INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANIZATION
International Standards Organization (ISO) is a non-governmental organization located in Switzerland, chartered to develop voluntary technical standards that aim to make the development, manufacture and supply of goods and services safer, cleaner and more efficient.

ISO TYPE 1 - #14024
ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization.  ISO Type 1 is a voluntary, multiple-criteria based, third party program that awards a license that authorizes the use of environmental labels on products indicating overall environmental preferability of a product within a particular product category based on life cycle considerations. Used for comparative, environmentally preferable claims. Examples of   Type 1 Program:  Forest Stewardship Council, Scientific Certification Systems, Green Seal.

ISO TYPE 11 - #14021
The Type II is a specific requirement for self-declared claims.  The resource uses statements shall be accurate and not misleading and can be substantiated and certified.  The claim cannot suggest an environmental improvement that does not exist and cannot exaggerate the environmental aspect of the product to which the claim relates.  Example of a vague claim: earth friendly, nature’s friend

ISO TYPE 111 - #14025
The Type III is a voluntary program that provides quantified environmental data of a product, under pre-set categories of parameters set by a qualified third party and based on life cycle assessment and verified by that or another qualified third party.  Examples:  GreenGuard, MBDC, Bureau Veritas, Scientific Certification Systems

ECO LABEL
Eco-label is any label, seal, logo or claim used to give purchasers and designers an assurance about the environmental characteristics or production methods of the product. Eco-labels aim to protect information to purchasers/designers to help them choose products and manufacturing processes that have less impact on the environment. The goal of environmental eco-label are to communicate verifiable and accurate information, encourage demand and supply of environmentally sound products and services, reduce stress on the environment, stimulate the market to create continuous perpetual environmental improvement.

SCIENTIFIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS
SCS is the acronym for Scientific Certification Systems.  SCS is a certification provider for Environmentally Preferable Products and services that can demonstrate a reduced or lessened environmental impact when compared to other products performing the same functions.  SCS can review the life cycle impact of the product, risk assessment, and manufacturing process.

GREEN SEAL
The Green Seal Certification bases its work on thorough, state-of-the-art scientific evaluations using internationally accepted methodologies. Product evaluations are conducted using a life-cycle approach to ensure that all significant environmental impacts of a product are considered, from raw materials extraction through manufacturing to use and disposal. Green Seal follows the Guiding Principles & Procedures for Type I Environmental Labeling adopted by the ISO 14024.

GREEN GUARD
The Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI) has established performance based standards to define goods with low chemical and particle emissions for use indoors, primarily building materials, cleaning, maintenance products and interior furnishings.  The standard establishes certification procedures including test methods, allowable emission levels, product sample collection and handling, testing type, frequency, program application processes and acceptance. Greenguard Children and Schools Certification can be used to show compliance with the California 01350 requirements used in various green building rating systems.

EU ECOLABEL
The Ecolabel is designated by a “flower” above the word Ecolabel. The designation covers facts that water and energy consumption during manufacturing were reduced residues of dangerous substances for health and the environment were minimized, harmful emissions to air and water were limited.  This label pertains more to the manufacturing plant that the material was produced in, not the fact that the product was actually recycled pre or post consumer. 

FLOOR SCORE CERTIFICATION
 The FloorScore® program, developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) in conjunction with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), tests and certifies flooring products for compliance with indoor air quality emission requirements adopted nation-wide. Flooring products include vinyl, polymeric flooring, linoleum; laminate flooring, engineered hardwood flooring, ceramic flooring, rubber flooring, wall base and stair tread, and associated sundries. A flooring product bearing the FloorScore® seal has been independently certified by SCS to comply with the volatile organic compound emissions criteria of the California Section 01350 standard.  

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world.  It is a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Known for their high technical quality and market relevancy, ASTM International standards have an import role in the information infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing, and trade n the global economy.

AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE
ANSI coordinates the development and use of voluntary consensus standards in the U. S. and represents the needs and views of U.S. stakeholders in standardization forum around the globe. The Institute oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact every sector from acoustical devices to construction equipment, production to energy distribution, etc.   

LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY & ENVIRONMETAL DESIGN (LEED)          
LEED is a rating system established by the USGreen Building Council is a green building rating system that is nationally accepted as a benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on the building performance. LEED promotes a whole building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in 5 key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor environmental quality.