Sustainability Resources in the NYSID Library: Labels + Terminology

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a rating system established by the U.S. Green Building Council.  "LEED certified buildings save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people". To achieve LEED certification, a project earns credit points related to "carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. Projects go through a verification and review process by GBCI and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum."

"The WELL Building Standard takes a holistic approach to health in the built environment addressing behavior, operations and design.  WELL is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind."

GreenGuard certification is awarded based on emissions: products bearing this ecolabel have low chemical emissions or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). UL, who administers GreenGuard and EcoLogo certifications, is a global leader in safety science, technology and sustainability.

A producer can apply to have the Fair Trade label on their products when they comply with three criteria: they must be a small producer, adhering to set labor standards and trade standards.  

One of the top 3rd party certification and standards organizations in the world, SCS Global Services examines products from green buildings, to textiles, to food product packaging.  When you see their logo, you know that the product meets or exceeds the standards for pre- and post-consumer recycled content.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) "protects forests all over the world through sustainable harvesting practices and respecting indigenous rights." They provide Chain-of-Custody Certification to companies, which documents that their forest products are sourced from FSC-certified forests.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is similar to FSC, but they focus primarily on North American Forests

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, based in Switzerland, is also similar to the FSC and SFI, but it is the largest certification program in the world, and the only one to base their standards on internationally accepted governmental guidelines.

The Rainforest Alliance certifies products like coffee, chocolate and juice, but they also certify paper products as coming from FSC certified forests.

A program established as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Bill, BioBased labeling is intended to increase use of renewable agricultural resources, as opposed to less sustainable petroleum products.

The Ecologo label is used on a wide variety of products, and indicates that the product has gone through an in-depth process to receive third party certification for reduced environmental impact.