Green Product Certification and Labeling Quick Reference
| Certification or label |
Governing organization |
What’s its focus? |
Which products does it cover? |
How do products get certified? |
| Greenguard |
Greenguard Environmental Institute |
Indoor air quality |
Adhesives, appliances, ceilings, cleaning systems, flooring, insulation, office equipment, office furniture, paint, textiles and wallcoverings |
Independent labs test product within one week of being manufactured. Product undergoes 96 hour emissions test. From data gleaned from the test, emission levels are projected out several months. Products are subject to annual recertification. |
| Green Seal |
Green Seal |
Green Seal Product performance, life-cycle and product-specific features |
Chillers, cleaners, paints and coatings, windows and doors |
Manufacturer submits a request for certification. Test data on environmental and performance criteria is gathered. The manufacturing facility is visited to check quality control procedures. Products are subject to annual recertification. |
| Energy Star Label for Products |
Environmental Protection Agency |
Energy efficiency |
Appliances, light commercial HVAC, office equipment, lighting, exit signs, external power adapters, roof products, room air cleaners, transformers, water coolers, windows and doors, skylights |
Manufacturers submit data that proves a product meets standards. No need to retest unless a new version or model of the product comes to market. |
| Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP), biodegradable, material content, indoor air quality |
Scientific Certification Systems |
EPP is a multiple-attribute certification with 28 criteria. Separate certifications cover material content, biodegradability and indoor air quality. |
The EPP certification applies to carpet face fiber, broadloom and tile and flooring management systems. The single-attribute certifications apply to a variety of product types. |
Manufacturers submit an application that documents how they think they meet certification criteria. An SCS engineer performs an audit, assuring that testing was done on a product sample representative of the whole product line. For indoor air quality, modeling is completed, as well. |
| SmartWood |
Forest Stewardship Council |
Chain of Custody certification —assures wood comes from certified forests |
Any product that uses wood in its manufacturing process |
Certification completed by third-party organizations, including SmartWood and SCS. |
| Green Label, Green Label Plus |
Carpet and Rug Institute |
Indoor air quality |
Carpet, adhesives and cushion materials |
Product is tested by an independent laboratory. Products are tested quarterly for total volatile organic compound emissions and annually for 13 specific chemical emissions. |
| Healthy Schools Campaign |
Board of Directors |
school environment awareness on the district, state, and federal levels |
Sustainability, health, and education |
audits and reviews |
| Greenstar |
Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability - a non-profit organization in Anchorage Alaska |
To recognize and award voluntary sustainable principles in businesses and organizations |
Waste reduction and air quality |
Waste reduction and energy audit & technical assistance. |
| LEED |
US Green Building Council |
To improve building's overall environmental footprint. |
Energy, waste, air quality, and other environmental factors |
Certification through efficiency and compliance audit. |
| Hospitals for a Healthy Environment |
American Hospital Association |
To recognize and award reduction of hospital waste (mercury and other). |
pollution prevention and waste management |
EPA compliance audit. |
| Design for the Environment |
EPA |
Certification of chemical reduction and low environmental impact |
Chemical testing, electronic's lead content, flame retardants |
EPA DfE review through screening and expertise |
| Ecologo |
TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, Inc. |
North American (US / Canada) general product certification |
All products and services |
life-cycle based certification |
