Understanding the Technical Criteria of Green SquaredSM/
ANSI A138.1
Section IV: Progressive Corporate Governance
By Bill Griese, Tile Council of North America, LEED AP BD+C
Establishing sustainability criteria for products throughout their full life cycle, ANSI A138.1 is divided into five sections. Throughout the past several months, we’ve reviewed several different sections of the standard. This month, we’ll have a look at the fourth section, Progressive Corporate Governance.
Mandatory for conformance to the standard, a manufacturer shall have a written and implemented social responsibility strategy which addresses at least the following: labor law compliance, forced labor prohibitions, child labor prohibitions, environmental regulation compliance, health and safety regulation compliance, and community involvement.
To obtain an elective credit, the manufacturer may choose to participate in a voluntary safety program such as OSHA Safety Consultation, Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), or OHSAS 18001.
It is mandatory that all green marketing claims made by manufacturers be in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fair packaging and labeling act Green Guides (publicly available) which indicate how the FTC applies Section 5 of the FTC Act, prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices in environmental claims.
As an elective for conformance to the standard, a manufacturer may choose to regularly engage in its community, building upon the community involvement plan established in its mandatory social responsibility strategy.
Also elective for conformance to the standard, a manufacturer may publicly disclose on an annual basis one of the following: utility consumption, registered Environmental Management System (EMS) data, or Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data.
Another elective credit is available if a manufacturer provides a detailed sustainability report each year, conforms to the requirements of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), or is selected for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI).
If a manufacturer has at least one facility with LEED® or Green Globes certification an elective credit is also available.
Finally, manufacturers are required to have an assurance program for current and continued conformance to ANSI A138.1/Green Squared for all pertinent products.
Next month, we will review the criteria of the fifth and final section of ANSI A138.1, Innovation.
than Arley. The firm recognizes how to have fun, build total enthusiasm and most importantly for companies like mine, knows how to make its customers money with its suppliers’ products and their enhanced distribution system.”
Scott Levy, Executive Vice President of Operations for Arley Wholesale has witnessed the annual event grow each year and in doing so, continue to add benefits to those who attend. “Our annual event is a good time for all… and we know that. We also know that if we don’t help our customers become more successful, if we don’t give them highly-researched, great tile and stone materials and back up those products with strong merchandising tools and marketing ideas, we all lose. We cannot allow that to happen. That’s why our annual event offers them so many benefits and strategic ways to enhance their sales.”
