by Ann Withanee — November 17, 2010—EcoLogo, an environmental standard and certification provider, is working with ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, and its partner Ecoform, a leading technical analysis company, to integrate their certified cleaning products into ISSA’s new environmental purchasing tool, which will be launched in 2011.
EcoLogo is an ISO 14024 Type I eco-label, which establishes criteria for environmental leadership and awards certification to products that are verified by an independent third party as complying with the criteria. EcoLogo has been a key certifier for many ISSA member companies for almost two decades. This partnership will enable the EcoLogo Program to offer its clients the option of providing more detailed environmental information in addition to EcoLogo certification.
“We believe that this new green product purchasing tool will meet the needs of the subset of purchasers who want more elaborate scientific information than EcoLogo certification currently provides publicly,” said Angela Griffiths, executive director of the EcoLogo program.
EcoLogo is currently in the process of revising its standard for Hard Surface Cleaners (CCD-146) and hopes to coordinate the release of that standard with the launch of the ISSA/Ecoform purchasing tool in 2011. Both organizations are working to determine harmonized data requirements, streamlined options for manufacturers to opt to submit products for both programs simultaneously, and accompanying price breaks for doing so.
The new tool is ISSA’s answer to an increased demand for what is called “radical transparency,” a growing reaction to the lack of actual data about why a product claims to be green, protect health, or be safer. It also aims to provide easy-to-use product data sheets that can help distributors better explain the differences between products.
By collaborating with EcoLogo, ISSA and Ecoform seek to build upon a solid foundation of environmental certification and standards, while expanding the universe of information that is readily available to institutional and commercial purchasers.
For more information visit the ISSA Web site.
