The industrial route involves the oxidation of 2-methoxyethanol with air or oxygen in the presence of platinum catalysts.

[1] In both humans and animals, 2-methoxyacetic acid forms via the rapid oxidation of 2-methoxyethanol[2] by the action of alcohol dehydrogenases.

Due to its reprotoxic properties, earlier consumer and industrial applications of methoxyacetic acid as a disinfectant, biocide, or as a cleaner for the decalcification of surfaces are now obsolete.

The same is true for substances such as the solvent 2-methoxyethanol or the PVC plasticizer bis(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate, which are metabolized to methoxyacetic acid.

Due to its considerable reprotoxic potential, methoxyacetic acid has been adopted into the list of SVHC substances (substances of very high concern)[5] and is only registered as an intermediate product for industrial purposes under strictly controlled conditions.