Celebrating World Environment Day: Safer Choices for Our Families and the Planet

Every year on June 5, people around the world come together to celebrate World Environment Day, a global reminder that we each have the power to protect the planet and promote healthier communities. This year’s theme, Beat Plastic Pollution, highlights the urgent need to reduce single-use plastics and make smarter choices about the products we bring into our homes.

As part of our work bringing the EPA’s Safer Choice program to Latino communities in Central Washington, we’re proud to celebrate this theme. Many people don’t realize that Safer Choice isn’t just about safer ingredients, it also looks at how a product is packaged. To earn the Safer Choice label, companies must meet strict packaging criteria, including the use of recyclable materials, concentrated formulas, and refillable containers that reduce waste.

That means when you choose a cleaning product with the Safer Choice label, you’re not just protecting your family from harmful chemicals—you’re also helping reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in our landfills, waterways, and oceans.

For many Latino households, trusted brands like Fabuloso, Pinol o Cloralex are longtime staples. Our outreach work honors those traditions, while also encouraging families to explore safer alternatives. By sharing tools and information about Safer Choice products, we aim to help families make informed swaps that protect their health and the environment—without sacrificing cleaning power or cultural pride.

Many people are surprised to learn that safer alternatives—including liquid dish soaps, laundry detergents, and multi-surface cleaners—are already available in many big-box stores, oftentimes alongside familiar brands. And many of these Safer Choice products come in eco-friendly packaging that helps us care for la tierra as well as la familia.

We’ve been proud to work with families in Central Washington, hosting fun, hands-on workshops and community conversations about safer cleaning. Whether it’s playing a round of bilingual lotería, distributing free samples, or sharing stories during our group sessions, we’ve seen firsthand that information is empowering—especially when it’s shared with respect for people’s culture, experience, and everyday realities.

This World Environment Day, we invite you to take one small step: look for the Safer Choice label next time you shop. You’ll know you’re picking a product that works, that’s safer for your health, and that helps reduce plastic waste.

Because a cleaner home shouldn’t come at the cost of a polluted planet—and safer choices should be available to todas nuestras comunidades.