by Rebecca Walker — January 3, 2011—UL Environment plans to launch an environmental product declaration (EPD) program in January, a move that adds a new dimension to the organization’s green verification services by offering companies a way to provide greater product transparency.
The EPD program will roll out as UL Environment begins its third year in business. Underwriter Laboratories Inc. introduced UL Environment in January 2009 with the aim that the new division becomes known in the green arena the way that the nearly 116-year-old UL label is recognized in the field of product safety standards and testing.
UL Environment initially offered two services: environmental claims validation and sustainable product certification. It also partners with GreenBiz.com to develop sustainability standards for companies with the first being ULE 880, which is designed for manufacturing businesses.
The environmental product declaration program comes as companies and consumers are seeking more information about goods and their environmental impact across their lifespan. An EPD provides detailed, standardized documentation of an audited lifecycle assessment of a product’s environmental performance.
Businesses producing building materials, lighting, textiles, electronics and other consumer goods are among those that have indicated an interest in such a program, and firms that supply the building industry are expected to be a key market for the EPD service.
For more information, see the UL Environment Web site.
