impact.greenseal.orgGreen Seal Impact Report

1. Welcome1. Targeting Actions That Matter 2. Simplifying Sustainable Shopping 3. Raising the Bar 3. Power in Partnership4. Celebrating Leadership 5. Thanks 7. Resources2024 Impact Report Impact Report 2024 Welcome This year at Green Seal we dove deep into defining safer and more sustainable products. In a rapidly evolving marketplace, yesterday’s definition of leadership can be table stakes today. That’s why we are continuously learning, improving, and innovating to ensure our standards demand true leadership at every stage of the product lifecycle. Doug Gatlin, Green Seal CEO To illuminate the comprehensive nature of this work, this year we’ve grouped our actions under four elements of a green product: safer chemicals, responsible sourcing, manufacturing sustainability, and sustainable packaging. From eliminating PFAS from the supply chain, to defining sustainable sanitary paper, to accelerating the transition to sustainable packaging, we are helping our customers stay ahead of the curve by raising the bar for products that are safer for people and the planet. Nancy Hersh, Green Seal Board Chair Ultimately, this means that no matter which aisle people are shopping, our trusted certification mark helps them cut through the chaos to find products that meet truly comprehensive health and sustainability standards —from beginning to end. In this report, we are proud to highlight how, together with you, we are accelerating the transition to greater safety and sustainability in our workplaces, our homes – and our collective home planet. 1. Welcome1. Targeting Actions That Matter 2. Simplifying Sustainable Shopping 3. Raising the Bar 3. Power in Partnership4. Celebrating Leadership 5. Thanks 7. ResourcesTargeting Actions That Matter Our standards ensure products meet truly comprehensive health and sustainability requirements — from beginning to end . Here’s how Green Seal-certified products achieved impacts that matter in 202 3 . Our ImpactsGreen Seal’s sustainability compass targets four key areas that ensure certified products truly are safer for people and the planet. Here’s how Green Seal-certified products achieved impacts that matter in 2022. Safer Chemicals 9 .8 million students and teachers protected from toxic chemicals/asthma triggers in 2023 through their schools’ use of Green Seal-certified cleaning products. Responsible Sourcing 11 .7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions saved by Green Seal-certified sanitary paper each year – the equivalent of taking 2.8 million cars off the road.* Manufacturing Sustainability 30 .5 billion gallons of water saved by Green Seal-certified sanitary paper products due to 100% recycled content.* Sustainable Packaging 192 million pounds of plastic saved by Green Seal-certified cleaning products each year.** *Compared to conventional sanitary paper that uses 100% virgin fiber. Based on 2018-2023 manufacturer data ** Based on 2021, 2022, and 2023 data Our Partnerships Amazon/Climate Pledge Friendly Booking.com Ecomedes Fitwel Google Travel GSA Healthy Schools Campaign HPDC ISEAL USGBC Wayfair WELL Whole Foods Simplifying Sustainable Shopping No matter which aisle you’re shopping, our trusted certification mark helps you cut through the chaos to make a safer, more sustainable choice for your home – and our collective home planet. Here’s how your choices made an impact in 2023. Simplifying Sustainable No matter which aisle you’re shopping, our trusted certification mark helps you cut through the chaos to make a safer, more sustainable choice for your home – and our collective home planet. Here’s how your choices made an impact in 2023. Your Impacts Laundry Care Warning : A non-numeric value encountered in /home/greensea/impact.greenseal.org/wp-content/themes/gsimpact/page-impact-2024.php on line 452 0px;? "960 kilowatt hours Amount of electricity your household saves each year from choosing Green Seal-certified laundry detergent designed for cold-water use – enough to charge 82,758 smartphones. Sanitary Paper Warning : A non-numeric value encountered in /home/greensea/impact.greenseal.org/wp-content/themes/gsimpact/page-impact-2024.php on line 452 0px;? "230 pounds Amount of CO2 emissions you save by choosing Green Seal-certified 100% recycled toilet paper, reducing your carbon footprint by 70% compared to virgin paper. Paint Warning : A non-numeric value encountered in /home/greensea/impact.greenseal.org/wp-content/themes/gsimpact/page-impact-2024.php on line 452 0px;? "757 grams Amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) you avoid with each gallon of Green Seal-certified paint you choose, protecting your home from harmful chemicals and preserving local air quality. A Seal Buyers Trust 100 + federal, state, and local purchasing policies specify Green Seal 1.5 billion square feet of commercial space cleaned daily by Green Seal-certified cleaning service providers 33,288 certified products (by SKU) Countries with Green Seal-Certified Products and Services Raising the Bar We are committed to continuously learning, improving, and innovating to address the most intractable health and environmental challenges of our time . Here are initiatives we fostered in 2023 to keep our customers ahead of the curve on product sustainability . Our InitiativesSafer Chemicals PFAS With growing evidence that thousands of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances pose a significant threat to human health and the environment, we further strengthened our leadership to address these hazardous forever chemicals” by initiating a prohibition on PFAS in G reen Seal-certified paints and coatings, floor care products, adhesives, and degreasers . Learn More Responsible Sourcing Sanitary Paper To address the climate change and deforestation impacts of pa per products , Green Seal assembled leading brands, retailers, and purchasers to update Green Seal’s sanitary paper certification standard and align on meaningful sustainability leadership criteria and claims for both commercial and household products. Learn More Trash Bags and Can Liners To address the significant carbon and plastic pollution impacts of trash bags and can liners, we launched a certification program t hat empowe r s buyers to quickly identify more sustainable products . Learn More Sustainable Packaging Sustainable Packaging Program With packaging waste an urgent and growing concern, we worked with leading producers, brands, and stakeholders to design a program to accelerate a global transition to sustainable packaging. Learn More Power in Partnership Green Seal strengthened and expanded partnerships to foster the availability of products, services, and spaces that are healthier for people and the planet. ISEAL Green Seal became an ISEAL community member joining a prestigious, committed group of sustainability organizations that are driving positive social and environmental change. Wayfair Green Seal’s partnership with Wayfair means that Green Seal-certified products automatically qualify for inclusion in Wayfair’s Shop Sustainably filter, indicating to shoppers that the products are safer for people and the planet. Amazon/Climate Pledge Friendly Green Seal’s partnership with Amazon expanded to the U.K. and the European Union. Now, Green Seal-certified products display Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly badge in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Italy, France, and Spain, signifying to Amazon shoppers that the products meet meaningful sustainability standards. Health Product Declaration Collaborative Green Seal partnered with HPD Collaborative to become an approved Health Product Declarations (HPD) preparer and third-party verifier. This collaboration allows Green Seal to prepare and verify HPDs free of charge for any manufacturer that pursues paint certification. USGBC We partnered with USGBC to ensure our certification standard for paints and coatings earns maximum recognition in the LEED ® green building rating system, enabling purchasers, facility managers, and homeowners to confidently choose...