Green Certification and Eco-Labeling

To differentiate your product or service as environmentally sound, you may want to obtain certification from an independent, third-party so that you can include their logo or "ecolabel" on your product's label and other marketing materials. Ecolabeling is an important way to market your product to "green" consumers.

Domestic Certification

• Green Seal sets product standards and awards its label to a wide variety of products

• Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Electricity: Certified by Scientific Certification Systems

• Buildings: The U.S. Green Building Council LEED Green Building Rating System

• Chlorine-Free Products: Certified by the Chlorine Free Products Association

• Energy Efficient Products: Certified by the U.S. Government's ENERGY STAR Program

• Organic Produce: Certified by the USDA National Organic Program

• Renewable Energy: Certified by the Green-e Certification Program

• Wood Products: Criteria set by Forest Stewardship Council ; Certified by Scientific Certification Systems and Smartwood

International Certification

• The European Union Eco-Label Program is a voluntary scheme designed to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment and for European consumers

• Canada's EcoLogo Label program certifies products from the United States and Canada in over 120 categories

• Germany's Blue Angel program provides ecolabeling for a wide variety products

• Scandinavia's Nordic Swan allows companies to apply for an ecolabel in over 66 product categories

• Japan's EcoMark Program provides product certification and ecolabeling for several product types

• Taiwan's Green Mark and Energy Label programs provide certification and ecolabeling for green and energy efficient products

Resources

• The Global EcoLabeling Network is a non-profit association of third-party, environmental performance labeling organizations to improve, promote, and develop the "ecolabelling" of products and services

• Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP) is a an international organization that helps broker national policies for energy efficiency standards and labeling for appliances, equipment, and lighting products

April 14, 2011