{{Infobox organization | name = Green Seal | image = Green Seal logo.png | image_size = 150px | image_alt = Logo of Green Seal | formation = 1989 | headquarters = Washington, DC USA | leader_title = Chair | leader_name = Nancy Hersh | leader_title2 = CEO | leader_name2 = Doug Gatlin | leader_title3 = Vice Chair | leader_name3 = Brenna Walraven | leader_title4 = Secretary | leader_name4 = Edward Hubbard | type = Non-governmental organization | purpose = Environmentalism, sustainability | website = https://greenseal.org/ }}

'''Green Seal''' is a global non-profit environmental standard development and certification organization committed to making sustainability everyone’s business. Its flagship program is the certification of products and services. Certification is based on Green Seal standards, which contain performance, health, and sustainability criteria.<ref name="nrdc">{{cite web|title=NRDC: Green Seal|url=http://www.nrdc.org/business/standards/greenseal.asp|accessdate=2 January 2014|archive-date=16 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316052915/http://www.nrdc.org/business/standards/greenseal.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Green Seal is an ecolabel used by product manufacturers and services providers.<ref name="ecolabelindex">{{cite web|title=Ecolabeling Index|url=http://www.ecolabelindex.com/ecolabel/green-seal/|accessdate=12 July 2012}}</ref> More than 100 federal, state, and local purchasing policies specify and rely on Green Seal to signal products that meet a high benchmark of health and environmental leadership. Products and services certified to Green Seal standards are listed in the [https://certified.greenseal.org/directory Green Seal Certified Directory]. The Green Seal Certification Mark is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Green Seal is a U.S. member and co-founder of Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), which consists of 27 international ecolabeling programs, including Germany's Blue Angel, the EU Ecolabel, and the Nordic swan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Ecolabelling Network: Map of Members|url=http://www.globalecolabelling.net/members_associates/map/|accessdate=12 July 2012}}</ref> Green Seal meets the Criteria for Third-Party Certifiers of the United States Environmental Protection Agency,<ref>{{cite web|title=EPA Environmental Preferred Purchasing|url=http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/guidance/frsum1.htm#greenseal/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224228/http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/guidance/frsum1.htm#greenseal/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 17, 2013|accessdate=20 July 2013}}</ref> the requirements for standard development organizations of the American National Standards Institute,<ref>{{cite web|title=American National Standards Institute|url=http://publicaa.ansi.org/sites/apdl/Documents/Standards%20Activities/American%20National%20Standards/ANSI%20Accredited%20Standards%20Developers/MAY2012ASD3.pdf|accessdate=20 July 2013}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and the principles for environmental labels of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14020 and 14024).<ref name="ecolabelindex" />

==History== Since its founding in 1989, Green Seal has developed environmental standards for hundreds of categories of products and services.<ref name="nrdc" /> Green Seal published a series of buying guides for purchasers in the 1990s (the Choose Green Reports) and at that time began providing technical assistance to Federal, State, and local governments and other institutions' environmental purchasing, operations, and facilities management.<ref>{{cite web|title=EPA-Greening Your Purchase of Cleaning Products: A Guide For Federal Purchasers|url=http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/cleaning.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118123857/http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/cleaning.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2008|accessdate=2 January 2014}}</ref> In the early 2000s, the certification program focused primarily on building maintenance. In 2006, the US Green Building Council LEED rating system included several Green Seal standards in their criteria.<ref>{{cite web|title=Green Building Rating System|url=http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/LEEDdocs/LEED_RS_v2-1.pdf|accessdate=12 July 2012|archive-date=24 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824095711/http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/LEEDdocs/LEED_RS_v2-1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Practice Greenhealth,<ref>{{cite web|title=Where to Find Green Products|url=http://practicegreenhealth.org/topics/environmentally-preferable-purchasing/where-find-green-products}}</ref> the AASHE STARS program,<ref>{{cite web|title=Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS)|url=http://www.aashe.org/documents/stars/STARS_0.5.pdf|accessdate=10 July 2012|archive-date=15 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915125748/http://www.aashe.org/documents/stars/STARS_0.5.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Green Ribbon Schools Program of the U.S. Department of Education,<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS: Resources|url=http://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools/resources.html|accessdate=7 July 2012}}</ref> among others, reference Green Seal standards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whole Building Design Guide: Green Seal Standards|url=http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_cat.php?c=247}}</ref> According to a 2010 study by the Responsible Purchasing Network, the Green Seal was recognized by 95% of purchasers and used by 76%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Responsible Purchasing Trends 2010|url=http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/publications/trends_2010.pdf}}</ref>

