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.
Scope of CertificationMatrix of Product Certification Programs selected by The Green Standard to serve as entry point for posting in the Green Guide EcoList as of May 2008. Developers of some programs have been notified that they must strengthen features covered by September 2008 or be dropped from the list.Certification ProgramSingular Focus
(recycled content, sustainable forestry, etc.)
Multiple Attribute Focus
(combines more than one focus area)
(criteria spans a cradle-to-grave concept)
C2C
McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry
EcoLogo
Government of Canada
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
Market Transformation to Sustainability
Sustainable Choice
Scientific Certification Systems
SFI Certified
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
C2C
McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry
EcoLogo
Government of Canada
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
Market Transformation to Sustainability
Sustainable Choice
Scientific Certification Systems
SFI Certified
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
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
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.
