> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.accentuate.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.accentuate.io/use-case-guides/kids-and-baby/material-safety.md). # Material Safety
OVERVIEW The Material Safety field captures the specific safety attributes of the materials used in a children's product. This goes beyond listing materials (which belongs in an Ingredients or Materials field) to stating what those materials do NOT contain: BPA, phthalates, PVC, formaldehyde, heavy metals, flame retardants, or other substances of concern to parents. This field is not about marketing language. It is about providing the factual safety characteristics that inform purchase decisions for parents of infants and young children. The difference between "soft plastic" and "BPA-free, phthalate-free silicone" is the difference between a lost sale and a confident purchase. BUSINESS VALUE Why this field matters * Material safety is the top search filter for parents of children under 3 — it drives purchase decisions at every stage * BPA-free, phthalate-free, and non-toxic claims are among the most searched terms in the baby product category * Regulatory compliance documentation (EN 71, ASTM, CPSC) is built on material safety data * Premium and natural product positioning requires structured, credible material safety claims * Returns from parents who discover post-purchase that materials do not meet their standards are avoidable * Retailer and marketplace listings (Amazon, specialist baby retailers) often require structured material safety data ACF SETUP How to configure this field in Accentuate Custom Fields | Where | ACF dashboard → Templates tab → Product scope → Add new field | | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | Label | Material Safety | | Name / Key | material\_safety | | Namespace | accentuate (default) | | Field type | Shopify >> Single-line text (List) | | Multi-value | Yes — multiple material safety attributes apply simultaneously | | Note: Each safety attribute should be a separate list entry. This enables precise filtering: "show me all products that are both BPA-free AND phthalate-free". A single multi-line text value cannot support this filtering logic. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | STEP-BY-STEP IN ACF 1. Open ACF, go to Templates tab and select the Product scope 2. Click "Add new field" 3. Label: "Material Safety" — Key auto-fills as "material\_safety" 4. Namespace: leave as "accentuate" 5. Field type: Shopify >> Single-line text (List) 6. Enable "Allow multiple selections" — safety attributes stack 7. Click Done, then Save 8. Open a baby or children's product and populate with relevant safety attribute values | Shopify admin (optional pinning): Pin in Shopify admin: Settings → Custom data → Products. Namespace: "accentuate", Key: "material\_safety", Type: Single-line text (List). Pinning is especially useful here — material safety data should be easy for product managers and buyers to fill in without opening ACF. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Repeatability: Shopify >> List handles multiple safety attributes natively. Do not use a repeatable section for this field — that is for groups of fields, not multiple values of a single attribute. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
REFERENCE VALUES Example values — adapt to your catalog | Value | When to use | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | BPA-free | No bisphenol A; critical for any product contacting food or mouth | | Phthalate-free | No softening plasticizers; required for toys and teethers under EU/US standards | | PVC-free | No polyvinyl chloride; often paired with phthalate-free claims | | Non-toxic | No toxic compounds under applicable safety standards; broad safety claim | | Food-grade materials | Materials certified safe for oral contact; teethers, sensory toys | | Water-based paints | No solvent-based finishes; relevant for wooden and fabric toys | | FSC-certified wood | Sustainably sourced timber; no harmful wood treatments | | OEKO-TEX certified fabric | Tested for harmful substances; for textiles and soft toys | | No small parts (under 3) | Passes small parts cylinder test; compliant for children under 36 months | | No sharp edges or points | Rounded construction; no burrs or protrusions that could cause injury | | Flame retardant-free | No PBDE or halogenated flame retardants; relevant for textiles and foam | | Heavy metal-free | No lead, cadmium, or arsenic in surface coatings; EN 71 Part 3 compliance |
BEST PRACTICES * Only claim safety attributes that are verified by test reports or certification documentation * Keep values factual, not aspirational — "BPA-free" only if you have documentation to support it * For products targeting children under 3, "No small parts" should be present on every eligible product * Align material safety vocabulary with EN 71, ASTM F963, and CPSC terminology your customers recognise * Update material safety values if a supplier changes the materials or manufacturing process COMMON MISTAKES * Using marketing language as safety values: "Natural" and "Eco-friendly" are not safety attributes * Copying safety claims from the manufacturer without verifying the supporting documentation * Omitting material safety on fabric and textile products — OEKO-TEX and flame retardant claims matter there too * Not updating values when a product undergoes a material change — this creates legal exposure * Confusing material safety with safety certifications — safety certs belong in a separate field IN CONTEXT | Organic Cotton Stuffed Rabbit — First Toy | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Age range: 0–6 months, 6–12 months | | Material safety: OEKO-TEX certified fabric, Non-toxic, Flame retardant-free, No small parts (under 3), No sharp edges or points | | Safety certifications: CE, EN 71 Part 1 | | Washability: Machine washable 40°C | | Gender neutrality: Gender neutral | Developer Implementation
Liquid — Storefront Rendering ``` {% comment %} Material Safety — Shopify >> Single-line text (List) Namespace: accentuate | Key: material_safety Render prominently — safety claims are purchase decision drivers {% endcomment %} {% assign mat_safety = product.metafields.accentuate.material_safety.value %} {% if mat_safety != blank %}
{% for attr in mat_safety %} {{ attr }} {% endfor %}
{% endif %} ``` | Pro tip: Create a "Parent-approved safety" filtered collection using multiple material\_safety conditions. Shopify collection conditions support AND logic across metafield values — filter for BPA-free AND phthalate-free AND no small parts to build a curated "safest for babies" range with zero manual effort. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | SEE ALSO * Safety certifications — the formal test reports and certificates that back up material safety claims * Age range — material safety requirements are defined by the age of the intended user * Washability — cleaning method affects material safety for regularly laundered products | Full ACF documentation: help.accentuate.io | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Metafield Definitions → Fields → Field data type → Shopify field types | --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.accentuate.io/use-case-guides/kids-and-baby/material-safety.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.