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A growing cadre of organizations – including nonprofits, businesses, and governments – are working to promote a sustainable economy by setting standards for both products and companies that uphold the ideals of social justice and ecological balance. Below you will find descriptions of the standards used by TheGreenOffice.com to identify the most sustainable solutions the industry has to offer.
Third Party Certifications for Products
Climate Cool Certified
The Climate Neutral Network establishes “certification and branding for Climate Cool products and enterprises based on design principles viewed as credible by a broad spectrum of stakeholder.” “Climate Cool products, services, and enterprises are those that reduce or offset the greenhouse gas emissions with which they are associated to achieve a net zero impact on the earth's climate. A principal goal of the Network is to completely offset the greenhouse gases generated at each stage of the life-cycle of a product or service: the sourcing of its materials; its manufacturing or production; and its distribution, use, and ultimate end-of-life disposition. Companies or institutions that offset all of the gases resulting from the full spectrum of their internal operations can also receive Climate Cool enterprise certification.” Cradle to Cradle Certification
“Cradle to Cradle Certification provides a company with a means to differentiate its product within the marketplace, defining tangible achievement and providing credibility." "Within the certification process, MBDC evaluates a material or product’s ingredients and the complete formulation for human and environmental health impacts throughout its lifecycle and its potential for being truly recycled or safely composted. Certification of a finished product also requires the evaluation of energy-use quantity and quality (i.e., relative proportion of renewable energy), water-use quantity, water-effluent quality, and workplace ethics associated with manufacturing. Criteria fall into the following five categories: * Materials * Material Reutilization/Design for Environment * Energy * Water * Social Responsibility If a candidate material or product is found to achieve the necessary criteria, it is certified as a Silver, Gold or Platinum product or as a Technical/Biological Nutrient (a classification available for homogeneous materials or less complex products). MBDC is developing a system and guidelines by which companies who have certified products can license the use of the Cradle to Cradle brand for marketing.” Energy Star Qualified
“ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.” “Energy efficiency – delivering the same (or more) services for less energy – helps protect the environment. When we use less energy, the less energy we need to generate at power plants, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves the quality of our air. Energy efficiency helps the economy, too, by saving consumers and businesses millions of dollars in energy costs. Energy efficient solutions can reduce the energy bill for many homeowners and businesses by 20 to 30 percent.” “In 1992 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced ENERGY STAR as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Computers and monitors were the first labeled products. Through 1995, EPA expanded the label to additional office equipment products and residential heating and cooling equipment. In 1996, EPA partnered with the US Department of Energy for particular product categories. The ENERGY STAR label is now on major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics, and more. EPA has also extended the label to cover new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.” Fair Trade Certified
“TransFair USA is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States. It works with importers and manufacturers in this country to document business practices, providing a reliable consumer guarantee that indicates what coffees, teas and chocolates have been purchased from producers according to international Fair Trade criteria. These criteria are established by Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO), a consortium of Fair Trade groups in Japan, Canada, the US and 17 European countries. FLO makes annual inspection visits to producer groups on its Fair Trade Register to ensure that the benefits of Fair Trade relationships are reaching the farmers.” “TransFair USA tracks each unit of Fair Trade product from producers on the international Fair Trade Register to importers, manufacturers, and distributors in the US. For every unit purchased from a Fair Trade producer group, TransFair USA receives supporting documentation—contracts, bills of lading, and invoices—from licensed importers. These documents demonstrate both that Fair Trade criteria were met and that farmers received the Fair Trade price. The process is detailed and thorough. Every purchase is tracked with a unique identification number to ensure accuracy.” “TransFair USA belongs to Fairtrade Labeling Organizations (FLO), an international NGO headquartered in Bonn, Germany. Just as TransFair audits the activities of manufacturers and importers in the US, FLO manages the Fair Trade Register, a list of certified producer cooperatives and associations. The work of TransFair USA and FLO complement each other, so that the chain of custody is tracked from the crop to the cup (or crop to chocolate bar).” Green Seal Certified
“The Green Seal is awarded to products that have less impact on the environment and work well. To earn the Green Seal a product must meet the Green Seal environmental standard for the category as demonstrated by rigorous evaluation and testing and a plant visit. Green Seal standards are set so that they identify the most environmentally preferable products currently available; thus, they are leadership standards.”
