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CarCareTruthProducts · Ranked

Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG)

  • Nonionic surfactants
  • CAS 68515-73-1
  • IUPAC: C8-16 Alkyl polyglucoside

Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) (CAS 68515-73-1) appears in 6 of the 1,812 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of June 2026). It is on the EPA Safer Choice list.

Listed on the EPA Safer Choice Safer Chemical Ingredients List as a surfactant. Derived from renewable feedstocks (sugar plus coconut/palm). Low irritation potential and not GHS-classified for skin sensitization at typical use concentrations.

APGs are plant-derived nonionic surfactants made from sugar and fatty alcohols. They're the go-to surfactant for formulators targeting the "green" market because they're biodegradable, made from renewables, and have excellent toxicity profiles.

In car care, they appear in products marketed as eco-friendly or biodegradable. Performance is good but not exceptional compared to traditional surfactants — you trade some cleaning power for a better environmental profile.

EPA Safer Choice listed. Readily biodegradable. One of the few surfactants with essentially zero environmental concern.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
yes
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
5/5
Purpose: Biodegradable nonionic surfactant (cleaning)

Common questions about Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG)

What is Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) used for in car care?
Biodegradable nonionic surfactant (cleaning)
Is Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) a VOC?
No. Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) EPA Safer Choice certified?
Yes. Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) is on the EPA Safer Choice list.

6 products contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.