Finally: A White Paper that Sets Green Product Certifications Straight

Building product manufacturers know that one of the biggest unknowns in the green building industry is just which product certification is legit. In an ideal world, certified green products would serve as a roadmap to how to build a better building. They would also help manufacturers dedicated to green market their products and rise above the clutter.

Instead, a new product certification seems to pop up every month (recently Underwriters Laboratory, NAHB Green Approved and ICC-ES Save Program have all been talk of the industry, though sure to change as soon as the next label comes onto the scene) and it’s becoming harder and harder to tell straight talk from greenwash.

Air Quality Sciences, however, is finally making everyone honest with it’s newly published white paper, Primary Green Product Standards and Certifications Programs: A Comparison.

The report is available for free download and worth a read, as it clearly defines the different types of certifications available and which certifications are eligible for the ANSI standard and the LEED-CI and LEED-NC certifications.

First lesson for manufacturers to take away:

Third Party: “A product, process or service that meets specified, industry-independent criteria or standards according to the verification and review by an impartial,
industry-independent agent.”

Examples: Cradle to Cradle, Green Seal, GREENGUARD Certification Program and Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)

Second Party: “An industry-based association, to which an individual or organization belongs, that provides the standard, label, or set of criteria for certification toward which a product, process or service may aspire.”

Examples: ENERGY STAR, WaterSense, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

First Party: “An individual or organization that offers a product, process or service that provides some type of verification of assurance, label or certification to a standard or set
of criteria.  This is self-declaration.”

Example: GreenSpec Directory

So now that your appetite is wet, download the full report here and finally understand what is what in the world of green product standards.

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Tags: Green, green products, Greenwash, NAHB