1 / 34

Lost Within the Green Tape

Lost Within the Green Tape. Understanding the process for making true sustainable product selections while avoiding the pitfalls of greenwashing and eco-label confusion . Tommy J. Crane LEED AP. Outline for Discussion . Greenwashing Eco-Labels Certification Sources to Help

eilis
Télécharger la présentation

Lost Within the Green Tape

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Lost Within the Green Tape Understanding the process for making true sustainable product selections while avoiding the pitfalls of greenwashing and eco-label confusion. Tommy J. Crane LEED AP

  2. Outline for Discussion • Greenwashing • Eco-Labels • Certification • Sources to Help • Product Selection • What to do when Selecting – Basic Steps • Things to Avoid when Selecting • Things to Look For when Selecting

  3. What is Greenwashing Green-wash – verb: the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. (TerraChoice, 2009)

  4. Seven* Sins of Greenwashing • Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off • Sin of No Proof • Sin of Vagueness • Sin of Irrelevance • Sin of Fibbing • Sin of Lesser of Two Evils • Sin of Worshiping False Labels *

  5. Seven* Sins of Greenwashing • Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off • Based on a single environmental attribute or an unreasonably narrow set of attributes without attention to other environmental issues. • Recycled content of a product only • Energy efficiency vs. hazardous material content in electrical equipment. • Greenguard – indoor air quality – Voc Content • Energy Star – energy efficiency

  6. Seven* Sins of Greenwashing • Sin of No Proof • Environmental claim that cannot be substantiated by easy accessible supporting information, or by a third-party certification. • Energy efficient appliances without supporting documentation.

  7. Seven* Sins of Greenwashing • Sin of Vagueness • Claim that is poorly defined or so broad that its real meaning is likely to be misunderstood. • Chemical-free • Non-toxic • All natural

  8. Seven* Sins of Greenwashing • Sin of Irrelevance • A truthful claim that is unimportant and unhelpful. Irrelevant and therefore distracting. • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)- free

  9. Seven* Sins of Greenwashing • Sin of Fibbing • False environmental claims. Misuse or misrepresentation of certification. • ‘Certified’ products with no certification • ‘Registered products’ lacking registration www.franklygreen.com

  10. Seven* Sins of Greenwashing • Sin of Lesser of Two Evils • Claims that may be true within the product category but that risk distracting the consumer from the greater impacts as a whole. Placed on products in which the entire product category is of questionable environmental value. • Organic cigarettes • Green insecticides and herbicides

  11. Seven* Sins of Greenwashing • Sin of Worshiping False Labels* • Gives the impression through words or images of third-party endorsement where no such endorsement actually exists. • Company’s own in house environmental programs • Bold yet vague statements – fights global warming • Green jargon – eco-safe, eco-secure, eco-preferred

  12. Eco-Labels • International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 14000 • 14020 - Environmental Labels and Declaration • Type I – Voluntary Third Party • Type II – Self-Declared • Type III – Third Party – environmental product declaration (EPD)

  13. Type I Label • Voluntary criteria-based third party programs • Environmentally Based on a particular category • Does not require Life-Cycle Assessments (LCAs) GreenGuard certified – VOC content – indoor air quality Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – sustainable wood and forest practices Energy Star – Energy efficient appliances and electronics

  14. Type II label • Self-declared environmental claims • Made by manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, etc.. • Without third-party certification. • Encompasses single or multiple impacts • Might include a product LCA

  15. Type III label • Providing quantified environmental data using predetermined parameters. • Requires LCA to measure environmental impacts. • Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) • Requires Third-Party certification • Can include performance data of safety, human health etc. • Cradle to Cradle – MBDC • Green Seal • SCS – Scientific Certification Systems

  16. Certification • First-party • Second-party • Third-party • Fourth-party regulations (governmental regulations)

  17. First-Party Certification • Self-certification • ISO 14021 – Environmental Labels and Declarations – Self-Declared Environmental Claims • Type II Label • SC Johnson’ Greenlist products

  18. Second-Party Certification • Trade association or vendor assessment • Type I labeling • Carpet and Rug Institute – CRI • Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association – BIFMA • MTS – the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability • SMART Sustainable Building Products Standards

