The EcoLibrary™ Matrix: Updated October 2010
Certification programs and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) both provide a valuable approach to evaluating the environmental performance of products. However, a combination of the two provides even deeper insight and credibility. The following matrix identifies various certification programs currently in use by architects and designers and provides an evaluation of eacha, with the inclusion of a life-cycle approach, and with LCA as a part of the certification program.
Certification
Program
Singular Focus (recycled content, sustainable forestry, etc.)
Multiple Attribute Focus
(combines more than one focus area)
Life Cycle Focus
(criteria spans a cradle-to-grave concept)
Publicly Available Assessment Methods and Performance Thresholds
Third-Party Certification
Publicly Available Summary of Results
Multi-Stakeholder Development Process
Public Standards Appeals Process
C2C
McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry
EcoLogo
Managed by TerraChoice
Energy Star
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Floor Score
Scientific Certification Systems
FSC Certified
Forest Stewardship Council
GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
Green Label Plus
Carpet & Rug Institute
Green Seal
Green Seal Organization
Indoor Advantage
Scientific Certification Systems
level™
The BIFMA Sustainability Standard
SMART Sustainable Product Standard
Market Transformation to Sustainability
Sustainable Choice
Scientific Certification Systems
SFI Certified
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Life Cycle Certification
Certification
Program
Criteria for Raw Material Sourcing & Manufacturing Operations
Criteria for Product Use Phase
Criteria for End-of-Life Management
Comprehensive Criteria Set for Each Life Cycle Stage
Criteria for ISO-Compliant Full Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Criteria for Reductions in Life Cycle Impacts
Requires the Use of LCA for Certification
Requires Independent Verification of LCA Data
C2C
McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry
EcoLogo
Government of Canada
Energy Star
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Floor Score
Scientific Certification Systems
FSC Certified
Forest Stewardship Council
GREENGUARD Air Quality Certification
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
Green Label Plus
Carpet & Rug Institute
Green Seal
Green Seal Organization
Indoor Advantage
Scientific Certification Systems
level™
The BIFMA Sustainability Standard
Smart Sustainable Product Standard
Market Transformation to Sustainability
Sustainable Choice
Scientific Certification Systems
SFI Certified
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
- Based on information publicly available on the program's Web site.
- Since program contains mulitple product categories with different criteria, the authors cannot guarantee that these criteria apply to each category directly. In principle, the program addresses these.
- Only requires the use of LCA to reach the highest level of certification: Platinum.