Green Seal

Paint Standards
and
Certification
Mark Petruzzi
Vice President of
Certification
 Overview of
Presentation
Significance of Standards,
Certification in Procurement and
Product Stewardship
Background on Green Seal, Inc.
Green Seals Certification Program
Overview of current Paint Standards
Update of GS-43 certifications
 Significance of
Standards,
Certification in
Procurement
Help identify green products/services
Verify legitimate environmental
claims
Provide explicit, objective standards
Provide criteria for specifications
and bids
 Significance of Standards,
Certification in Procurement
(cont.)
Certification demonstrates
compliance
Expert, independent assessment
Consider product performance
Can provide competitive bids if
standards set properly
Significance of Standards,
Certification in
Procurement (cont.)
Technical Basis:
Use best available science
Base on life-cycle of product
Identify leadership levels to move
market
Procedural Basis:
Use open and transparent process
No financial interest or conflict-of-
interest
 Green Seal, Inc.
Background
Non-profit with environmental mission:
Green Seal is dedicated to safeguarding
the environment and transforming the
marketplace by promoting the
manufacture, purchase and use of
environmentally responsible products and
services.
 Green Seal, Inc.
Background (cont.)
Science-based
Exclusive focus on products, services,
purchasing, operations
Multiple product categories
Multiple criteria (life-cycle approach)
No financial interest in products,
companies
 Green Seal Meets
Applicable Guidelines
for Certification
ISO 14020 and 14024
Principles of Environmental Labeling
Principles and Procedures for Type I EL
EPA Guidelines for 3rd-Party Certifiers
Member of the Global Ecolabelling
Network
 Green Seal Meets
Applicable
Guidelines for Certification
(cont.)
Key attributes:
open, transparent process
based on life-cycle evaluation
impartial; no financial
interest/conflict
leadership levels in standards
developed by consensus
 Green Seals
Certification Program
GS standards in 35 product
categories
Over 800 hundred
products/services certified
range from windows, electric chillers,
and lodging facilities to institutional
cleaners, paints, paper products, etc.
How Green Seal Sets
Environmental
Standards
Establish study category
Call for stakeholders
Appoint Stakeholder Committee (incl. users,
manufacturers, trade groups, government,
environmentalists, others)*
Environmental evaluation
Draft standard
Public review
Published Response-to-Comments
Stakeholder ballots*
Issue final standard
* where resources allow
 Sample Stakeholders
Manufacturers Government
Seventh Generation City of Santa Monica
Spartan Chemical MN Ofc Of Env Assist.
MA Exec Ofc of Env Affairs
Clean Environment Co.
US EPA
Church & Dwight
US GSA
3M Environmental
Users INFORM
US Postal Service Global Toxics Campaign, WWF
Aberdeen Proving Ground Washington Toxics Coalition
Intl Exec Housekeepers Environmental Health
Assn Coalition
American Federation of Others
UMass Toxics Use Reduction
State, County, & Munic.
Institute
Employees
Individual experts
ServiceMaster Industries
 GS-11 Overview
Green Seal
Environmental Standard
for Paints
This Standard establishes
environmental requirements for
paints. The standard does not
include stains, clear finishes, or
paints sold in aerosol cans.
 GS-11 Overview

Product-Specific
Performance
Requirements
Interior Topcoats:
Scrubbability
Hiding Power (Opacity)
Washability (Stain Removal)
Exterior Topcoats
Hiding Power (Opacity)
 GS-11 Overview

Product-Specific
Environmental
Requirements
Chemical Component Limitations
VOC limits
Aromatic compound limits
Chemical Component Restrictions
25 restricted compounds, including
methylene chloride, benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene, vinyl chloride,
formaldehyde, certain phthalates, and
heavy metals
 GS-11 Overview

Packaging & Labeling

Requirements
Packaging
Paint cans and their components are not
fabricated with lead
Labeling Requirements
Basis of certification must be appear with the
Green Seal Mark:
This product meets Green Seal environmental
standards for volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and other ingredients.
Include a brief statement discouraging disposal
into drains and encouraging consultation with
local authorities for disposal or recycling
Paints formulated without VOCs shall be
designated Class A.
 GC-3 Overview
Green Seal
Environmental Criteria
for Anti-Corrosive Paints
Establishes environmental
requirements for anti-corrosive
paints, defined as coatings
formulated and recommended for
use in preventing the corrosion of
ferrous metal substrates
 GC-3 Overview

Product-Specific
Performance
Requirements
Adhesion
Hiding Power (Opacity)
Corrosion Resistance
 GC-3 Overview

