Sustainability Certifications and Standards

Sustainability

Certifications and Standards

Below is a list of multiple- and single-attribute sustainability certifications and standards referenced in one or more GreenNY Specification. Each listing includes the certification or standard’s seal/logo, a brief description, and links to more information and product directory (if available).

Sustainability Certifications and Standards
BPI Compostable Product Directory The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is a nonprofit organization that certifies commercially compostable products such as disposable food service ware and bags that meet the requirements of ASTM D6400 (for compostable bioplastics such as PLA) or ASTM D6868 (for paper coated with bioplastic) based on testing in an approved laboratory. All BPI Compostable products are free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
CMA Composter Approved Product Directory Composter Approved is a program developed by the Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA), a partnership of compost manufacturing facilities and product manufacturers. CMA certifies disposable food service ware and bags that meet the requirements of ASTM D6400 (for compostable bioplastics such as PLA) or ASTM D6868 (for paper coated with bioplastic) based on real-world testing in commercial composting facilities. All Composter Approved products are free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Directory Cradle to Cradle Certified, maintained by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, certifies a wide array of institutional and consumer products based on multiple environmental, health, and social criteria using a tiered rating system. The current version of their standard (V4.0) includes five categories of sustainability criteria: (1) Material Health, (2) Product Circularity, (3) Clean Air and Climate Protection, (4) Water and Soil Stewardship, and (5) Social Fairness. A product’s overall certification level (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) is equal to the product’s lowest category achievement level. Cradle to Cradle Certified at the Silver and higher levels are often specified as requirements in bid documents because restrictions on chemicals of concern are only included in those tiers. Categories of certified products include building materials, carpet and flooring, cleaning chemicals, food service ware, hand soaps, office furniture, packaging, and more.
Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate Product Directory Products can earn a Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate either on its own or in addition to being Cradle to Cradle Certified (see above) to provide more information about chemicals used. However, it is not a substitute for full Cradle to Cradle certification. This certificate is based on the assessment methodology in the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard for the Material Health category only, and it verifies that chemicals and materials used in the product prioritize the protection of human health and the environment.
Green Seal Product Directory Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that that certifies products based on standards that protect human health, preserve the climate, ensure clean water, and minimize waste. Green Seal standards cover a wide variety of products including, but not limited to, printing and writing paper, cleaners and cleaning supplies; janitorial paper; paints, coatings, and adhesives; and trash bags.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Product Directory* The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a third-party nonprofit that certifies that products are made with sustainably grown and harvested wood or other forest-based products (e.g., bamboo). FSC also verifies the recycled content of products it certifies. FSC-certified products include flooring, furniture, lumber, and other building products as well as paper products such as copy/office paper and janitorial paper. FSC has several ecolabels. The “FSC Mix” ecolabel means the product is made with a mixture of materials from FSC-certified forests, recycled materials, and/or FSC-controlled wood. The “FSC Recycled” ecolabel means the product is made from 100% recycled materials. The “FSC 100%” ecolabel means the product is made entirely from FSC-certified forests. Products may also have a generic FSC label. * FSC does not maintain a comprehensive directory of certified products. However, FSC-certified products are typically labeled on manufacturer and vendor websites and on product packaging.
Safer Choice Product Directory Safer Choice is a certification program developed and maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Program (see above). It verifies that consumer and institutional products meet its criteria for safer chemicals. Safer Choice has certified a wide variety of products such as cleaners and degreasers, deicers (snow and ice melt products), furniture, and more.

BPI Compostable

Product Directory

The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is a nonprofit organization that certifies commercially compostable products such as disposable food service ware and bags that meet the requirements of ASTM D6400 (for compostable bioplastics such as PLA) or ASTM D6868 (for paper coated with bioplastic) based on testing in an approved laboratory. All BPI Compostable products are free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

CMA Composter Approved

Product Directory

Composter Approved is a program developed by the Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA), a partnership of compost manufacturing facilities and product manufacturers. CMA certifies disposable food service ware and bags that meet the requirements of ASTM D6400 (for compostable bioplastics such as PLA) or ASTM D6868 (for paper coated with bioplastic) based on real-world testing in commercial composting facilities. All Composter Approved products are free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Cradle to Cradle Certified

Product Directory

Cradle to Cradle Certified, maintained by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, certifies a wide array of institutional and consumer products based on multiple environmental, health, and social criteria using a tiered rating system. The current version of their standard (V4.0) includes five categories of sustainability criteria: (1) Material Health, (2) Product Circularity, (3) Clean Air and Climate Protection, (4) Water and Soil Stewardship, and (5) Social Fairness. A product’s overall certification level (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) is equal to the product’s lowest category achievement level. Cradle to Cradle Certified at the Silver and higher levels are often specified as requirements in bid documents because restrictions on chemicals of concern are only included in those tiers. Categories of certified products include building materials, carpet and flooring, cleaning chemicals, food service ware, hand soaps, office furniture, packaging, and more.

Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate

Product Directory

Products can earn a Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate either on its own or in addition to being Cradle to Cradle Certified (see above) to provide more information about chemicals used. However, it is not a substitute for full Cradle to Cradle certification. This certificate is based on the assessment methodology in the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard for the Material Health category only, and it verifies that chemicals and materials used in the product prioritize the protection of human health and the environment.

Green Seal

Product Directory

Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that that certifies products based on standards that protect human health, preserve the climate, ensure clean water, and minimize waste. Green Seal standards cover a wide variety of products including, but not limited to, printing and writing paper, cleaners and cleaning supplies; janitorial paper; paints, coatings, and adhesives; and trash bags.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Product Directory*

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a third-party nonprofit that certifies that products are made with sustainably grown and harvested wood or other forest-based products (e.g., bamboo). FSC also verifies the recycled content of products it certifies. FSC-certified products include flooring, furniture, lumber, and other building products as well as paper products such as copy/office paper and janitorial paper.

FSC has several ecolabels. The “FSC Mix” ecolabel means the product is made with a mixture of materials from FSC-certified forests, recycled materials, and/or FSC-controlled wood. The “FSC Recycled” ecolabel means the product is made from 100% recycled materials. The “FSC 100%” ecolabel means the product is made entirely from FSC-certified forests. Products may also have a generic FSC label.

* FSC does not maintain a comprehensive directory of certified products. However, FSC-certified products are typically labeled on manufacturer and vendor websites and on product packaging.

Safer Choice

Product Directory

Safer Choice is a certification program developed and maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Program (see above). It verifies that consumer and institutional products meet its criteria for safer chemicals. Safer Choice has certified a wide variety of products such as cleaners and degreasers, deicers (snow and ice melt products), furniture, and more.

See GreenNY Specifications