by Brianna Crandall — March 13, 2017 — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently cited wallcoverings certified to the NSF/ANSI 342 Sustainability Standard for Wallcovering as eligible for credits under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program (LEED v4). Certified products qualify for a possible one point under the Pilot Credit entitled Certified Multi-attribute Products and Materials. The intent of the Pilot Credit is “to encourage the use of products and materials for which life-cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts,” according to USGBC.
Wallcoverings covered by NSF/ANSI 342 include textiles, vinyl, vinyl-coated, alternative polymer, alternative polymer-coated, paper and natural fiber products. The standard evaluates criteria across the product life cycle, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life management. Unique to this standard is the requirement that both manufacturer and distributor qualify in order for the product to carry the certification.
Sean Samet, executive director for the Wallcoverings Association, commented:
We are pleased that USGBC has expanded LEED to include NSF/ANSI 342 as an accepted certification program. The wallcoverings industry is continually working to reduce the environmental impact of its products, and is proud of the industry-wide effort that developed this multi-attribute standard. The third-party certification provides accountability and transparency to all aspects of the product’s manufacture and distribution.
For more information, contact the Wallcoverings Association.
