Over the years, the flooring industry has voluntary created a number of environmental programs and initiatives as well as taken the lead role in helping to create them. Many have gone on to become nationally recognized standards, even surpassing the most stringent ones imposed by California and have also become the model by which all others are done. Some of the most notable include:

• Green Label/Green Label Plus. Started in 1992 to test carpet, cushion and adhesives, the program was strengthened three times and since become even more stringent than California’s infamous 01350. For more information, visit carpet-rug.org.

• Carpet American Recovery Effort ( CARE). Considered an historic achievement in that an entire industry got together with the mission of diverting its product from the country’s landfills. Started in 2002, over one billion pounds of carpet were kept out of landfills in its first five years of existence. CARE was the first of its kind because it was done voluntarily and without any government regulation. For more information, visit carpetrecovery.org.

• ANSI-NSF 140 Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard. This is the first-ever multi-attribute American National Standards Institute (ANSI)- approved standard. Based on life cycle assessment principles it defines environmental, social and economic performance requirements, and provides benchmarks for continual improvement and innovation within the building industry. For more information, visit nsf.org/business/newsroom/pdf/Sustainability2.pdf

• FloorScore Certification. Developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) it tests and certifies flooring products for compliance with indoor air quality emission requirements adopted in California, considered the most stringent in the country. While created by RFCI, it was developed to test and certify all hard surfaces floors, including laminate, wood and ceramic. For more information, visit rfci.com/int_FloorScore.htm.