UL Launches Environmental Product Declaration Program

UL Environment, the environmentally focused subsidiary of international product-testing organization Underwriters Laboratories (UL), has launched an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) program. The EPD program will provide a multi-attribute label documenting the life-cycle impact of a product, including such indicators as greenhouse gas emissions and use of primary energy.

The label will be standardized across many product categories and will require third-party-verified life-cycle assessment—meaning that the EPD accounts for environmental impacts from acquisition of raw materials through disposal or recycling. According to UL Environment’s website, its EPD product categories so far include structural steel, laminate flooring, carpet tiles, window films, and a variety of other building materials, lighting products and textiles. For more information, visit www.ulenvironment.com.

– Paula Melton