NSF International, a not-for-profit product certifier, has released a set of guidelines flooring makers can use to better market the green attributes of their products.
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NSF International, a not-for-profit product certifier, has released a set of guidelines flooring makers can use to better market the green attributes of their products.
NSF International released the guidelines in the form of a product category rule (PCR), which is defined in ISO 14025 - Environmental Labels and Declarations - Type III Environmental Declarations. The PCR was made in conjunction with the NWFA and other flooring trade associations, including the Carpet and Rug Institute, North American Laminate Flooring Association, Resilient Floor Covering Institute and Tile Council of North America. The PCR can be downloaded here.
Next, using the data defined and collected using the PCR, manufacturers can work with NSF International to create their own life cycle analysis (LCA), which measures inputs, outputs and environmental impacts of a product across its lifespan from cradle to grave. After that, data from the PCR and LCA is summarized in the form of a third-party-verified environmental product declaration (EPD), which "provides an apples to apples comparison of the environmental impact of a particular product," said Michael Martin, the NWFA's CEO. Manufacturers can take the EPD and better market the green characteristics of their product or group of products.
"These guidelines can create an advantage for wood flooring as compared to other products," said Michael Martin, the NWFA's CEO. "Wood has a longer life than most flooring types, it comes from a renewable source, and it is manufactured in an environmentally healthy manner, with nearly every part of the tree utilized in some way."
The PCR is comprehensive. It looks at products' effects on climate change, ozone depletion, eutrophication (water runoff reducing water quality), fossil energy depletion, mineral depletion, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Besides solid and engineered wood flooring, the PCR incorporates standards reporting for carpet, laminate, resilient coverings and ceramic coverings.
For more information on the PCR, LCA or EPD, contact NSF International's Dennis Gillan at (734) 476-2543 or [email protected].