dioxane through low-residual ether sulfates or moving toward fully biosurfactant-based systems, there are proven, high-performance options available today.
Reach out to our team to discuss your formulation goals and explore solutions that meet both performance and compliance standards.