Industry News - Green

UL Environment, the environmentally focused subsidiary of international product-testing organization Underwriters Laboratories (UL), has launched an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) program. The EPD program will provide a multi-attribute label documenting the life-cycle impact of a product, including such indicators as greenhouse gas emissions and use of primary energy.

"With more than 300 certifications and eco-labels on the market, determining which products are truly green is next to impossible," UL Environment President Stephen Wenc said in a statement.  "Our EPD service will add credibility and alleviate market confusion by helping purchasers make informed decisions."

"We're trying to bring clarity to this space," Paul Firth, UL Environment's manager of science and research. Firth credits the U.S. Green Building Council and its LEED rating system for driving the interest in green building products and the desire for greater transparency regarding the environmental performance of materials.

The label will be standardized across many product categories and will require third-party-verified life-cycle assessment—meaning that the EPD accounts for environmental impacts from acquisition of raw materials through disposal or recycling. According to UL Environment’s website, its EPD product categories so far include structural steel, laminate flooring, carpet tiles, window films, and a variety of other building materials, lighting products and textiles.

For more information, visit www.ulenvironment.com or contact Brook’s energy specialist, Ken Scott, at kscott@brookelec.com