SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT: “Greenguard — A Health-Based Differentiator”

Did you know more than 99 percent of A&I’s line of roller shades are GREENGUARD or OEKO-TEX certified? | Photo by The Doubleshot Project

We surround ourselves with chemicals.  

By some estimates, Americans are exposed to as many as 80,000 chemicals daily, few of which undergo adequate testing for their effects on health.1  Most of the everyday chemical exposure in people occurs through the air we breathe in our homes, offices, schools and other indoor environments. In the built environment, exposure to chemicals can come in the form of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — that is, in essence, chemicals that vaporize at normal temperatures and pressure. Studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other researchers have found that VOC levels may be two to a thousand times higher than outdoors.  

To mitigate exposure to such chemicals, built-environment stakeholders can use low-emitting building materials that are non-toxic, chemically inert, and therefore have a low negative impact on the health of a building and the wellness of its occupants. To help them make more strategic, sustainable choices, architects, specifiers, and designers can turn the sustainability spotlight on certification programs and ratings systems designed to shed light on products that promote VOC reduction.  

A ‘Health-Based Differentiator’  

The Greenguard certification, for example, is one of the most widely recognized eco labels in the world. But it is not just a label; it is a crucial step toward a sustainable specification process. UL GREENGUARD® Certification serves as a health-based differentiator, demonstrating that products are healthier and do not negatively affect indoor air quality. Many may not realize that the GREENGUARD certifications screens for more than 10,000 chemicals, allowing GREENGUARD-certified products to meet some of the world’s strictest chemical emission limits.  

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, more than 2.4 million square feet (about the area of The Vatican) is LEED Certified every single day, and there are more than 94,000 LEED projects worldwide  

“If a product has been GREENGUARD certified, it has been tested and scientifically proven to have low chemical emissions,” said Scott Steady, Product Manager for indoor air quality at UL. In other words, it’s guaranteed to give off only low levels of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.  

According to UL, temperature and humidity controlled Greenguard testing chambers, known as dynamic environmental chambers, measure emissions. In this controlled environment, chemical analysts can see between zero and 200 or 300 chemicals coming out of a product.  

Greenguard-certified projects also contribute toward LEED credits. GREENGUARD Certification is widely referenced in more than 450 green building programs, including LEED, CHPS, Green Seal, and many global and municipal building programs. Specifiers and purchasers can see which building programs products contribute to, as well as LEED credits, on UL’s Sustainable Product Database. 

‘Moving the Needle’ with Sustainable Product Choices 

“As we speak with architects, whether they are specifying a project in healthcare, education, or a luxury high-rise, sustainability is a shared concern,” said David Keegan, Commercial Specification Manager at A&I Manufacturing. 

Keegan noted that 99 percent of A&I’s line of roller shades are GREENGUARD or OEKO-TEX certified. Almost 60 percent carry the GREENGUARD certification, while the remaining 40 percent carry OEKO-TEX®. When specifying window treatments for a project, he reasoned, why not choose a product that rivals the quality and price point offered by bigger brands, while at the same time checking that sustainability box?  

“They don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but they can move that sustainability needle in their specifications by making smart, strategic choices in what products they will use in their project.”  

Learn more about A&I Manufacturing’s GREENGUARD and OEKO-TEX-certified products. Contact Dave Keegan, Commercial Specification Manager, at dkeegan@a-imanufacturing.net, or visit our “Road to Specification” page to order samples.