Product-Specific
Environmental
Requirements
Chemical Component Limitations
VOC limits
Aromatic Compounds
Chemical Component Restrictions
25 restricted compounds, including
methylene chloride, benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene, vinyl chloride, formaldehyde,
certain phthalates, and heavy metals
 GC-3 Overview

Packaging & Labeling

Requirements
Toxics in Packaging
Paint cans and their components are not fabricated
with lead
Labeling Requirements
Basis of certification must be appear with the
Green Seal Mark:
This product meets Green Seal Environmental
Criteria for anti-corrosive paints. Product does not
exceed 250 g/l volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
which can contribute to air pollution. Product does
not contain certain toxic chemicals found in similar
paints.
Paints formulated without VOCs shall be
designated Class A.
 Purpose of GS-43
Recycled Paint
Standard
Reduce amount of leftover paint
in waste stream: convert into
viable product
comparable in performance to virgin
close the loop
Increase confidence in consumers
preconceptions, misperceptions
control variability of marketed
products
 Genesis of
Recycled Paint Standard
PSIs Paint Product Stewardship
Initiative Markets Workgroup
Need for certification
- ensure good quality recycled content
paints
- purchasers can identify these
Funded by CIWMB through San
Joaquin County
 Issues in Recycled
Paint Standard
development
Ensuring performance
consistent levels with inherently
variable product
teaming with Master Painters
Institute
requirement to meet virgin paint
standards
Including consolidated paint
more variable, less predictable
 Issues in Recycled
Paint Standard
development (cont.)
Presence of prohibited
ingredients
prohibit in virgin additives
testing of recycled content?
Combining exterior and interior
commonly done in consolidated
long-term performance, health
issues?
 Issues in Recycled
Paint Standard
development (cont.)
Post-consumer content
standardize protocols to ensure quality
Federal, State procurement specs vary
VOCs
recycled may be high, esp. high gloss,
color
balance with use, waste diversion goals
Federal, State requirements vary
 GS-43 Overview
Scope of Standard
Establishes environmental and performance
requirements for recycled-content interior
and exterior latex paint, defined as paint
made by consolidation and reprocessing or
remanufacturing
This Standard does not apply to stains, clear
finishes, paints sold in aerosol cans, or
oil-based paints.
 GS-43 Overview

Collecting & Storing

Requirements
Original container with a readable label
Visually match with label
No solvent based paints or specialty paints
Physical inspection shows paint is free of :
Biological growth
Hard settling of the pigment
Putrefaction
Corrosion of the container
Skinning

Excessive debris
Livering
Curdling or other evidence of
being frozen
Heavy metals
Paint filtered through a 300-micron or finer
filter
 GS-43 Overview

Product Specific
Performance
Requirements
Meets the applicable MPI
detailed performance standard
Tested for pH, viscosity, fineness
of grind, and gloss
 GS-43 Overview

Product Specific Health

& Environmental
Requirements
Chemical Component Limitations
VOC limits
Aromatic compound limits
Chemical Component Restrictions
25 restricted compounds, including
methylene chloride, benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene, vinyl chloride,
formaldehyde, certain phthalates, and
heavy metals
 GS-43 Overview

Packaging & Labeling

Requirements
Product Packaging
Paint cans and their components are not fabricated with lead
Recyclable product containers used where local recycling
opportunities exist.
Labeling Requirements
Include a brief statement discouraging improper disposal and
encouraging consultation with local authorities for disposal
requirements or recycling opportunities.
Basis of certification must be appear with the Green Seal Mark:
This product meets Green Seals environmental standard for
consolidated recycled-content latex paint based on its use of a
minimum 95% by volume post-consumer material and product
performance
This product meets Green Seals environmental standard for
reprocessed recycled-content latex paint based on its use of a
minimum 50% by volume post-consumer material and product
performance
 GS-43 Overview

End of Life Management

Unused latex and non-latex paint shall
be removed, utilized, disposed of
properly
Leftover paint from remanufacturing
process shall be utilized where there are
existing markets
Metal and plastic paint containers,
pallets, and packaging shall be recycled
where there are existing markets.
 Update on GS-43
Certifications
Currently two manufacturers being
evaluated
One consolidated and one reprocessed
Some issues include:
Meeting MPI requirements (time)
Documentation of criteria
QA/QC or log documents
Obtaining disclosure from raw material
supplier
Need complete MSD Sheets for ingredient and/or
Need to see all proprietary information
Need complete formulations, hazardous and non-
hazardous (virgin and secondary industrial
materials)
 Conclusions
Product stewardship, procurement
aided by certification
Certification must follow substantive
and procedural guidelines
Green Seal is US pioneer in
environmental certification
Recycled paint standard will provide
basis for product stewardship