GREENGUARD

The following section outlines the GREENGUARD Certification process for the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification program and the GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification Program. Please select the area of your interest, or scroll down the page to view all areas.

Submit Company and Product Information
Estimate of Testing Costs, Scope of Testing, and Timeframe
Product Pre-test and Evaluation
Initial Product Test
Testing of All Products in Product Line
Statement and Independent Documentation of Environmental Practices
Listing of Product Line and Labeling of Products
Testing of Products and Processes at Regular Intervals

Step 1 - Submit Company and Product Information

Please fill out the Manufacturer Questionnaire and submit your information. This will help us to better determine the scope of the testing and allow our consultant to provide more educated answers to your questions and serve your needs better. After receiving your information an independent GREENGUARD Technical Consultant will contact you within one business day.

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) can be reached directly Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m EST by calling 800.427.9681

Step 2 - Estimate of Testing Costs, Scope of Testing, and Timeframe

A GREENGUARD Technical Consultant will work with you to answer all your questions and explain the GREENGUARD Certification Process in greater detail. Together you will determine the scope of testing and timeframe, as well as the costs involved to certify your products. A proposal will be provided to you that contains:

Plan of the test program
Estimate of testing and certification costs
Estimated timeframe
GREENGUARD Certification Application

Step 3 - Product Pre-test and Evaluation

A few tests will be performed on selected products to determine emission levels. Here it will be determined if your products are likely to meet the GREENGUARD Standards, or if you need to make changes in the manufacturing process. This will catch problems early and address them before extensively testing your products. The laboratory will provide a detailed test protocol and analysis and can assist you in improving your products chemical emissions.

Step 4 - Initial Product Test

Selected products undergo testing according to GREENGUARD Testing Protocol and procedures. This careful approach gives you the opportunity to become more familiar with product emissions testing. If you would like to test your complete product line at once, you can skip step four and go directly to step five.

Step 5 - Testing of All Products in Product Line

Your products will be tested following the established test plan and according to GREENGUARD Testing Protocol and procedures. In most cases, it is not necessary to test every individual product, but rather test the different components. For example, if you manufacture office chairs, one model will be tested and then the individual components that differ in all your other models, like fabrics, padding, etc. This will not only speed up the process without jeopardizing test results, but it will keep your costs to a minimum.

Step 6 - Statement and Independent Documentation of Environmental Practices

You will provide GEI with a statement of your company's environmental practices and processes including recycling programs, waste reduction programs, use of non-toxic materials, environmentally friendly packaging, and corporate safety and health programs. GEI will document your claims and help implement such programs, if desired.

Step 7 - Listing of Product Line and Labeling of Products

After passing all tests and requirements, you can use the GREENGUARD mark on your products, packaging, and marketing materials. Your products will be included as GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified^® in the GREENGUARD Online Product Guide. You can use the GREENGUARD mark and display your product in the GREENGUARD Online Product Guide for the life of the product, as long as your products continue to meet GREENGUARD Standards. These standards are subject to change in the future, depending on international, federal, and state regulations and standards.

Step 8 - Testing of Products and of Processes at Regular Intervals

To verify consistent product quality and continuous compliance with GREENGUARD standards your products will be tested on a regular basis.