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Green Certification and Ecolabeling

Business Start Up Guides

Green Certification and Ecolabeling

To differentiate your product or service as environmentally sound, you may want to obtain certification from an independent, third-party so that you can include their logo or "ecolabel" on your product's label and other marketing materials. Ecolabeling is important way to market your product to green consumers.

Domestic Certification

Green Seal sets product standards and awards its label to a wide variety of products
Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Electricity: Certified by Scientific Certification Systems
Buildings: The U.S. Green Building Council LEED Green Building Rating System
Chlorine-Free Products: Certified by the Chlorine Free Products Association
Energy Efficient Products: Certified by the U.S. Government's ENERGY STAR Program
Organic Produce: Certified by the USDA National Organic Program
Renewable Energy: Certified by the Green-e Certification Program
Wood Products: Criteria set by Forest Stewardship Council; Certified by Scientific Certification Systems and Smartwood

International Certification

The European Union Eco-Label Program is a voluntary scheme designed to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment and for European consumers
Canada's EcoLogo Label program certifies products from the United States and Canada in over 120 categories
Germany's Blue Angel program provides ecolabeling for a wide variety products
Scandinavia's Nordic Swan allows companies to apply for an ecolabel in over 66 product categories
Japan's EcoMark Program provides product certification and ecolabeling for several product types
Taiwan's Green Mark and Energy Label programs provide certification and ecolabeling for green and energy efficient products

Resources

The Global EcoLabeling Network is a non-profit association of third-party, environmental performance labeling organizations to improve, promote, and develop the "ecolabelling" of products and services
Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP) is a an international organization that helps broker national policies for energy efficiency standards and labeling for appliances, equipment, and lighting products