The Ministry of Environment in South Korea recently announced the launch of an online information system called Green Leaf, which uses green leaf symbols to indicate the safety levels of product ingredients, helping consumers make more informed choices when purchasing.
Initially, the system will cover 76 products from 15 companies, involving up to 11 categories including detergents, laundry powders, fabric softeners, and fragrance enhancers. All products comply with the Korean Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides Safety Act (K-BPR) and have completed the necessary safety registrations.
The Green Leaf labeling system classifies ingredient risk levels into four categories:
- 4 leaves: No risk/hazard
- 3 leaves: Low risk/hazard
- 2 leaves: Safe to use depending on application and form
- 1 leaf: Recommended replacement with safer ingredients
Statistics show that out of the 613 ingredients in the participating products, 90 ingredients (14.7%) received a four-leaf rating, 342 ingredients (55.8%) received three leaves, 119 ingredients (19.4%) received two leaves, and no ingredients received just one leaf, with the remaining 62 ingredients (10.1%) still undetermined. This data indicates that most ingredients are relatively safe.
The ministry states that this system not only allows consumers to quickly understand product safety through simple visual symbols but also encourages companies to disclose more product information, enhancing consumer trust. Moreover, the ministry plans to further expand this project in 2025, including increasing participation from more companies and disclosing more detailed information. Additionally, the disclosure of information is voluntary for companies and is explicitly not for commercial use. Consumers can access this information through the Consumer Environmental Safety Information System (ecolife.me.go.kr).
This project is a joint effort between the government, businesses, and society, aimed at fostering a safer market for household chemical products by providing transparent information about chemical ingredients, thus protecting consumer health and promoting sustainable industrial development.
