Eco–friendly or green certifications are useful in helping you determine the eco–friendliness of products and
materials. Keep in mind many organizations have their own certification process and seal. If you find a certification or
seal on a product, it is wise to research just where that certification comes from. For instance, a third–party
certification (e.g. LEED) may be more credible than from a
company that creates its own. Third–party green certifications usually use approved test procedures using sound
scientific methods and avoid any conflict of interest. Below you will find some of the labels which certify certain green
products and services.
Green Certifications for Eco–Friendly Flooring
Green Seal
Green Seal is an example of an independent, third party organization. Green Seal uses an ISO standard which stands for the
International Organization for Standardization. ISO standards were placed by dozens of countries working together during the
1990's to create standards regarding environmental management.
LEED
Issued by the Green Building Council, LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. There are four
certification levels for new constructions projects; Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Level of certification depends on
how many credits are received in each design category including; sustainable sites, water efficiency, atmosphere and energy,
indoor environmental quality and materials and resources. Many categories are covered under LEED Certification including
interior projects, existing buildings, new commercial construction and major renovations.
EcoLogo
EcoLogo was launched by the Canadian government in 1988 and has become a global symbol for identifying eco–friendly
products, good and services. By setting standards and certifying products in more than 120 categories, EcoLogo can help you
identify, trust, buy, and sell environmentally preferable ("green") products.
FSC
FSC is the Forest Stewardship Council and has offices in over 45 countries. The FSC promotes managing the world's forests
in a responsible manner. When you see the FSC label, you can be rest assured those products were independently certified and
came from a managed forest. This means the forest meets economic, social and ecological needs of today and generations to
come. Look for the FSC label when shopping for bamboo or hardwood flooring.