  19. Third-Party Certification • Credible testing and labeling agencies • No direct connection with material or its manufacturer • Transparency on both standards and certification process • GREENGUARD Environmental Institute • SCS – Scientific Certification Systems • Green Seal • NSF – National Sanitation Foundation International • MBDC –McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry:

  20. Third- Party Certification • Accrediting bodies for third-party certifiers • SCC – Standards Council of Canada • ANSI – American National Standards Institute • RvA – RvA - Raad voor Accreditatie (Dutch Accreditation Council - Europe

  21. Fourth- Party Regulations • Government agencies implementing regulations so that standards are met. • EPA – Environmental Protection Agency • Dept. of Energy • Energy Star – EPA • US Code of Federal Regulations • Federal Register • FTC – Federal Trade Commission • Part 260 -- GUIDES FOR THE USE OFENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING CLAIMS

  22. Sources to Help • Organizations that provide list of companies and products that they view meet sustainability standards • Green Zone – • HOK Sustainable Materials Database • The GreenStandard.org • Scientific Certification Systems

  23. Product Selection • Resource Efficiency • Indoor Air Quality • Energy Efficiency • Water Consumption • Affordability

  24. Resource Efficiency • Recycled content, product packaging / recyclable • Natural, plentiful, or renewable • Efficient manufacturing process • Salvaged, refurbished or remanufactured • Reusable • Durable / long lasting

  25. Indoor Air Quality • Minimal Chemical Emissions (VOCs and toxic chemicals) • Moisture resistant – mold, mildew, etc • Healthfully maintained – methods of cleaning • Building systems and equipment – do not release VOCs, etc.

  26. Energy Efficiency • Reduce energy consumption • Energy Star certified products • Temperature controls - • Reduce lighting fixtures by replacing with natural light and providing multiple lighting control options.

  27. Water Conservation • Reduce water consumption • Low-flow fixtures (toilets, etc) • Sensor activated fixtures, faucets • Consider waterless urinals • Controlled irrigation with gray water or no irrigation

  28. Affordability • Life-Cycle Costs • Compare to conventional materials and methods • Stay within a project-defined percentage of overall budget.

  29. Three Basic Steps • Research • Certification claims • Ask for Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) • Evaluate • Certification claims • Life cycle assessment (LCA) • Software to help – Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) • National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Building and Fire Research Laboratory • Select • Evaluation matrix used to make proper selection • Create / share database for future use

  30. What to avoid • Solvent based stains, dyes, etc. • Polyethylene Foam for stuffing • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in paints, adhesives, stains, sealers, finishes, etc. • Wood and wood products from non FSC certified forest • Composite material (particleboard, MDF, etc) with VOC adhesives • Epoxy finishes • Heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, Chromium (chrome)

  31. What to avoid • Virgin petrochemical fibers – nylon, polyester, olefin, acrylic, polypropylene, etc. • Chlorine bleach / harsh environmentally dangerous cleaners (if you need rubber gloves to use it ) • Vinyl – specifically Polyvinylchloride (PVC) • Products with lengthy transportation distances, by air, water, or land.

  32. What to look for: • Water soluble, vegetable/ mineral dyes and stains • Non-Volatile Organic Compounds in paints, adhesives, stains, sealers, finishes, etc. • Glue – free construction / joinery (dovetail, mortise and tenon, etc) • Powder Spray Coat finishes • Buckwheat / other seed hull fillings for stuffing • Plant based polymers (foam) etc • Rapidly renewable resources – cork, bamboo, hemp, flat (linen). • Blanket wrap for transportation

  33. What to look for: • Organic / unbleached fabrics and fibers: wool, cotton, silk, bamboo, hemp, flat (linen), papers, etc. • Fully recycled petrochemical fibers – nylon, polyester, etc • Energy Star rated appliances and electronics, • Regional materials within 500 mile radius • FSC certified wood and wood products • Environmentally friendly cleaners • Agri-fiber products, (wheatboard, etc with no VOCs

  34. Final Thoughts / Questions • Research products / claims • Share information with others • Keep looking the right products are out there Tommy J. Crane, MFA, IDEC, LEED AP Assistant Professor - Interior Architecture School of Human and Consumer Sciences Grover Center W324 Ohio University (740) 593-2870 / fax (740) 593-0289 cranet@ohio.edu

More Related