FAQ
› What makes it “green”?
› What are the benefits of using “green” items?
› Does The Green Products Site build the furniture it sells?
› Why use green products in schools?
› What does “GREENGUARD Certified” mean?
› What are ISO 14001 Standards?
› What is LEED Certification?
› What is the SCS Indoor Advantage?
› What are the benefits of using recycled materials in furniture and products?
› What does it mean if a material is sustainably produced or harvested?
What makes it “green”?
The Green Products Site places a high value on protecting the planet for future generations and works with manufacturers who share these values and have taken steps to reduce the impact of their manufacturing process and products on the planet. Our products are selected from manufacturers who use recycled, sustainable, and eco-friendly materials in their products. Many of our products meet a variety of environmental certifications. Finally, all of the products featured on our website are manufactured in the U.S. and North America, reducing the carbon footprint of getting these products from the manufacturer to your home or office.
The products available on The Green Products Site meet at least one of our green standards:
Green Manufacturing Process
A green manufacturing process can involve one or more of the following manufacturing practices: reducing the amount of raw materials used, reducing and/or recycling manufacturing waste materials, reducing use of energy from fossil fuels, increasing use of renewable energy, and/or having a green policy with strong environmentally–friendly manufacturing programs. Look for the Green Policy symbol on product pages, which indicates that the manufacturer has a green policy for the manufacturing of their products. The Green Manufacturing Process symbol indicates that the manufacturer has taken steps to incorporate one or more of the aforementioned eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
Products made with Eco-Friendly Materials
Eco-friendly materials means that the furniture you purchase from the Green Products Site is made with one or more of the following: recycled materials, sustainably harvested materials, and/or materials that are safe for indoor air quality and human health. More information about these eco-friendly materials are discussed later in the FAQ.
Green Certified Products
Many of the products available on The Green Products Site meet a variety of green certifications, which are displayed on the product information throughout the website. More information about these certifications are discussed later in the FAQ.
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What are the benefits of using “green” items?
Every purchase of a green or sustainable product is an opportunity to educate consumers about the importance of maintaining the planet and our impact on the environment. From an economical standpoint, every purchase of a green product is one step closer to lower costs for sustainable materials as production increases due to a rise in demand for eco-friendly products. Another benefit of using green products is the knowledge that you as a customer are making the best decision for the health of your home or organization and the planet!
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Does The Green Products Site build the furniture it sells?
The Green Products Site is connected with several manufacturers committed to creating a sustainable and earth-friendly product for the customer. Our manufacturers include Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Company, Balt, Cherryman, Community, Global, Jayhawk Plastics, JSI, Mayline, Offices To Go, and Safco. Find out more on our manufacturer page.
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Why use green products in schools?
Green Products in school environments offer an opportunity to engage students of all ages in conversations about the importance of preserving the planet for the future. Additionally, there is a special certification for green products in school settings. For products intended for use in schools, daycares, or other environments where children spend significant periods of time, the GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification Program offers stricter certification criteria, including chemical emissions limits, which contribute to the creation of healthier interiors.
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What does “GREENGUARD Certified” mean?
The GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification Program gives assurance that products designed for use in office environments and other indoor spaces meet strict chemical emissions limits, which contribute to the creation of healthier interiors. Many of the products on the Green Products Site are GREENGUARD Certified and are identified with a GREENGUARD logo on the product information page.
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What are ISO 14001 Standards?
The International Organization for Standardization developed the ISO 14001 standards to provide an internationally recognized framework for environmental management, measurement, evaluation, and auditing. Look for the ISO 14001 symbol on product pages to see which of the products on the Green Product Site meet these standards.
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What is LEED Certification?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system devised by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage market transformation towards sustainable design. Several products on the Green Product Site can be used toward LEED Certification for your organization – look for the LEED logo on the product page.
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What is the SCS Indoor Advantage?
The SCS Indoor Advantage™ certification program certifies compliance with rigorous indoor air quality emission requirements. The program is designed for interior building materials, furnishings and finish systems. Products that meet these certifications are designated with the SCS Indoor Advantage Air Quality Certification symbol on the product page.
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What are the benefits of using recycled materials in furniture and products?
Products made with recycled materials reduce waste that ends up in landfills and reduce the consumption of new, raw materials. Recycled plastic saves trees and reduces landfill usage. Many forms of post consumer waste, such as plastic milk jugs, can be used for durable, long lasting recycled plastic material. Look for the Recycled Material and/or the Recycled Plastics symbols on product pages to select products made with recycled materials.
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What does it mean if a material is sustainably produced or harvested?
Sustainably harvested materials do not deplete the source of the materials and maintain the long-term health and supply of the source. Our selection of eco-friendly rugs from Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Company are made of sustainably harvested materials. Look for the Sustainably Harvested symbol on these and several other products to choose products for your home or organization that meet these sustainability standards.
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