The Product Guy

Dec 5 2008 9:24AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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By Nick Bajzek

Two weeks ago I wrote a piece on the Underwriters Laboratories' new Environmental Claims Validation program. The ECV program is aimed towards cutting through the static on green…you know, to tell you the truth, I couldn’t even tell you what I think “green” means. My fellow blogger Carl Seville might have a better opinion.

Anyways, the ECV will dive into the unseen attributes such as recycled content, VOC levels, energy needed to produce the product and operational energy efficiency, to name a few. Eventually the UL will certify products to their environmental standards.

I had the chance to catch up with the UL’s Chris Nelson, the Director of Corporate Development. He was kind enough to give me some of his time yesterday afternoon to give me the skinny on what’s happening so far. The UL decided to move into the field about a year ago. “You have the same manufacturer going down two different environmental claims programs and coming out with completely different results,” says Nelson. “Initially we’re looking at three or four standards for certification, two of which (NSS 140 and IEEE 1680) exist today. We’re also involved with the ASTM Environmentally Preferred Standard for about a year now.”

Reaction from manufacturers, retailers and supply chains the UL has worked with or consulted have generally been upbeat. “We had a lot of positive response from the marketplace. A lot of manufacturers are really excited the UL is getting into this. Many in the industry are concerned with the robustness of other certification programs or don’t feel they have strong enough branding,” says Nelson. 

Stay tuned for more on the UL’s ECV program