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Design Cleaner Formulas

Integrate a science-based indicator used in the EU Ecolabel early in your development process to drive ecodesign and differentiate your products

Same product, three formulas

Three dishwashing-liquid formulas of the same product type — see how ingredient choices change the CDV.

Rinse-off

Dishwashing Liquid — Ref [01]

Key ingredients

  • Lauryl Glucoside (APG)12%
  • Sodium Coco-Sulfate6%
  • Citric Acid2%
Critical Dilution Volume
1,900 L/g of formula
Rinse-off

Dishwashing Liquid — Ref [02]

Key ingredients

  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)15%
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine5%
  • Sodium Chloride2%
Critical Dilution Volume
7,400 L/g of formula
Rinse-off

Dishwashing Liquid — Ref [03]

Key ingredients

  • Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS)18%
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate8%
  • Methylisothiazolinone0.05%
Critical Dilution Volume
19,500 L/g of formula
Benchmark your formula

CDV values shown are illustrative only.

Identify problematic ingredients and find alternatives

Ingredients

Illustrative composition of Dishwashing Liquid — Ref [03].

Illustrative composition and evidence of each ingredient for Dishwashing Liquid — Ref [03]
IngredientFormula (%)CDV (%)Evidence
Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS)Largest share of the CDV18.0> 30 %
OpenChemFacts
Sodium Lauryl SulfateLargest share of the CDV8.0> 30 %
OpenChemFacts
Methylisothiazolinone0.0520–30 %
OpenChemFacts
Aqua74.0< 5 %
OpenChemFacts

Formula (%) is the declared concentration; CDV (%) is the weight of the ingredient in the formula CDV, as a band. Example only.

The lower, the better.

Lower CDV means a lower expected aquatic toxicity burden.

  • how muchmass
  • how toxicTF
  • how fast it breaks downDF
CDV
CDV equals the sum of mass times DF divided by TF, multiplied by 1,000.

Adopted by industry pioneers

EU Ecolabel
CDV is criterion 1 for awarding the EU Ecolabel to rinse-off cosmetic products (Decision 2021/1870).
L'Oréal
L'Oréal's SPOT eco-design tool uses CDV at formula level as one of its primary environmental indicators.

Why it's important

Build stronger evidence

Support specific environmental claims with transparent aquatic-toxicity assessments, using the CDV approach included in EU Ecolabel criteria.

Make better decisions earlier

Compare formulations during development. Identify priority ingredients and focus further assessment and testing where they matter most. Results within a few days.

EU rules on environmental claims are tightening: the Empowering Consumers Directive (EmpCo) applies from 27 September 2026, and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) sets a broader ecodesign framework, with requirements developed by product group.

Ready to Assess Your Formulas?

Let's explore how CDV analysis can support your ecodesign decisions.

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