We spend approximately 90% of our time indoors¹, exposed to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other irritants which can exacerbate respiratory sensitivities such as asthma or allergies and can lead to other significant health and environmental concerns. As awareness of these effects and the part that materials included in our built environments play increases, consumers are making more sustainable purchases for their homes and offices.
Whether purchasing cleaning supplies, furniture, or building materials, we should all be conscious of what we bring into our spaces. The SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT GUIDE provides a database of certified or validated products, all of which have been extensively reviewed and/or tested by UL Environment. This tool provides consumers, specifiers, institutional purchasers, and others access to thousands of products to assist in their buying decisions. Look for products that can contribute to a more sustainable environment – indoor and out.
It is our responsibility, as building experts and contributors, to reduce these health and environmental conditions by designing and utilizing low emitting and sustainable products and ensuring that we reduce the environmental impacts we cause by producing them. It continues to be a key topic in industry conversations that the impact building materials have on the environment be as minimal as possible. By investing in sustainability initiatives such as Zero Waste to Landfill (waste diversion efforts), ECOLOGO Certification (reduced environmental impacts), GREENGUARD (low emissions), or Environmental Product Declarations (product transparency), manufacturers are showing a clear sustainability commitment to their customers, to their community, and to the environment.
UL Environment’s team of experts drives acceptance for these programs by encouraging participation in sustainable building specifications, sustainable rating systems and codes, and other programs. Additionally UL participates in key stakeholder groups and Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) which help to craft and update policies, codes, and systems including International Green Construction Code, ISO, ASHRAE, U.S. Green Building Council and others.
We are in this together – every product, every choice, every time.
For more information on selecting products that contribute to a more sustainable environment, please contact UL at environment@ul.com.
¹U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, https://cfpub.epa.gov/roe/chapter/air/indoorair.cfm