About
Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. Since 1993, EWG has shined a spotlight on outdated legislation, harmful agricultural practices, and industry loopholes that pose risks to human health and the environment, and it is best known for consumer-facing tools such as the Skin Deep cosmetics database and the Tap Water Database.
Mission
EWG states its mission simply: to empower people with breakthrough research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment. Its team of scientists, policy experts, lawyers, and communications and data experts works to reform chemical safety and agricultural laws, push industries to adopt stronger standards, and educate consumers with actionable information.
What they do
- Skin Deep, a cosmetics database that since 2004 has helped people avoid potentially toxic chemicals in personal care and beauty products.
- Tap Water Database, documenting contaminants found in U.S. drinking water, including many at levels that are legal but that scientists say may still pose health risks.
- EWG VERIFIED, a mark signaling that a personal care product meets EWG's strictest criteria for transparency and health.
- Consumer guides, including the Guide to Sunscreens and the Guide to Healthy Cleaning, with hazard ratings for products and ingredients.
- Research and advocacy across food and water, farming and agriculture, personal care and household products, energy, family health, and toxic chemicals, plus journalism through The New Lede.
History
EWG has been active since 1993, working both on Capitol Hill and in communities across America to change the debate over environmental health. Its Skin Deep database launched in 2004, and the organization has since expanded into a broad set of databases, product verification programs, and consumer guides.
Financials
Per IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending December 2025 Environmental Working Group reported total revenue of $16,366,034, total expenses of $19,283,285, and net assets of $14,429,965. EWG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation (EIN 52-2148600); it is affiliated with a separate 501(c)(4) organization, EWG Action Fund.