Clean Label Project

What Clean Label Project does

Clean Label Project is a U.S. national nonprofit founded in 2016 and headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, that operates as an independent third-party certification body for food, beverage, supplement, baby, pet food, and consumer product categories. Its core function is to test products for over 200 environmental and industrial contaminants — including heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury), pesticides, glyphosate, phthalates, bisphenols, and acrylamide — and award product-level certifications (Clean Label Project Certification, Purity Award, Pesticide-Free Award, First 1,000 Days Promise, Transparency Project Award, USDA FSIS Award) based on standards derived from California Proposition 65, EU regulations, U.S. federal and state regulations, and proprietary category data. Testing is conducted exclusively through Ellipse Analytics, an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited independent laboratory that also serves as the program's Technical Administrator; products are purchased randomly from retail to mirror the consumer experience, and findings are published in category-wide studies covering protein powders, snack and nutrition bars, coffee, infant formula, pediatric OTC medications, and dog food.

The commercial model rests on two streams: certification fees paid by brands seeking to display the CLP mark on certified products (with annual recertification cycles), and donations and grants supporting the nonprofit mission. The organization distributes a free mobile application (iOS and Android) that lets consumers scan, search, and verify certified products, and operates a public product database alongside category rankings such as the Clean 16. Select enterprise customers include Beyond Meat (20+ certified products including the new Beyond Immerse RTD protein line), Freshpet (79 certified products, first full-line Purity Award in U.S./Canadian pet food), Gerber (120 products), MaryRuth's Organics (161 products), Happy Family Organics, Once Upon A Farm, Little Spoon, SmartyPants, Hum Nutrition, Bubs, Cerebelly, Kendamil, Kabrita, Bobbie Baby, and Enzymedica, with certifications announced across baby food, supplements, plant-based, and pet food categories in 2026.

The underlying technology stack combines laboratory analytical chemistry (ICP-MS, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS) with a data asset that Ellipse Analytics describes as the largest CPG contaminant database in the industry, spanning 32+ categories representing more than $400B in annual revenue, over 3,280 human consumable samples, and tens of thousands of individual data points across studies. An AI-powered platform, Purity+AI, is in development to extend the certification from reactive testing toward predictive, ingredient-level transparency and root-cause analysis; a deployed ML tool, the Dog Food Contaminant Predictor, already provides ingredient-list-based contamination predictions. Leadership is led by Executive Director Molly Hamilton, supported by a small full-time team and a bench of credentialed technical advisors across pediatrics, nutrition, veterinary medicine, and epidemiology.

Name

Clean Label Project

Legal name

Clean Label Project

Website

https://cleanlabelproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clean Label Project is a U.S. nonprofit founded in 2016 that certifies food, beverage, supplement, baby, and pet products for over 200 contaminants using ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab testing, serving health-conscious consumers and CPG brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Product Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Safety Certification Bodies (ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, SQF) (AFALAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food Packaging Safety & Migration Testing (Food-Contact Materials) (AFALAAAI)

Keywords

• Product certification services
• Contaminant testing services
• Clean label certification
• Food safety testing
• Consumer product testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Broomfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Fees: Brands that display the CLP certification mark on products pay certification fees for testing and evaluation services.
2. Donations and Grants: Clean Label Project is supported through donations and grants from supporters of their mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clean Label Project is a nonprofit certification body that independently tests food, beverage, supplement, baby, pet, and personal care products for over 200 environmental and industrial contaminants including heavy metals, pesticides, glyphosate, phthalates, bisphenols, and acrylamide. Brands apply for product-level certification (CLP Certification, Purity Award, Pesticide-Free Award, First 1,000 Days Promise, Transparency Project Award, and USDA FSIS Award) and pay certification fees to display the CLP mark. Testing is performed by Ellipse Analytics, an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory, with products purchased randomly from retail to mirror the consumer experience.

Product overview

Clean Label Project is a national nonprofit certification and testing organization that offers multiple certification programs (Clean Label Project Certification, Purity Award, Pesticide-Free Award, First 1,000 Days Promise, Transparency Project Award, and USDA FSIS Award) to distinguish products meeting rigorous safety and transparency standards. The organization conducts independent laboratory testing through Ellipse Analytics for contaminants including heavy metals, pesticides, glyphosate, phthalates, bisphenols, and acrylamide. Supporting services include a free mobile app for scanning and searching certified products, the Clean 16 ranking of lowest-contaminant products by category, and category research studies. The company also offers Purity+AI, an upcoming AI-powered platform for predictive contamination analysis, and a Dog Food Contaminant Predictor tool. Category studies cover protein powders, snack/nutrition bars, coffee, pediatric OTC medications, infant formula, and dog food.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clean Label Project Certification Product-level certification for CPG brands demonstrating contaminant purity testing compliance against standards informed by California Proposition 65, EU regulations, and U.S. federal and state regulations. Covers heavy metals, pesticides, glyphosate, phthalates, and bisphenols.
• Purity Award Premium certification recognizing products that perform among the top one-third of all products tested within their comprehensively studied category, evaluating heavy metals, pesticides, glyphosate, phthalates, and bisphenols.
• Pesticide-Free Award Specialty certification conducting in-depth pesticide assessment for more than 300 commonly used pesticides including glyphosate, the active ingredient in weed killers associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
• First 1,000 Days Promise Specialty certification setting contaminant limits for products aimed at pregnant women, infants, and young children, inspired by strict European standards.
• Transparency Project Award Premium certification expanding on Purity Award standards by allowing brands to add QR codes to packaging, giving consumers instant access to detailed batch-level testing results for each product.
• USDA FSIS Award Specialty award reserved for USDA Food Safety Inspection Service regulated brands that meet Clean Label Project Purity Award requirements, with amended logo to prevent confusion with USDA terminology.
• CLP Mobile App Free mobile application available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store that allows consumers to scan products, search for certified products, and access product purity data from independent lab testing conducted by Clean Label Project.
• Purity+AI AI-powered platform under development that helps brands move beyond reactive testing to proactive, predictive transparency by identifying ingredient-level contamination patterns and enabling root cause analysis using the largest CPG contaminant database in the industry.
• Dog Food Contaminant Predictor Free machine learning-powered tool that allows users to input their dog's food ingredient list to predict contamination levels, powered by the largest known dog food ingredient and contaminant database in the world.

