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The Green Standard Accredited Professional
Architects, engineers, contractors, interior designers and facility managers are being expected to distinguish between green-washed and truly green products. And they are expected to document clearly how the products they are recommending, specifying or purchasing are environmentally benign and contribute to the health and productivity of building users. By becoming knowledgeable about best practices in product evaluation, certification and selection, professionals bring added value to their clients and employers as well as the general public.
Introducing The Green Standard Environmental Product Declaration System
The Green Standard is excited to share that we are in the process of launching an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) System in the United States in line with international guidelines and standards. It is our goal to meet the growing demand for transparency and credibility with Life Cycle Assessment and environmental information. The Green Standard will be introducing the first round of EPDs at GreenBuild 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, please see our EPD FAQ Sheet or contact Paul Firth.
Manufacturer Training on Earthster and OpenLCA Software Programs
The Green Standard™ has funded integration of data in Earthster™ and OpenLCA, making it possible for manufacturers to develop LCA models for internal use to improve a product’s footprint. The resulting product life cycle assessments can be used in combination with various sustainable product standards and environmental product declaration systems. If LCAs are to be posted publicly and used for product evaluation and selection, The International Standards Organization requires that they be validated by a qualified third party.
The Green Standard CSR (Corporate Sustainability Rating)
The Green Standard EcoLens™
Manufacturers will be able to perform life cycle assessments (LCAs) to evaluate their products' exchanges with the environment, from raw materials sourcing through the manufacturing process, use and recycling.
The Green Standard Environmental Product Declarations™
The web will become a place for manufacturers to incorporate LCA results into an Environmental Product Declaration (EPDs), making their results available broadly to specifiers and purchasers.
The Green Standard LCA Validation System™
The Green
Standard will provide efficient, fair and transparent validation of product
LCA results to show to purchasers or use with a product standard or Environmental
Product Declarations (EPDs), making their results available broadly to specifiers
and purchasers.
Upcoming Seminars
October 3, 2008
Atlanta, GA
Distinguishing Between Greenwashing &
Serious Green
Presented by Ellen Hall
Seminar held from 10:30 a.m.-Noon as part of the Smart+Design Conference
December 11, 2008
Washington DC
Distinguishing
Greenwashing from Serious Green
Presented by Deborah Dunning
Seminar held from 8:30-9:30 a.m. during EcoBuild Fall.
Also Available:
The following seminars can be given at a trade
show or conference, or
held on-site at
your corporate headquarters or manufacturing facility. Call 919-824-1195
for more information.
Using LCA as a Decision
Making Tool
This seminar series can include up to three sessions on
LCA 411: Selecting
Resources & Setting up Your Program
Life Cycle Assessment is a tremendous
tool that can be a vital part of your decision making process. However,
integrating LCA into your business practices and setting up a life cycle
program of your own can be challenging. This session will guide you through
the process by reviewing the concepts of life cycle thinking, LCA principles
and uses, internal and external resources needed, and organizational
structures needed to establish a successful program.
LCA as a
Decision-Making Tool
Once you have begun the integration
process, questions often arise on how to apply information from an LCA to
various decision-making contexts. This session will focus on how to use LCA
results as part of corporate policy, including: developing a decision-making
toolbox of resources, determining appropriate use of impacts, communicating
LCA results to decision makers, working with your supply chain, establishing
priorities based on LCA results, and using LCA in strategic planning.
Communicating the
Value of Product Certification to the Marketplace
This session will help sales and
marketing staff accurately and effectively communicate your sustainable
product achievements. Building on their work in developing The Green Guide
Matrix of Product Certification Programs and The EcoList, the presenters will
provide a conceptual framework, appropriate language and a description of LCA
communication and the measurement systems of each type of certification.
“The Green Standard’s LCA Education Seminars
have helped Knoll staff move to the next level in understanding and
implementing product life cycle assessment. Both our staff and our purchasers
will benefit.”
-Lou Newett, Environmental
Compliance, Health & Safety, Knoll
“Manufacturers can’t have a
sustainability/environmental management system without first gaining the
knowledge provided in these seminars. Diverse staff members will gain
practical information on how to use LCA as a corporate decision-making
resource and to support sustainable product development.”
- Jeff Carrier, Sustainability
Manager, Carpet & Rug Institute
Distinguishing
Between Greenwash & Serious Green
With increasing numbers of consumers and homeowners asking for green products,
and more companies offering (or claiming to offer) eco-friendly wares, it has
become critical for design professionals to respond with judiciousness and, of
course, excellence. This session will present a toolbox of resources to help
building and design professionals to distinguish between green-washed and
serious green products used in the home.
Developing a Program for
Demonstrating an Environmental ROI on Projects
No matter
what initiative a company is implementing, the issue of demonstrating the
return on investment is crucial to the program’s ongoing success. With
environmental projects, a company faces a myriad of choices for gauging their
progress. While there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach that answers all of
the questions, it is vital that a company incorporate a holistic view by
employing a “Cradle to Grave” approach. This is best accomplished through
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), providing a means of measuring the “environmental
ROI”. Many companies today are turning to LCA as a means to help prioritize
their environmental projects as well as make strategic decisions on future
environmental initiatives.