Green Accrediting Organizations
Standards and Practices
Energy Star - www.energystar.gov
A U.S. government program designed to help consumers make energy-efficient and cost-effective decisions since 1992. Energy Star endorses hundreds of products through its distinctive blue logo, from refrigerators and DVDs to vending machines and exit signs.
Green Seal - www.greenseal.org
A nonprofit formed in 1989 and the largest eco-labeling organization in the United States. A member of the Global Ecolabeling Network (GEN), Green Seal is a multi-attribute program—it looks at the entire lifecycle of a product, from the raw materials used, to whether it is eventually recyclable or disposable.
Product standards are developed with the input of the public and industry stakeholders, academia and government agencies. Standards must meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements, International Standards Organization (ISO) requirements and the requirements of third-party certifiers.
Funding comes from foundations as well as application and certification fees. It is not affiliated with a governmental program and does not take donations from manufacturers.
In addition to an extensive set of hospitality guidelines, Green Seal is listed under at least 12 state purchasing policies, and many local municipalities purchase green products based on Green Seal certification. Green Seal works with the U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Postal Service. Products that have Green Seal certification are also listed in the state of New York's purchasing guidelines for schools.
ISO Standards - www.iso.org
ISO (International Standards Organization) develops and maintains standards for a wide range of products, processes and procedures. Of particular interest are those in the 1400 series, the so-called Eco-Labels, which distinguish a product or service in terms of environmental issues. ISO 14021-14025 set out four types of eco-labels: Type I labels are product seals based on multiple criteria regarding lifecycle impact. Type II labels are informative, self-declaration seals regarding the environmental qualities of a product. Type III labels offer quantified product information based on a lifecycle assessment. Type IV labels are single-issue seals licensed by companies or organizations. There are a host of product certifications and eco-labels available.
U.S. Green Building Council - www.usgbc.org
The U.S. Green Building Council is chiefly known for its maintenance of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the third-party certification program and nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
LEED-EB—an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Existing Buildings—doesn't certify green products or processes, but certifies buildings with sustainable footprints. A new program, LEED-EB currently lists 50 certified buildings and approximately 150-175 projects in the pipeline.
Product Labeling and Certification
EcoLogo - www.ecologo.org
Operating under the environmental marketing firm Terra Choice since 1995, EcoLogo was originally formed by the Canadian government in 1988.
EcoLogo certifies products in almost 200 product categories. An advisory board of environmental advocates, consumer groups, professional purchasers, regulators, industry and environmental academia develop and update criteria. Standards are based on the International Standards Organization (ISO)—both the 9000 (quality management) and 14000 (environmental aspects) series.
EcoLogo is what ISO calls a type-one eco-label, lifecycle-based and multi-attribute, so EcoLogo considers energy, toxins, or anything that represents a potential environmental impact of the product.
GreenBlue - www.greenblue.org, www.cleangredients.org
Founded by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, authors of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, this nonprofit organization works with industry coalitions to develop tools and practices to implement sustainable product design.
GreenBlue is very different from organizations that certify products as green. It works closely with the Design for the Environment (DfE) program for the CleanGredients database project, which is a "one-stop shop" of ingredients for green formulations.
To develop the database, GreenBlue works with the EPA, an extensive advisory committee, industry associations and formulators.
Greenstar Certified - www.greenstarcertified.org
The Greenstar program began in 2005 with the development of a product labeling and certification program, including certification process, regulations, standards and application instructions.
Greenstar currently has one standard: GCCP01. Greenstar staff did the original research and drafting of the standard, which was sent to technical experts for review and comment. That feedback was considered for incorporation into the standard. After the public input period, the standard was completed and posted on Greenstar's web site.
Green Label - www.carpet-rug.org
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) offers its Green Label testing program for new carpet and vacuum cleaners. CRI has several programs aimed at carpet, adhesives and cushions. The Green Label Vacuum Cleaner Testing Program recognizes companies that manufacture vacuums that contribute to healthier indoor air quality (IAQ). CRI also recently launched a seal of approval for chemicals based on product performance.
GREENGUARD - www.greenguard.org
GREENGUARD develops and maintains ongoing product certification programs for: 1) indoor air quality, certifying low-emitting interior building materials, furnishings, and finish systems, and publishing their findings in an online product guide; 2) children & schools, certifying low-emitting interior building materials, furnishings, and finish systems used in educational (daycare and K-12) environments; 3) building certification for newly constructed multifamily and commercial properties following best practice guidelines for preventing mold during the design, construction and ongoing operations. All findings are published in an online product guide.
Design for the Environment - www.epa.gov/dfe
Working under the umbrella of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), an office of the EPA, the DfE Formulator program addresses cleaning products. Manufacturers first submit a product's entire chemical formulation. The program uses a group of EPA aquatic toxicity specialists, human health experts and green chemistry experts to review a breakdown of the product, as prepared by a qualified third party.
If a company's products are deemed green enough, DfE will enter into a partnership with that manufacturer. DfE will develop a continuum of improvements based on the product's characteristics, suggesting chemicals that perform as well as a currently used chemical but are safer for the environment.
Industry-specific Organizations
Forest Stewardship Council - www.fscus.org
An international nonprofit organization created in 1993 whose mission is "to promote environmentally viable management of the world's forests." Forestry operations that are sustainability-certified by the FSC and have their timber tracked through the supply chain can then carry the FCS eco-label. Consumers may then be better informed and have the choice to buy more sustainable timber products.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative - www.aboutsfi.org
A forestry industry group, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is based on the premise that responsible environmental behavior and sound business decisions can coexist. SFI program participants practice sustainable forestry on all the lands they manage. They also influence millions of additional acres through the training of loggers and foresters in best management practices and landowner outreach programs.
Green Restaurant Association - www.dinegreen.com
The Green Restaurant Association (GRA), a national nonprofit organization, provides services in research, consulting, education, marketing and community organizing. The GRA utilizes a collaborative strategy that involves restaurants, manufacturers, vendors, grassroots organizations, government, media, and restaurant customers. The GRA's model provides a convenient way for all sectors of the restaurant industry, which represents 10% of the U.S. economy, to become more environmentally sustainable.
Green-e - www.green-e.org
A utilities industry group, the mission of the Green-e program and its governing body, the Green-e Governance Board, is to provide customers with clear information about availability and reliability of retail electricity products reflecting renewable energy generation. Green-e seeks to encourage deployment of electricity products that minimize air pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A directory of green energy providers is available at the organization's web site.
Hospitals for a Healthy Environment - www.h2e-online.org
Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) has released its "10 Step Guide to Green Cleaning Implementation," a document that outlines steps hospitals can take to green their operations.
Green cleaning in hospitals poses a unique challenge. Unlike most institutional purchasing, health care really needs to be focused on maintaining infection control standards and very high levels of hygiene. At this time there is no such thing as a green disinfectant, for example, because they are designed to kill bacteria, so there's no green solution in the disinfection arena.
H2E does promote the use of green-certified products such as glass cleaners, floor strippers, better filters on vacuum cleaners, and a whole array of products that don't deal with the areas of disinfection and infection control.
Green Hotel Certification - www.greenhotelcertification.com
The Green Hotel Certification Seal is an independent recognition of good corporate citizenship at both an environmental and a cultural level, as well as a distinguishing promotional tool to reach a growing environmentally aware global consumer market.
The organization's principal objective is to encourage responsible and sustainable environmental and social practices at all levels of the hospitality industry, support hotels and resorts in implementing necessary changes, and monitor progress leading to certification. The desired outcome is an overall enhancement of environmental, social and economic performance.