It looks as though the carpet industry is putting on its boxing gloves once again. This time, the opponent is the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and its recently released LEED for Homes rating system. We first broke the news in November with a page one story on how the category was treated unfairly by the non-profit.

Since then, the industry has tried with no result to get an understanding for why USGBC included this controversial credit, let along to get it to re-examine the issue before too much damage is done. Even FCNews can’t get to first base. USGBC officials told me they would send data as to why it came to this decision. Two months later, I’m still waiting.

Much to the industry’s credit, it does not want to battle USGBC. It just wants to right a wrong and ensure something like this cannot happen again, not just in carpet but any type of product. Up to now, the sector has had an outstanding working relationship with USGBC, with numerous companies being founding members and participating in the commercial rating systems that have been developed.

And, up to now, USGBC openly admits to the grandiose work and leadership the carpet industry has demonstrated when it comes to being environmentally responsible.

So why is the organization not giving the time of day to those who have helped it get to where it is?

First, let me state I think USGBC has done an outstanding job up to this point to get green into the mainstream. It seems it is embarrassed for this move yet does not want to publicly admit it. Why? It has grown so much so rapidly and has gained considerable power throughout the world, it is afraid the balloon will burst if it admits to a flaw in its ratings. So it is laying low, hoping the issue will either go away or can be put off until it starts reviewing all its rating guidelines.

Not one to let things fester, the industry is working diligently to present to the USGBC board why it is in everyone’s best interest to re-open this rating and let the industry at least have a chance to make its case.

To get the ball rolling, David Simon of Brooklyn Carpet Exchange, organized a conference call that I had the honor to be a part of. It also featured Frank Hurd, CRI’s chairman; Shaw’s Steve Bradfield, Mohawk’s Frank Endrenyi, Lew Migliore, author of FCNews’ “Claims File” column, and other trade editors.

While industry officials all call the indictment on carpet a “travesty,” they are adamant bout working with USGBC, not against it. “What can we say to the board to re-open the process; we don’t feel anyone is acting on bad intentions,” were the two most comment statements.

As of this writing, it looks like the industry will get a chance to meet with the board this May. The teleconference did not come to any conclusions, but it did set the table for how the industry wants to approach this. I’ll keep you updated as this important topic progresses and hopefully reaches a positive resolution.

Interestingly, the call brought up something I’ve been harking for years: Carpet has a PR problem with how Mrs. Consumer perceives it when it comes to health. More on this as well.