NSF launched NSF Certified Compact Product, an independent certification that verifies products designed to reduce environmental impact. These certified products are made of optimized material that increases transportation efficiency while maintaining safety, performance and usability.

The certification standard, available to all manufacturers and retail channels, addresses the continued need for credible verification of environmental claims. Independently owned and managed by NSF, the NSF Certified Compact Product standard provides manufacturers with a science-based validation with the intention of providing a trusted third-party certification mark.

“As regulations around environmental claims tighten, independent verification is becoming essential, as regulators increasingly expect green design elements to be substantiated and third-party verified rather than self-declared,” said Jess Evans, NSF director of food advisory.

The certification evaluates products using ISO-aligned Life Cycle Assessment methods and verifies measurable reductions in material use compared to conventional products. It focuses on optimizing mass per use, material intensity and transportation impact without compromising safety or functionality. The program also requires certified products to maintain documented social and labor policies demonstrating respect for human rights and responsible workplace practices across operations and supply chains.

The certification applies across a range of product categories where compact design can significantly reduce material use and shipping impacts. Initially, manufacturers of cleaning agents, laundry and personal care products, and skin cleaners and moisturizers in compact formats (tablets, bars, and sticks) are eligible to apply. NSF will regularly review standard criteria and evaluate candidates for format expansion while adapting to new product innovation. Certified products will display the NSF Certified Compact Product mark and be listed on NSF’s online directory.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that July averaged 76.9 F, the warmest month on record (1895–present) for the contiguous United States, and 3.3 F about the 20^th century average. Above-average temperatures covered the entire nation, with all states ranking in the warmest third of their July temperature records and none ranking near or below average.

Conversely, Alaska had the coldest July average temperature since 2008, NOAA reported. Talkeetna, Alaska, also recorded its wettest July on record with 10.59 inches of precipitation.

However, multiple parts of Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Montana set record high temperatures on July 12, including 115 F in Miles City, Montana. In late July, extreme overnight heat across the Southwest set record warm minimum temperature of 99 F in Laughlin, Nevada, and tied records in Phoenix of 97 F and Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, of 96 F.

Additionally numerous locations across the Mid-Atlantic observed their warmest July 4 on record, including Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland.

As of Aug. 4, NOAA reported that about half (48.5%) of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up about 0.7% from the end of June. Drought conditions intensified across most of the interior West, Southwest, Rockies and Plains, while decreasing in intensity across parts of the Southeast, Tennessee Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Furthermore, wildfires in eastern Oregon burned over 140,000 acres in July, triggering evacuations and causing regional smoke hazards.