The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has cited wallcoverings certified to the NSF/ANSI 342 Sustainability Standard for Wallcovering as eligible for credits under 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. This standard requires that both manufacturer and distributor qualify in order for the product to carry the certification.
“We are pleased that USGBC has expanded LEED to include NSF/ANSI 342 as an accepted certification program,” says Sean Samet, executive director for the Wallcoverings Association. “The wallcoverings industry is continually working to reduce the environmental impact of its products. The third-party certification provides accountability and transparency to all aspects of the product’s manufacture and distribution.”
Sustainability Standard for Wallcovering Is Included in LEEDv4 Pilot Credit
By Retrofit Magazine Editor1 Min Read