GreenScreen Certified® FAQs | GreenScreen Certified®

What is GreenScreen Certified®?

GreenScreen Certified® is an independent, non-profit certification standard that promotes the use of PFAS-free and preferred chemicals in products and manufacturing. Products are certified to Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Bronze certification prohibits the use of chemicals in Restricted Substances List (RSL) – including PFAS - set within each product category. Silver certification prohibits the RSL plus thousands of chemicals listed on globally recognized chemical hazard lists as defined by the GreenScreen List Translator score of LT-1. Gold and Platinum certification levels require the product to also meet GreenScreen Benchmark-2 or Benchmark-3 criteria.

What are GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals and GreenScreen List Translator™?

GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals is a globally recognized chemical hazard assessment method designed to identify chemicals of high concern and safer alternatives and evaluates a chemical against 18 human and environmental health factors. Chemicals are assigned a Benchmark score ranging from Benchmark-1 ‘Avoid Chemical of High Concern’ to Benchmark-4 'Prefer Safer Chemical'. A chemical can also be assigned a Benchmark score of Benchmark-U, ‘Unspecified Due to Insufficient Data’ becasue the chemical has too many data gaps to enable a hazard identification.

GreenScreen List Translator™ is a list-based hazard assessment tool that is fully automated. GreenScreen List Translator™ assigns a chemical a score based on information from over 40 authoritative and screening hazard lists developed by national and state governmental agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and NGOs. List Translator assigns a chemical one of four scores. A score of LT-1 meets the criteria for a GreenSreen Benchmark 1 ‘Avoid Chemical of High Concern’ designation and is not allowed in the Silver level of certification. Over 2,000 known chemicals of high concern meet this designation of LT-1. A GreenScreen Benchmark score is more rigorous than a List Translator (LT) score because a Benchmark score is based on a much more comprehensive review of toxicological data, while a List Translator score is solely based on chemical hazard lists.

What is GreenScreen Certified®; Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum?

Although different product categories will have some specific requirements, all certification levels prohibit the use of PFAS and promote the use of preferred chemistry. GreenScreen Certified offers four generic levels of certification. Bronze level must meet the Restricted Substance List assigned to that product category. Silver includes the additional requirement that all chemical ingredients in the product are screened with GreenScreen List Translator and none have a score of LT-1. This requirement excludes the use of over 2,000 known chemicals of high concern listed on international chemical hazard listings. Gold and Platinum levels require each chemical in the product to be assessed with GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals. Gold level requires all chemicals to be scored Benchmark-2 or higher, and Platinum level requires all chemicals to be scored Benchmark-3 or higher. The method and criteria for ingredient assessments are fully transparent while chemical formulations remain proprietary.

What is the value of GreenScreen Certification?

GreenScreen Certified® creates value for users because it:

Builds on the GreenScreen method.
Is an independent certification
Ensures Standards are robust, highly precautionary and practical using input from technical experts, formulators, and NGOs during each standard development process.
Ensures all products are PFAS-free.
Establishes four levels of certification that specify increasingly more stringent requirements for safer chemicals (based on hazard assessment).
Provides a clear and transparent communication tool on chemical hazards in products and formulations.
Allows transparency around chemical hazard, while protecting proprietary formulations.
Is developed and maintained by Clean Production Action, an independent, mission-driven NGO that creates strategies and solutions for safer chemicals.

GreenScreen Certified® enables brands to clearly specify their preferences and requirements for safer chemicals and enables formulators to visibly promote their avoidance of PFAS, plus thousands of other chemicals of high concern.

How does Clean Production Action promote GreenScreen Certified®?

All formulators and their products are published on our Certified Product Grid registry, which includes the products, manufacturers, and level to which they are certified. Clean Production Action regularly publishes newsletters, press releases, and social media posts promoting GreenScreen Certified®.

In addition, GreenScreen Certified products are listed in ChemForward’s CleanPackage, and ChemWorks, plus the Clean Electronic Production Network’s database.

Who is Clean Production Action?

Clean Production Action (CPA) is an independent, non-governmental organization (NGO) based in the United States. CPA’s mission is to design and deliver strategic solutions for green chemicals, sustainable materials, and environmentally preferable products. Our core programs are: GreenScreen, BizNGO, the Chemical Footprint Project, and the Investor Environmental Health Network.

How do I get certified?

Follow the steps listed here.

How long will it take to get certified?

The estimated time frame is one to four months, depending on certification level, preparatory work done prior to submitting information to a GreenScreen Certified® Reviewer, and availability of Reviewers.

How much will it cost?

Costs will vary depending on:

Certification Level. For example, Bronze and Silver certification will require less time and expense than Gold or Platinum.
Number of chemicals that must be assessed.
Number of products assessed.
Fees charged by GreenScreen Certified® Reviewer.

Is there any analytical testing required for products that carry the GreenScreen Certified® Certification Mark?

Yes, all GreenScreen Certified Standards require analytical testing for PFAS. Additionally, there are many Standard specific analytical tests in most of the GreenScreen Certified standards.

1) PFAS: GreenScreen Certified standards require testing for PFAS via a total fluorine (TF) test. Rather than using traditional test methods, which typically look for < 40 historically used PFAS, testing for total fluorine indicates the presence of any fluorinated chemical and broadly covers PFAS as a class, which includes about 12,000 chemicals. Testing for total fluorine identifies whether there is PFAS present in the final product. The threshold of total fluorine allowed in the product varies by standard. Please visit the specific GreenScreen Certified Standard and navigate to the Analytical Testing – Total Fluorine section.

