Article Number: 3852
NSF 140 allows end users to buy eco-friendly carpet, Beaulieu first mill to have products certified
By Matthew Spieler
It’s no secret the carpet industry has a history of being at the forefront in environmental stewardship. But with the passing of NSF 140 late last year, the industry now has national proof showing just how friendly its products are to the environment.
NSF 140-2007, otherwise known as the Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard for environmentally preferable building materials, is the first multi-attribute approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the first building-related product to receive such a distinction.
The standard is based on life cycle assessment (LCA) principles and offers three levels of achievement for attaining various stages of reduced environmental impact— silver, gold and platinum. NSF 140 is primarily intended for commercial goods by providing a product evaluation methodology that is complementary to emerging commercial green building standards but can be used to evaluate any type of carpet. It applies to carpets for all types of buildings, including commercial office, education, government, healthcare, hospitality and so on.
So what does this mean to retailers, salespeople, designers and their customers? Kirsten Ritchie, director of sustainable design for Gensler, a leader in sustainable design strategies, said NSF 140 provides “enormous benefits to those who specify, approve and purchase carpets. When we specify carpets certified to the standard, we know we are selecting products with a lower environmental impact.”
Bill Gregory, director of sustainable strategies for Milliken, noted NSF 140 “is a big step in removing confusion surrounding carpet selection from the marketplace. There will be a single label versus multiple standard stamps, which will make specification easier.”
The standard includes an easy-to-use rating system with established performance requirements and quantifiable metrics throughout the supply chain for Public Health and Environment (PHE); Energy and Energy Efficiency (EN); Bio-Based, Recycled Content Materials (MATLS) or Environmentally Preferable Materials; Manufacturing (MFG), and Reclamation and End of Life Management (EOL).
“For the first time we have an industry consensus standard,” said James Lesslie, president of Beaulieu Commercial, which became the first mill to have products certified by NSF to this new standard. “It will be easier for customers to make comparisons of the environmental products vs. claims of being green. From a sustainability standpoint, NSF 140 is one of the more important initiatives for the floor covering industry. It’s one standard that can be used to compare products.”
In Beaulieu’s case, 20 products under the BOLYU Contract and Cambridge Commercial lines have been certified at the platinum level. Simply put, all Nexterra branded commercial tile products manufactured at the company’s Adairsville and Chatsworth, Ga., facilities received certification.
Certification is achieved on a point-based evaluation system through five categories. The new standard takes into account sustainability issues as it relates to manufacturing processes; reclamation and end-of-life management; energy usage and energy efficiency; the use of bio-based, recycled or environmentally preferable materials; and steps an organization takes to minimize adverse public health, environment and community impacts.
NSF president and CEO Kevan Lawlor called Beaulieu’s certification “a remarkable achievement to have all its Nexterra-branded tile products certified at the platinum level.”
Other mills are expected to make similar announcements soon about which of their products received certification.
It’s no secret the carpet industry has a history of being at the forefront in environmental stewardship. But with the passing of NSF 140 late last year, the industry now has national proof showing just how friendly its products are to the environment.
NSF 140-2007, otherwise known as the Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard for environmentally preferable building materials, is the first multi-attribute approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the first building-related product to receive such a distinction.
The standard is based on life cycle assessment (LCA) principles and offers three levels of achievement for attaining various stages of reduced environmental impact— silver, gold and platinum. NSF 140 is primarily intended for commercial goods by providing a product evaluation methodology that is complementary to emerging commercial green building standards but can be used to evaluate any type of carpet. It applies to carpets for all types of buildings, including commercial office, education, government, healthcare, hospitality and so on.
So what does this mean to retailers, salespeople, designers and their customers? Kirsten Ritchie, director of sustainable design for Gensler, a leader in sustainable design strategies, said NSF 140 provides “enormous benefits to those who specify, approve and purchase carpets. When we specify carpets certified to the standard, we know we are selecting products with a lower environmental impact.”
Bill Gregory, director of sustainable strategies for Milliken, noted NSF 140 “is a big step in removing confusion surrounding carpet selection from the marketplace. There will be a single label versus multiple standard stamps, which will make specification easier.”
The standard includes an easy-to-use rating system with established performance requirements and quantifiable metrics throughout the supply chain for Public Health and Environment (PHE); Energy and Energy Efficiency (EN); Bio-Based, Recycled Content Materials (MATLS) or Environmentally Preferable Materials; Manufacturing (MFG), and Reclamation and End of Life Management (EOL).
“For the first time we have an industry consensus standard,” said James Lesslie, president of Beaulieu Commercial, which became the first mill to have products certified by NSF to this new standard. “It will be easier for customers to make comparisons of the environmental products vs. claims of being green. From a sustainability standpoint, NSF 140 is one of the more important initiatives for the floor covering industry. It’s one standard that can be used to compare products.”
In Beaulieu’s case, 20 products under the BOLYU Contract and Cambridge Commercial lines have been certified at the platinum level. Simply put, all Nexterra branded commercial tile products manufactured at the company’s Adairsville and Chatsworth, Ga., facilities received certification.
Certification is achieved on a point-based evaluation system through five categories. The new standard takes into account sustainability issues as it relates to manufacturing processes; reclamation and end-of-life management; energy usage and energy efficiency; the use of bio-based, recycled or environmentally preferable materials; and steps an organization takes to minimize adverse public health, environment and community impacts.
NSF president and CEO Kevan Lawlor called Beaulieu’s certification “a remarkable achievement to have all its Nexterra-branded tile products certified at the platinum level.”
Other mills are expected to make similar announcements soon about which of their products received certification.
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