==Standards and certification== Products and services must meet the requirements in Green Seal standards in order to achieve certification. The standards are based on a life cycle approach, considering such impacts as those from raw materials extraction, manufacturing, use, and re-use or disposal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Think 2100: Certification of Green Products|url=http://www.think2100.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63:greenwashing-green-products-business-certification-buy-purchase&catid=35:green|access-date=2012-07-12|archive-date=2011-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519165953/http://www.think2100.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63:greenwashing-green-products-business-certification-buy-purchase&catid=35:green|url-status=dead}}</ref> The evaluation process includes review of data; assessment of labeling, marketing, and promotional materials; and on-site auditing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Responsible Purchasing Network: Recommended Standards|url=https://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/purchasing_guides/cleaners/standards/|accessdate=12 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219201819/http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/purchasing_guides/cleaners/standards/|archive-date=19 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Products or services become certified by Green Seal after these evaluations are completed. Regular compliance monitoring is required to maintain certification.

Green Seal sets standards and certifies products and services in the following categories:<ref>{{cite web|title=Green Seal Standards: certification categories|url=https://greenseal.org/green-seal-standards/standards-list/}}</ref>

* Building Restoration Products * Cleaning Products * Laundry Care Products * Personal Care Products * Plastic Trash Bags and Can Liners * Sanitary Paper Products * Commercial and Institutional Cleaning Services * Hotels & Lodging Properties

==Institutional greening programs== Green Seal works and worked with government agencies, healthcare facilities, universities, and other institutions and companies on sustainable purchasing, operations, and facilities management.

