Independent Certifiers:
third party certifiers with a stake in ensuring the transparency and credibility represent the future of ecolabeling.
Government Certifiers
The Federal Government fills gaps not being filled by NGOs or the private sector to label critical industries such as organic food, energy and water-using products, and transportation.
U.S. EPA, creators of
U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy)
"The increased transparency that consumers are demanding these days - evidenced in ingredient disclosure, and access to the very farmers growing one's potatoes--will only fuel this trend. In the end, the power may rest with the people," says J. Ottman, Ottman Consulting.
Laboratory accreditation or certification
But certification goes beyond products. It also affects the laboratories that evaluate products, chemicals, etc.
The EPA also certifies laboratories through The NELAC Institute (TNI - National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference). The purpose of the organization is to foster the generation of environmental data of known and documented quality through an open, inclusive, and transparent process that is responsive to the needs of the community. NELAC Institute homepage and standards from the following (http://www.nelac-institute.org/)
The Drinking Water Laboratory Certification Program, (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/labcert/index.html)
American Association of Laboratory Accreditation
http://www.a2la.org/
AOAC International
http://www.aoac.org
third party certifiers with a stake in ensuring the transparency and credibility represent the future of ecolabeling.
- Underwriters Laboratories, the product safety giants who has announced a new claims certification and standards setting service (www.ulenvironment.com)
- GreenGuard, the indoor air quality certifiers (www.greenguard.org/) GREENGUARD Environmental Institute governs the GREENGUARD Certification Program
- Forest Stewardship Council "FSC certified" wood-based products ( www.fscus.org/news/index.php?article=506)
- USGBC, with green building standards and professional certifiers (www.usgbc.org)
- National Association of Home Builders green building standards (www.nahbrc.org/greenguidelines/).
Government Certifiers
The Federal Government fills gaps not being filled by NGOs or the private sector to label critical industries such as organic food, energy and water-using products, and transportation.
U.S. EPA, creators of
- Energy Star label for energy efficiency appliances, electronics, lighting, office equipment, heating and cooling, and even houses (www.energystar.gov/)
- Design for Environment label for green chemistry (used in many cleaning products)
- Smart Way label for transportation
- Water Sense, for water-using products (www.epa.gov/watersense/index.htm)
- Organic (Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) - National Organic Program (NOP) home page: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/)
U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy)
- Energy Star for energy efficiency
- "trusted friends"
- "informed peers"
"The increased transparency that consumers are demanding these days - evidenced in ingredient disclosure, and access to the very farmers growing one's potatoes--will only fuel this trend. In the end, the power may rest with the people," says J. Ottman, Ottman Consulting.
Laboratory accreditation or certification
But certification goes beyond products. It also affects the laboratories that evaluate products, chemicals, etc.
The EPA also certifies laboratories through The NELAC Institute (TNI - National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference). The purpose of the organization is to foster the generation of environmental data of known and documented quality through an open, inclusive, and transparent process that is responsive to the needs of the community. NELAC Institute homepage and standards from the following (http://www.nelac-institute.org/)
The Drinking Water Laboratory Certification Program, (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/labcert/index.html)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP), http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/214/214.htm
Other laboratory accreditation programs are operated by:American Association of Laboratory Accreditation
http://www.a2la.org/
AOAC International
http://www.aoac.org