BIFMA International, the trade association for the commercial furniture industry, this week announces the launch of a new sustainable product certification program.
The Level program aims to create a transparent standard addressing material utilization, energy and atmosphere impacts, human and ecosystem health and social responsibility, according to BIFMA International.
The standard is modeled after the USGBC’s LEED program for green buildings with specific prerequisites,
optional credits, and three conformance levels, with level 3
certification being the highest.
“For the past three years we have been following the ANSI process,
working with stakeholders and experts from inside and outside the
industry to create a standard that can be used by all furniture
producers,” said Tom Reardon, BIFMA Executive Director. “We also
understand the importance of an independent evaluation and conformance
verification process and invite additional certification bodies to
participate in the program. We have to give our customers a simple and
comprehensive way to understand how products contribute to green
buildings and sustainability as a whole,” he added.
NSF International and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) are the
first third-party certification bodies to be recognized under the level
certification program.
Manufacturers evaluating products to the BIFMA e3 sustainability standard and undergoing an independent, third-party certification process can achieve the Level conformance mark.
BIFMA member firms Allsteel, Gunlocke, HON Company, Herman Miller, Kimball Office, National Office Furniture and Steelcase already have products that meet the standard’s requirements and have received third party certification by either NSF or SCS.
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