The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), coordinator of the U.S. voluntary standardization system, is pleased to announce the first six accreditations under two pilot programs that ANSI launched in 2014 to address eco-labeling and environmental declarations.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed standards that define different types of environmental labels: Type I, Type II, and Type III. One ANSI pilot program has focused on Type I environmental labeling scheme owners and the competence of eco-labeling certification bodies. The other ANSI pilot program has focused on program operators for Type III environmental labels and declarations, and the competence of certification bodies that verify/validate Environmental Product Declarations (EPD).

Eco-labeling initiatives have grown steadily in recent years, as consumers and manufacturers alike look to protect the environment. However, greenwashing and false declarations have been a real concern as the demand for sustainability grows, said Reinaldo Figueiredo, ANSI senior program director for product and process accreditation. ANSI sponsored an independently conducted market analysis to examine the use of the ISO environmental labels, specifically Types I and III. That study confirmed a growing demand for an ANSI-led accreditation effort that would add value, rigor, and accountability to the process.

In March 2015, the ANSI Accreditation Committee [voted] approved by ballot that the following organizations satisfied the eligibility requirements for the pilot programs as follows:

Type I Environmental labeling program (Eligibility)

Water Quality Association (WQA): Evaluated by ANSI as an eligible Eco-Labeling Scheme Owner that develops Type I environmental labeling programs in accordance with the following standards:

ISO 14020:2000, Environmental labels and declarations General Principles

ISO 14024:1999, Environmental labels and declarations Type I environmental declarations Principles and procedures

PRO-PR-164ISO 14024, Requirements/Process to Determine Eligibility of a Type I Environmental Labeling Certification Scheme

WQA also accredited by ANSI as a Type I Eco-labeling Certification Body in accordance with the following standards:

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ANSI Announces Accreditations under Pilot Programs for Eco-Labeling, Environmental Declarations