"Green Seal standards, and certifications based on them, generally take a more comprehensive view of the product life-cycle. In performing a certification, Green Seal puts a product through a rigorous, thorough evaluation and testing of its attributes to ensure it meets all criteria in a standard. In addition, Green Seal audits the facilities at which the product is manufactured and monitors the product annually." "Certifications are conducted under a contract with the manufacturer, and there is a fee charged for the evaluation process. However, certification entitles a manufacturer to use the Green Seal certification mark on the product, in advertising, and in promotion." USDA Organic
“Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.” A growing cadre of organizations – including nonprofits, businesses, and governments – are working to promote a sustainable economy by setting standards for companies that uphold the ideals of social justice and ecological balance. Third Party Certifications for Companies
Bay Area Green Business Program Green Business
“The Green Business Standards presented below define what a business or public agency must achieve to be certified “green.” More than 475 businesses in over 20 different industries, including auto repair shops, printers, hotels, restaurants, landscapers, wineries, janitorial and laundry services, grocery and retail stores, home remodelers, attorneys, architects, engineers, gift services, and a variety of office and home-based businesses, have successfully met the standards and are now recognized as Bay Area Green Businesses. Compliance Plus
To be a green business, first bring your operations into compliance with all environmental regulations. Then go beyond compliance to meet the general practices and targeted resource conservation and pollution prevention measures which are summarized below. General Practices
1. Monitor and record rates of water and energy usage and solid and hazardous waste generation. 2. Provide three on-going incentives or training opportunities to encourage management and employee participation. 3. Inform your customers about your business' efforts to meet the Green Business Standards. 4. Assist at least one other business in learning about the Green Business Program and encourage them to enroll. There is great flexibility in how the standards can be achieved. The Green Business Program Checklists provide additional information and suggested implementation measures. Measures previously implemented will be considered towards achievement of standards. Participants can request alternatives or exemptions for measures which are not feasible for their company.” Coop America Seal of Approval
“To become a member of the Co-op America Business Network, businesses submit an application, or are pre-qualified by Co-op America's Screening Team. The Screening Team, which is appointed by and reports to Co-op America's board of directors, investigates each applying company to determine: 1) its familiarity with and commitment to social and environmental responsibility, and 2) significant action in terms of this commitment. Our research team also seeks independent data to verify company information. Specifically, to be qualified to be listed in the National Green Pages™, companies must demonstrate that they: * Focus on using business as a tool for positive social change. * Are "values-driven," as well as profit-driven. * Are socially and environmentally responsible in the way they source, manufacture, and market their products and run their offices and factories. * Are committed to and employ extraordinary and innovative practices that benefit: 1) workers, 2) communities, 3) customers, and 4) the environment.” Fair Trade Federation Trade Member
The Fair Trade Federation is the association of fair trade businesses in North America. All members are fully committed to providing fair wages and good employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide. While not a certification of goods, members undergo a rigorous screening process which examines the business' commitment to the fair trade principles up and down the supply chain, environmental impact, investment in their community, and other activities.
Fair Trade Federation (FTF) criteria are:
* Paying a fair wage in the local context.
* Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices.
* Offering employees opportunities for advancement.
* Providing equal employment opportunities for all people, particularly the most disadvantaged.
* Being open to public accountability.
* Building long-term trade relationships.
* Providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context.
* Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible.
Forest Stewardship Council
“Forest Stewardship Council has developed a set of Principles and Criteria for forest management that are applicable to all FSC-certified forests throughout the world. There are 10 Principles and 57 Criteria that address legal issues, indigenous rights, labor rights, multiple benefits, and environmental impacts surrounding forest management. “Any product made of pulp or paper has the potential to be certified as long as the wood used in the product originates from FSC-certified sources. Wood is an important material for all paper manufacturers. The FSC certification system allows these professionals to know they are doing the right thing, and taking business away from other companies that may still be supporting illegal, unsustainable, unverified logging activities. The intent of the FSC system is to shift the market to eliminate habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples and violence against people and wildlife that often accompanies logging. Just like other forest products, in order to use the FSC logo as an “environmental claim” on paper, the product must have flowed through the FSC “chain-of-custody” from the FSC-certified forest, to a paper manufacturer, merchant, and finally printer who have FSC chain-of-custody certification.” Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition 2002 Report Card
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition 2003 Report Card “is based on the web sites of leading computer product manufacturers on the information they share with consumers about their environmental policies and the environmental features of their products… (The Report Card, part of the Computer TakeBack Campaign) promotes ‘clean and green’ production and extended producer responsibility (EPR). Simply stated, EPR requires companies to take full financial and physical responsibility for their products throughout their life cycle, including end-of-life recycling, reuse, or disposal. Criteria for Evaluating Company Web Sites
Extended Producer Responsibility 1. How are company take-back goals stated? 2. To what depth is the take-back program discussed on the company web site for individual customers? 3. To what depth is the take-back program discussed for corporate customers? 4. How are upgrade capabilities for products described? 5. How does the company report whether their products are under any private, product eco-labels? 6. Are products designed for recyclability and disassembly? Hazardous Materials Use
1. How informative is explanatory regarding chemicals used in the manufacturing process? 2. Is there any information about the current reduction/phase out of PVC? 3. Is there any information about the current reduction/phase out of lead? 4. Is there any information about the current reduction/phase out of mercury? 5. Is there any information about the current reduction/phase out of halogenated flame retardants? 6. How are toxic material phase-out goals stated? Occupational Health and Safety
1. How is information regarding injuries and illnesses differentiated? 2. How does the company monitor and report illnesses in their workforce? 3. How does the company monitor and report injuries in their workforce? Online Information Access
1. Is all environmental/health information located within one place on the web site? 2. Is all environmental/health information made obvious from the homepage or the same web pages customers use for shopping?"
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