* Green business projects have included the City of Los Angeles Green Business Program and Green Lodging Program,<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Los Angeles Green Certified Business Program|url=http://www.ci.la.ca.us/ead/cgbp/learn.html|accessdate=1 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007014715/http://www.ci.la.ca.us/ead/cgbp/learn.html|archive-date=7 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> the City of Chicago Green Hotels Initiative,<ref>{{cite web|title=Explore Chicago: Green Chicago: Green Hotels|url=http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/about_the_city/green_chicago/Green_Hotels.html|access-date=2012-07-12|archive-date=2013-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112024050/http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/about_the_city/green_chicago/Green_Hotels.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Pennsylvania Green Hotels Program. * Green purchasing projects have included assisting in green procurement for the State of California Procurement Division;<ref>{{cite web|title=Guidelines for the Procurement, Use and End-of-Life Management of Electronic Equipment|url=http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/pd/news/custforum.doc|access-date=2012-07-15|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110648/http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/pd/news/custforum.doc|url-status=dead}}</ref> City of Los Angeles Green Purchasing Action Plan;<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Los Angeles Green Purchasing Action Plan|url=http://www.greenseal.org/GreenGovernmentsandNonprofits/CurrentCompletedProjects.aspx|access-date=2012-07-12|archive-date=2012-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511094004/http://www.greenseal.org/GreenGovernmentsandNonprofits/CurrentCompletedProjects.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Environmentally and Socially Responsible Procurement Program;<ref>{{cite web|title=Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Environmentally and Socially Responsible Procurement Program|url=http://www.greenseal.org/GreenGovernmentsandNonprofits/CurrentCompletedProjects.aspx|access-date=2012-07-12|archive-date=2012-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511094004/http://www.greenseal.org/GreenGovernmentsandNonprofits/CurrentCompletedProjects.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Los Angeles County Green Procurement Manual;<ref>{{cite web|title=California Sustainability Alliance: Los Angeles County Green Procurement Manual|url=http://sustainca.org/tools/green_procurement_toolkit/los_angeles}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=California Green Solutions: Green Seal Helps LA County with Green Procurement Program|url=http://www.californiagreensolutions.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=1773|access-date=2012-07-12|archive-date=2011-06-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604205350/http://californiagreensolutions.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=1773|url-status=dead}}</ref> National Park Service Green Purchasing Manual;<ref>{{cite web|title=Environmental Purchasing in the National Park Service|url=http://www.doi.gov/greening/procurement/Environmental_Purchasing_Guide.pdf|access-date=2012-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020202712/http://www.doi.gov/greening/procurement/Environmental_Purchasing_Guide.pdf|archive-date=2011-10-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> State of Colorado Green Purchasing Evaluation and Training;<ref>{{cite web|title=STATE OF COLORADO ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING POLICY|url=http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/colorado/policy.pdf}}</ref> Multi-State Department of Transportation Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide;<ref>{{cite web|title=State Department of Transportation Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide|url=http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/docs/NCHRP25-25(60)_FinalManual.pdf|accessdate=12 July 2012}}</ref> and the World Bank Purchasing Program.<ref>{{cite web|title=Green Purchasing: Helping Nature And The Bottom Line|url=http://www.facilitiesnet.com/green/article/Green-Purchasing-Helping-Nature-and-the-Bottom-Line--8604#}}</ref> * Green building operations and maintenance projects have included specifications for the City of Philadelphia;<ref>{{cite web|title=Philadelphia High-Performance Building Renovation Guidelines|url=http://www.phila.gov/pdfs/PhiladelphiaGreenGuidelines.pdf|accessdate=12 July 2012}}</ref> an operations and maintenance manual for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pennsylvania Green Building Operations and Maintenance Manual|url=http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/31543/greenbuildingbook_pdf|accessdate=12 July 2012}}</ref> environmental evaluations for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank headquarters facilities; a green facilities plan for the Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SABVI);<ref>{{cite web|title=Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Vision Impaired Earns Green Seal Designation|url=http://www.greenseal.org/Portals/0/Documents/Press%20Releases/SABVI%20Green%20Seal%20Recognition.pdf|access-date=2012-07-12|archive-date=2012-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718134547/http://www.greenseal.org/Portals/0/Documents/Press%20Releases/SABVI%20Green%20Seal%20Recognition.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> an environmental facilities assessment of the three University of Miami campuses;<ref>{{cite web|title=University of Miami Climate Action Plan 2009|url=http://rs.acupcc.org/site_media/uploads/cap/517-cap.pdf}}</ref> and an operations and maintenance manual for Public Housing Authorities developed in conjunction with Siemens Industries.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Green Building Operations and Maintenance Manual|url=http://www.greeningpublichousing.com/#|access-date=2012-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425133742/http://greeningpublichousing.com/|archive-date=2012-04-25|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Green Seal publications== Green Seal publishes books and articles on sustainability including:

* ''Greening Food and Beverage Services: a Green Seal Guide to Transforming the Industry''<ref>{{cite web|title=Greening Food and Beverage Services: A Green Seal Guide to Transforming the Industry|url=http://shop.ahlei.org/Greening-Food-and-Beverage-Services-A-Green-Seal-Guide-to-Transforming-the-Industry_p_2609.html|access-date=2012-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424142324/http://shop.ahlei.org/Greening-Food-and-Beverage-Services-A-Green-Seal-Guide-to-Transforming-the-Industry_p_2609.html|archive-date=2012-04-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> * ''Green Building Operations & Maintenance Manual: a Guide for Public Housing Authorities''<ref>{{cite web|title=Greening Public Housing: A Green Guide for Public Housing Authorities|url=http://www.greeningpublichousing.com/|access-date=2012-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425133742/http://greeningpublichousing.com/|archive-date=2012-04-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> * ''NACo Green Purchasing Toolkit''<ref>{{cite web|title=NACo Green Purchasing|url=http://www.naco.org/programs/csd/Pages/NACoGreenPurchasing.aspx|accessdate=1 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130215255/http://www.naco.org/programs/csd/Pages/NACoGreenPurchasing.aspx|archive-date=30 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Environment}} * Environment of the United States * Global Ecolabelling Network * ISO 14000 * Life cycle assessment

== References == {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== * [http://www.greenseal.org Green Seal] * [http://www.ema-online.org/ Environmental Media Association]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C. Category:Environment of the United States Category:Environmental certification