Quantifiable outcome

• 47% of protein powders exceeded Prop 65 safety limits for heavy metals
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Ellipse AnalyticscoreTechnology or IntegrationEllipse Analytics serves as the Technical Administrator of Clean Label Project certification programs, providing compliance and enforcement oversight. They are an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory that has analyzed over 32 CPG categories representing more than $400 billion in annual revenue. All CLP testing is conducted by Ellipse Analytics using advanced analytical chemistry methods including ICP-MS, LC-MS/MS, and GC-MS/MS.
• PuoriflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPuori partnered with Clean Label Project for independent third-party testing of their supplement products. Puori is the first company to earn Clean Label Project Transparency Certification, making batch-level test results publicly available via QR codes on packaging. Their partnership represents a flagship example of proactive transparency in the supplement industry.
• Love GrowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLove Grown worked closely with Clean Label Project to minimize industrial contaminants in their products and became the only Clean Label Project Certified coffee brand, with plastic-free coffee pods recognized as some of the safest options available.
• NielsenminorOthersSales data provider used to identify top-selling products for category testing studies, typically representing 80-95% of category sales.
• SPINSminorOthersNatural products market data provider used alongside Nielsen and Amazon data to select top-selling products for category testing.
• AmazonminorOthersE-commerce sales data provider used to supplement Nielsen and SPINS data for identifying top-selling products in category studies.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Environmental Working Group (EWG): Nonprofit advocacy organization that publishes consumer product safety databases (Skin Deep, Food Scores, Dirty Dozen) based on independent testing. Comparable to CLP's nonprofit research, category studies, and consumer-facing transparency mission, though EWG focuses on data publication rather than product certification.
• ConsumerLab.com: Independent testing organization that evaluates health, nutrition, and wellness products (supplements, foods, beverages) and publishes results to subscribers. Directly comparable to CLP's mission of testing consumer products for purity and publishing results to inform consumer choice.
• Non-GMO Project: Nonprofit food product certification organization offering the Non-GMO Project Verified mark. Operates a similar B2B certification model with consumer-facing label recognition, making it the most directly comparable peer to Clean Label Project's nonprofit certification approach.

Broad incumbents

• BRCGS: Global food safety certification standard (BRC Global Standard for Food Safety) used by food manufacturers worldwide. Overlaps with CLP's food safety testing and certification focus, with stronger international retailer recognition but different methodology (process audit vs. contaminant testing).
• NSF International: Global public health and safety organization providing testing, inspection, and certification services across food, water, consumer products, and dietary supplements. NSF's dietary supplement and food safety certification programs (NSF/ANSI 173) overlap directly with CLP's testing and certification offerings at much larger scale.
• United States Pharmacopeia (USP): Scientific nonprofit that sets quality standards for medicines, supplements, and food ingredients, with the USP Verified Mark for dietary supplements. Directly comparable to CLP's supplement and ingredient certification programs, with far greater institutional authority and global reach.
• UL (Underwriters Laboratories): Global safety science organization offering testing, inspection, and certification across consumer products, food, and supplements. UL's consumer products testing and certification capabilities overlap with CLP's testing services at much larger scale and with stronger international presence.

Emerging players

• SCS Global Services: Third-party certification body providing sustainability, food safety, and quality certifications including Non-GMO and organic verification. Comparable to CLP's independent third-party certification model, with broader sustainability and eco-label portfolio beyond contaminant testing.
• Green Seal: Nonprofit standards and certification body for environmental and health product attributes. Comparable to CLP's nonprofit certification model with consumer-facing mark recognition, though focused on cleaning products and environmental claims rather than food contaminants.

Regional players

• SQF Institute: Food safety management certification program (Safe Quality Food) recognized by GFSI and used globally by food manufacturers. Comparable to CLP's food safety certification mission, though focused on manufacturing process certification rather than finished-product contaminant testing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thecleanlabel
• Facebookfacebook.com/CleanLabelProject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clean-label-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/cleanlabelproject

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clean Label Project