New NSF Standard Covers Resilient Flooring
The new standard—NSF 332 Sustainability Assessment Standard for Resilient Floor Coverings is designed to help manufacturers demonstrate their commitment to the principles of sustainability.
“As more products with sustainable benefit claims are introduced, end users have started to request information to compare their performances,” said Jane Wilson, NSF director of standards. “Developing a consensus standard will help support and inform the end-user decision-making process in identifying products making sustainability claims.”
According to Jaclyn Bowen, MPH standards specialist for NSF, the draft was developed with help from the resilient flooring industry, and it will be used on a trial basis “so users can identify areas in need of further development and clarification.”
The draft has been designed with the following set of objectives in mind:
• Demonstrate how resilient floor covering can conform to the environmental, economic and social principles of sustainability throughout the supply chain.
• Demonstrate conformance with international standards for environmental labeling and declaration requirements.
• Demonstrate conformance with the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims.
• Create confidence that products labeled with a third-party certification mark consistently meet the requirements of this program.
• Encourage participation by all manufacturers of resilient floor coverings to improve environmental performance.
To meet the standard the sustainable assessment criteria for resilient floorings are divided into five categories: informed product design, intelligent product manufacturing, long-term value, progressive corporate governance and innovation.
Concerning LEED, Bowen said, it is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. “Interior designers, architects and consumers interested in purchasing a greener alternative to resilient flooring can look to this standard and the manufacturers that voluntarily choose to comply with it for products that meet these requirements.”
Resilient flooring as defined by the draft includes, but is not limited to, vinyl tile, vinyl composition tile, sheet vinyl, rubber, polymeric and linoleum flooring products. The standard is applicable to products manufactured in one facility or multiple facilities, one country or multiple countries.
Initial response from mills and industry organizations has been very positive. Dave Kitts, vice president of environment for Mannington Mills believes “it will raise the bar, causing good environmental improvements. The definition of green is all over the map. This standard attempts to look at product from a broader perspective. Our customers will see that we’ve put a lot into this, [into the sustainability of our flooring]. Just as LEED is the [standard] for green buildings, this is the same for product. And, as time goes on work will be done to improve the standard.”
Related Topics:Coverings, Mannington Mills