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GreenCircle Certification System

Sustainable Solutions Corporation (SSC) provides independent Third Party Certification of green and sustainable aspects of products and manufacturing operations. SSC utilizes the GreenCircle Certification System (GCCS) to provide Independent Third Party Certification for the following sustainability claims:

SSC can provide verification and assurance to manufacturers, suppliers, regulators, and consumers that products labeled with the GreenCircle Certified Mark consistently meet the requirements of this program. SSC can also demonstrate conformance with the Materials and Resources criteria for recycled content and rapidly renewable resources for building products as specified in the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating Systems and NAHB National Green Building Standard Program.

SSC conducts a detailed evaluation of the product and manufacturing operation including manufacturing facility audits. The evaluation can also be based on completion of a product life cycle assessment (LCA) by SSC. Manufacturers are required to provide detailed information and documentation to SSC about the product and manufacturer's operations.

By issuing a GreenCircle Certification, Sustainable Solutions Corporation demonstrates that it has evaluated and verified the information provided by the Manufacturer and that, based on the information received by SSC, the Manufacturer is capable of, and consistently produces, a product that is in compliance with their sustainability claim. By applying the GreenCircle Certification Mark to a product, the Manufacturer warrants that the product meets all relevant requirements of the GreenCircle Certification System for the claim.

All product claims are re-certified on an annual basis. SSC reviews the data from the previous year and evaluates any changes to the product or manufacturing operation. The annual review ensures that the sustainability claim remains accurate.

For more information on the GCCS, Contact Us.


GCCS Definitions


Carbon Footprint Reduction

A carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product or service. Carbon footprinting is used to benchmark the level of CO2 generated by a process or in the production of a product. SSC will GreenCircle certify an organization’s claim for carbon footprint reduction based on a detailed analysis of the organization’s operations, energy consumption, energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions to verify and certify the claim.


Closed Loop Product

A closed loop product is a product that has been designed utilizing life cycle thinking and intelligent environmental design considerations. Integration of sustainable product design practices results in a product that is designed for recycling at the end of life, typically into the same or equal quality product. SSC will GreenCircle certify an organization’s claim for a closed loop product based on a detailed analysis of the life cycle of the product, including raw materials extraction through end of life to verify and certify the closed loop product claim.


Life Cycle Assessment (LCA ) Optimized

Life Cycle Assessment is a study of the environmental impact of a given product or service throughout its lifespan. LCA provides an organization a methodology to evaluate and quantify the impact of a product throughout all life cycle phases. Once a baseline LCA is complete, the organization can make decisions on how to reduce the impacts in each life cycle phase to optimize the environmental performance of the product. SSC can assist the organization with conducting the LCA as well as utilizing the results to integrate sustainable product design practices to reduce the life cycle impacts of the product. By comparing the baseline LCA to the LCA of the optimized product, SSC will verify and GreenCircle certify any claims that life cycle impacts were reduced as a result of LCA.


Rapidly Renewable Resource Content

Rapidly Renewable Resource Content – Rapidly renewable resources are agricultural products, derived from both plant and animal sources, that take 10 years or less to harvest. Many manufacturers are making claims of the rapidly renewable resource content for their products. SSC will conduct a detailed evaluation of the product and manufacturing operation, including manufacturing facility audits, to verify and certify the rapidly renewable resource content claim. The GreenCircle certification for rapidly renewable resource content will demonstrate conformance with the materials and resources criteria for rapidly renewable resources for building products, as specified in the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating Systems and NAHB National Green Building Standard Program.


Recycled Content

Recycled content is comprised of post-consumer and/or pre-consumer material that is used as feedstock in the manufacturing of products. Many manufacturers are making claims of the recycled content of their products. SSC will conduct a detailed evaluation of the product and manufacturing operation, including manufacturing facility audits to verify and certify the recycled content claim. The GreenCircle certification for recycled content will demonstrate conformance with the materials and resources criteria for recycled content for building products, as specified in the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating Systems and NAHB National Green Building Standard Program.


Renewable Energy Use

Renewable Energy Use – Many organizations are integrating renewable energy systems into their buildings and operations to reduce life cycle impacts of their products and operations. The use of renewable energy can reduce the embodied energy of a product and the organization’s carbon footprint. SSC will certify an organization’s claim of renewable energy use based on a detailed analysis of the organization’s operations, energy consumption, and renewable energy use to verify and certify the claim.


Sustainable Manufacturing Practices

Sustainable manufacturing integrates practices that reduce the environmental impacts of the manufacturing of products. Sustainable Manufacturing Processes can include closed loop and industrial ecology processes, internal recycling of waste, elimination of waste and emissions, water conservation and energy efficiency practices. SSC can assist the organization with conducting an LCA, as well as a sustainability assessment of the manufacturing operation, to identify opportunities to integrate sustainable manufacturing practices into the operation to reduce the life cycle impacts of the manufacturing operation. SSC will verify and GreenCircle certify any claims of sustainable manufacturing practices and life cycle impact reductions for the manufacturing operation.

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