Certified Green Products Directory 2007

ECOLOGO

A multi-attribute certification, EcoLogo certifies products in more than 20 building- and construction-related categories. Criteria include: aggressive rates of recycled content, reductions in a variety of undesirable chemicals, and the promotion of products that conserve resources. Products must also meet or exceed accepted industry performance and durability standards. www.environmentalchoice.com

ENERGY STAR

Roofing products are labeled as ENERGY STAR-compliant if they meet the ENERGY STAR standard for reflectance on initial installation and after three years of weathering. The standard differs for low- and steep-sloped roofs. Reflective roofs can save money on energy bills by reducing heat gain into a facility. www.energystar.gov

GREENGUARD

The Greenguard Environmental Institute certifies a variety of product types that exhibit low VOC emissions. The organization also certifies products at a more stringent emissions standard for use in schools, and has recently started a mold risk reduction program that certifies the design, construction and ongoing operations of facilities. www.greenguard.org

FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL

The Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) Chain of Custody certification means that manufacturers have used sustainable wood in their products. Chain of custody is the path taken by raw materials from the forest to the consumer, including all successive stages of processing, transformation, manufacturing and distribution. This means that products that carry this certification have been verified to include only wood FSC can trace back to an FSC-certified forest. For a complete list of certified companies, contact FSC through their Web site: www.fscus.org.

GREEN LABEL/GREEN LABEL PLUS

Green Label, administered by the Carpet and Rug Institute, is a certification for carpet, adhesives, cushions and vacuum cleaners that emit low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Green Label Plus is an enhancement to the Green Label certification that includes additional low-emitting requirements set forth by the California Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS). www.carpet-rug.org

GREEN SEAL

Green Seal is a non-profit organization that certifies everything from paints and coatings to cleaners. For paints and coatings (listed below) the organization’s standard is unique in that, in addition to VOC emissions criteria, it also includes performance criteria, so that buyers are assured of both an environmentally responsible paint and one that will meet industry standards for quality. www.greenseal.org

MBDC

The brainchild of sustainability experts William McDonough and Michael Braungart, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry Cradle-to-Cradle certification recognizes products that meet benchmarks for use of sustainable materials, design for material reuse, renewable energy and water use in the manufacturing process, and design for social responsibility. Using products with this certification can garner a LEED Innovation in Design point. www.mbdc.com/certified

SCS FLOORSCORE

In May 2005, the Resilient Floor Covering Institute, in conjuction with SCS, introduced the FloorScore program, a voluntary program that identifies flooring products that meet stringent indoor air quality requirements for low-emitting building materials. It certifies flooring products for compliance with the indoor air quality emission requirements of the California Section 01350 program. www.scscertified.com/iaq/floorscore.html

SCS INDOOR ADVANTAGE / INDOOR ADVANTAGE GOLD

This certification applies to any non-flooring product generally used within an enclosed indoor environment, such as wall coverings, systems furniture, casework, and insulation. Products that meet the Gold certification comply with the California Section 01350 program. www.scscertified.com/iaq/indooradvantage.html

SCS SUSTAINABLE CHOICE

A science-based standard that certifies products manufactured in a sustainable manner, the assessment criteria for this green certification for carpet and rug products are stipulated in “NSF-140, Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard” and “California Gold Sustainable Carpet Standard, California Department of General Services.” Standards for other types of products will be developed soon. www.scscertified.com/sustainablechoice

Methodology

Manufacturers in each list were obtained from the certification bodies’ Web sites or by direct contact with a representative from the certification body. Manufacturers’ URLs were obtained via search engine when not provided on certification bodies’ Web sites.

Data are current as of Oct. 12, 2007. For most recent certification information, please check certification bodies’ Web sites.