The Environmental Working Group (EWG): Why It Matters and How to Support It

If you have ever searched for the safety of an ingredient in your skincare, looked up pesticide residues on your strawberries, or wondered whether your tap water is truly clean — you have probably encountered the Environmental Working Group. And if you have not, you need to know about them. The EWG is, in my professional opinion, one of the most important consumer health organizations in the United States, and their work directly impacts the choices I make for my family and the products I recommend in my practice at Amata Lucè.

What Is the Environmental Working Group?

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. Their mission is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment by providing research, education, and advocacy on toxic chemicals, agricultural practices, and corporate accountability. They employ scientists, policy experts, lawyers, and communications professionals who work to bridge the gap between what corporations know about their products and what consumers are told.

You can learn more about their mission and history at ewg.org — their main website is a comprehensive resource for anyone who wants to understand what is really in the products they use every day.

EWG's Key Resources — And Why I Use Them

Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database (ewg.org/skindeep) — This is the resource I use most frequently. Skin Deep rates over 90,000 personal care products on a scale of 1 to 10 based on ingredient safety. Every ingredient is cross-referenced against dozens of toxicity databases, regulatory lists, and published research. When a client asks me about a product, this is the first place I check. If you use only one EWG resource, make it this one.

EWG Verified™ Mark (ewg.org/ewgverified) — Products that earn the EWG Verified mark have met the organization's strictest standards for ingredient safety and transparency. To be EWG Verified, a product must avoid all ingredients on EWG's "unacceptable" list, fully disclose every ingredient, and meet good manufacturing practice standards. This is why I highlight that Epicutis is EWG Verified — it is not a marketing claim, it is an independent verification of ingredient safety by scientists whose job is to protect consumers.

The Dirty Dozen™ Shopper's Guide (ewg.org/foodnews) — Every year, EWG analyzes USDA pesticide testing data and publishes the Dirty Dozen (highest pesticide residues) and Clean Fifteen (lowest residues) lists. This is the guide I reference in my food safety articles and the one I keep on my phone when I am grocery shopping. It is free, updated annually, and based on government data — not industry-funded research.

Tap Water Database (ewg.org/tapwater) — Enter your zip code and see exactly what contaminants have been detected in your local water supply. EWG's database includes test results for over 50,000 water utilities serving 280 million Americans. When I moved to our current home, this was one of the first things I checked — and it informed my decision about which water filtration system to install.

Healthy Living App (available on iOS and Android) — EWG's free app lets you scan product barcodes in stores and instantly see safety ratings. I recommend every client download this app before their next trip to the store. It takes the guesswork out of choosing safer products.

Why EWG's Work Is Under Threat — And Why Your Support Matters

The cosmetics and chemical industries spend hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying against the kind of transparency and regulation that EWG advocates for. The U.S. has not passed major cosmetics safety legislation since 1938 — meaning the regulatory framework governing what goes into your moisturizer is older than most of the chemicals in it. EWG is one of the few organizations with the scientific expertise and political will to push for meaningful reform.

Their work is funded primarily by individual donations and foundation grants — not by the industries they monitor. This independence is what makes their research trustworthy. But it also means they rely on people like us to keep their work going.

In a regulatory environment where the beauty and food industries are largely allowed to police themselves, organizations like EWG are not optional — they are essential. They are doing the work that our government agencies are not resourced or empowered to do. Supporting them is one of the most impactful things you can do for your family's health.

How to Join and Support EWG

Become a Member — Visit ewg.org/donate to become a member. Monthly and one-time donations are available, and every dollar funds independent research, advocacy, and the free consumer tools millions of people rely on. Membership starts at any amount you choose.

Use Their Free Tools — Download the EWG Healthy Living app, bookmark the Skin Deep database, and check your tap water quality. Using these tools is itself a form of support because it demonstrates the demand for ingredient transparency and drives traffic to the resources that justify EWG's continued funding.

Share Their Research — When you find a product with a concerning safety rating or learn something new from their Dirty Dozen list, share it. Post it on social media. Text it to a friend. Email it to your family group chat. Consumer awareness is the single most powerful force for industry change, and EWG's research is designed to be shared.

Advocate for Policy Change — EWG maintains an action center at ewg.org/take-action where you can contact your elected representatives about pending legislation related to cosmetics safety, pesticide regulation, and environmental protection. These pre-written letters take less than two minutes to send and have a real impact on policy decisions.

Shop EWG Verified — When you choose products with the EWG Verified mark, you are voting with your wallet for higher safety standards. You are telling the industry that transparency and ingredient safety matter to you as a consumer. The more demand there is for EWG Verified products, the more companies will pursue that certification.

EWG Quick Links

Main Website: ewg.org — Research, news, and advocacy for healthier living.

Skin Deep Database: ewg.org/skindeep — Search and rate personal care products by ingredient safety.

EWG Verified: ewg.org/ewgverified — Find products that meet the highest safety standards.

Dirty Dozen Guide: ewg.org/foodnews — Annual guide to pesticide residues in produce.

Tap Water Database: ewg.org/tapwater — Check your local water quality by zip code.

Healthy Living App: ewg.org/apps — Free barcode scanner for product safety ratings.

Donate / Join: ewg.org/donate — Support independent research and consumer advocacy.

Take Action: ewg.org/take-action — Contact your representatives about health and safety legislation.

I do not receive compensation from EWG. I am not affiliated with them in any way. I recommend them because their work has directly informed the choices I make as a nurse, a mother, and an aesthetic professional — and because I believe every woman deserves access to the kind of independent, evidence-based information they provide. Supporting EWG is supporting your own right to know.

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