Green Label Plus Program

Green Label Plus (GLP): The Carpet Industry’s Commitment to Indoor Air Quality

The carpet industry has a long history of creating products that provide numerous benefits, especially for indoor air quality. Today, indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important environmental consideration, especially since we spend approximately 90 percent of our time indoors. In 1992, CRI launched its Green Label program to test carpet, cushions, and adhesives to help specifiers identify products with very low emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). In the 2000s, CRI launched the Green Label Plus programs for carpet, adhesives, and cushion. These enhanced programs set higher standards for IAQ and let customers know they are purchasing the very lowest emitting products available on the market. Using scientifically established standards, the Green Label Plus program symbolizes the carpet industry’s commitment to creating a better indoor environment.

Green Label Plus Guides Federal Government Purchases

The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus (GLP) program is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing. This recognition places the GLP program as a top-tier program for certification. The Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels help federal purchasers identify and procure environmentally preferable products and services.

Green Label Plus Raises the Bar

Green Label Plus is an example of CRI’s leadership in the best practices of environmental responsibility. Look for the CRI Green Label Plus logo as proof that the product has been tested and certified by an independent laboratory and has met stringent criteria for low emissions.

UL Solutions handles the testing of carpet, adhesive, and cushion samples for CRI using the most current, dynamic environmental chamber technology. The test methodology was developed in cooperation with the U.S. EPA and has been adopted by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) as D5116 – Standard Guide for Small-Scale Environmental Chamber Determinations of Organic Emissions from Indoor Materials/Products.

Quick Facts about Green Label Plus

The Green Label Plus symbol informs customers that they are purchasing the lowest emitting carpet, adhesive, and cushion products on the market.
CRI designed the Green Label Plus program for architects, builders, specifiers, and facility managers who want assurance that carpet, adhesive, and cushion products meet the most stringent criteria for low chemical emissions.
Green Label Plus represents the fourth time the carpet industry has voluntarily enhanced the IAQ standard for its products.

Testing Protocol and Product Requirements

Green Label Plus is an independent testing program that identifies carpet, adhesives, and cushion with very low emissions of VOCs to help improve indoor air quality. It is an outgrowth of, and enhancement to the CRI Green Label Testing program. By selecting Green Label Plus carpet, adhesive, or cushion, you are assured one of the lowest emitting products on the market, and you may be able to earn credit under LEED, Green Globes, or Green Guide for Health Care.

To receive initial certification, carpet products undergo a 14-day testing process, as required by California’s Section 01350 Standard Practice for VOC Testing that measures emissions for a range of possible chemicals. An independent laboratory tests products for emission levels:

California Section 01350 Compounds - Applies to All Program Categories

Acetaldehyde
Benzene
Carbon Disulfide
Carbon Tetrachloride
Chlorobenzene
Chloroform
Dichlorobenzene (1,4-)
Dichloroethylene (1,1)
Dimethylformamide (N,N-)
Dioxane (1,4-)
Epichlorohydrin
Ethylbenzene
Ethylene Glycol
Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether
Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether Acetate
Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether
Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Acetate
Formaldehyde
Hexane (n-)
Isophorone
Isopropanol
Methyl Chloroform
Methylene Chloride
Methyl T-butyl Ether
Naphthalene
Phenol
Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether
Styrene
Tetrachloroethylene
Toluene
Trichloroethylene
Vinyl Acetate
Xylenes, technical mixture (m-, o-, p-xylene combined)

GLP Program Specific Compounds

Adhesive Testing

1-Methyl-2 Pyrrolidinone
2-Ethyl-1-Hexanol
4-Phenylcyclohexene (4PCH)
Benzothiazole
Isooctylacrylate
Methyl Biphenyl
Vinyl Cyclohexene

Carpet Testing

1-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidinone
2-Ethylhexanoic Acid
4-Phenylcyclohexene (4PCH)
Caprolactam
Nonanal
Octanal

Cushion Testing

4-Phenylcyclohexene (4PCH)
BHT

* Note: All criteria presented above are for CRI GLP 14-day and 24-hour tests except Caprolactam criteria is set at an EF of 131 μg/m2·h and a Concentration of 70 μg/m3 for the 24-hour test.

In order to earn and maintain Green Label Plus certifications, carpet, adhesives, and cushion products must undergo a three-tier testing process to monitor continued compliance with the test program requirements.

GLP Emissions Criteria

GLP test results are confidential and not to be shared with any outside parties without the expressed written consent of The Carpet and Rug Institute.

Types of Tests

Initial Testing

Initial testing is required for entry to the program. Samples will be evaluated against the full listing of California Section 01350 compounds for emissions no higher than one-half the listed Chronic Reference Exposure Level (CREL) for each compound (except Formaldehyde, which is reported at the full CREL). Refer to the GLP Emissions Criteria for a list of additional testing criteria specific to the Green Label Plus program. Additionally, the TVOC level will be reported on the GLP Certificate. Testing will be evaluated after 10 days of conditioning and 24, 48, and 96 hours (14 days) after initiating the chamber test.

Interim Annual Testing

Annual testing is required for continued compliance within the GLP program. Samples will be evaluated at 24 hours. If the sample does not meet the 24-hour criteria, the test may be extended to 14 days upon approval by the participant. An extension shall measure the full listing of California Section 01350 compounds for emissions no higher than half the listed Chronic Reference Exposure Level (CREL) for each compound (except Formaldehyde, which is reported at the full CREL). Refer to the GLP Emissions Criteria for a list of additional testing criteria specific to the Green Label Plus program. Additionally, the TVOC level will be reported on the GLP Certificate. Testing will be evaluated after 10 days of conditioning and 24, 48, and 96 hours (14 days) after initiating the chamber test.

Biennial Testing

Biennial testing is required for continued compliance within the GLP program. Samples will be evaluated against the full listing of California Section 01350 compounds for emissions no higher than one-half the listed Chronic Reference Exposure Level (CREL) for each compound (except Formaldehyde, which is reported at the full CREL). Refer to the GLP Emissions Criteria for a list of additional testing criteria specific to the Green Label Plus program. Additionally, the TVOC level will be reported on the GLP Certificate. Testing will be evaluated after 10 days of conditioning and 24, 48, and 96 hours (14 days) after initiating the chamber test.

Documents

The GLP Quality Manual is a primary document in the CRI Green Label Plus Quality System. It is intended to define the administrative aspects and requirements of the Green Label Plus Carpet, Cushion, and Adhesive program.