Analytical testing methods and techniques for PFAS have been rapidly evolving over the past five years to meet the growing market and regulatory demands for PFAS testing. All our certification standards are revised regularly to keep up with changes in the science and in the marketplace, including requirements around PFAS testing.

2) Standard specific analytical tests are determined based on research on hazards and exposure routes that are of particular concern for a given product category. Standards may require chemical composition testing, chemical migration testing, and/or product level toxicity testing. For example, for firefighting foam there is a requirement for product-level aquatic toxicity testing, as these products are often dispersed directly into waterways. Please reference the Analytical Testing section of each standard for more information on analytical testing required, or email your questions to moreinfo@cleanproduction.org .

Is there an on-site audit requirement?

No. To ensure all inventory and threshold requirements are met, a third-party GreenScreen Certified Reviewer or Clean Production Action may need to work directly with an Applicant's suppliers to obtain proprietary data, however. See the standard for a full list of requirements.

How long do certifications last?

Certificates are valid for a maximum of five years to align with a version of the Standard, and once expired, products must be resubmitted for review for certification to continue. The Standards are updated on a five year cycle to ensure they set best practices for “safer” as hazard data, the regulatory landscape, and safer technology continues evolve.

In the lifetime of a certification – products must undergo Annual Renewal to ensure that products do not change from the original formulation that was certified. This ensures that all certified products, and all materials, continue to meet GreenScreen Certified criteria.

Why GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Textile Chemicals?

Catalyzed by Greenpeace’s “Detox Campaign” in 2013, the apparel industry is now a leading sector in redesigning manufacturing processes to be safer for people and the planet. Levi Strauss & Co., H&M, and the industry collaboration known as Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) are among the leaders in defining pathways to identifying and selecting inherently safer chemicals for use in the apparel sector. By reducing the hazards of chemicals in manufacturing, the industry reduces the risks of chemicals to workers, communities, and to a brand’s bottom line.

Clean Production Action launched version 1 of the GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Textile Chemicals in 2017 to enable formulators to communicate actions they are taking to reduce the use of chemicals of high concern, meet the ZDHC requirements for safer chemicals in manufacturing and give brands a clear platform to communicate their requirements for preferred chemistry in textile formulations. In addition to meeting the ZDHC MRSL conformance the GreenScreen Certified Standard for Textiles also includes the entire class of PFAS chemicals in the restricted substances list.

What are the benefits of GreenScreen Certified® for firefighting foam?

The Standard is the first independent certification for firefighting foam products that are PFAS-free and promotes preferred chemistry in products used to fight both Class A and Class B fires. The Standard certifies that products are PFAS-free because PFAS are highly persistent and associated with cancer, immunotoxicity, and other health effects, with firefighters at most exposure risk. While Class A foam products typically do not intentionally contain PFAS, they may contain other toxic ingredients or ingredients that lack full chemical hazard information, which is why the Standard applies to both Class A and Class B firefighting foam products. The Standard uses a combination of GreenScreen scores, Restricted Substances List prohibitions, and analytical testing for total organic fluorine and aquatic toxicity to assure products have undergone scrutiny to be PFAS-free, free of thousands of other chemicals of high concern and protective of firefighters and waterways. View the list of certified foams that have also been externally approved for efficacy. In April 2021, the certification levels in version 2.1 were changed to bring uniformity within the suite of GreenScreen Certified™ Standards.

Does the firefighting foam standard include performance specifications?

Our list of GreenScreen Certified® firefighting products include additional information from manufacturers about performance-related certifications. Although we endeavor to maintain up to date performance information for these foams, please contact the certified foam manufacturers directly for information on their product’s performance and approved specifications.

Does the 1 ppm test for total organic fluorine apply to the concentrate or to the diluted product?

The test applies to the product as sold - in other words the concentrate.

Do I have to use a specific analytical laboratory for total organic fluorine testing to get my product certified?

Yes. We require testing using total organic fluorine by combustion ion chromatography. Since test methods for total organic fluorine have not been validated across multiple laboratories, we require all samples for GreenScreen Certified to be sent to ALS, a global commercial laboratory in Australia. This allows us to compare results consistently to our requirements without the concern of variability due to different laboratory procedures. We provide all applicants with instructions for how to submit samples for testing to ensure the required test method and limit of detection is used.

Why do you use a limit of detection of 1 part per million (ppm) total organic fluorine?

We selected the analytical test method, Combustion Ion Chromatography, and threshold in consultation with experts from around the globe. We have not identified a method for testing total organic fluorine in firefighting foam that provides a lower detection limit to allow us to lower our threshold. The limit we selected is sufficient to eliminate products that intentionally contain PFAS as well as products with some level of PFAS contamination, for example, when PFAS-free products are manufactured on the same equipment as PFAS-containing products. Contamination is a potential concern, as most global manufacturers of firefighting foam continue to produce and sell both PFAS-free and PFAS-containing firefighting foams.

There are some analytical testing methods that can be used to detect individual chemicals at a lower detection limit. However, these test methods only test for a small fraction of the nearly 15,000 PFAS chemicals that have been identified. Since we are banning the use of all PFAS in certified products, we use a total organic fluorine measurement which is sensitive to any and all PFAS. This method ensures the sum of all PFAS present in the end product is below the threshold of 1 ppm.

What products are covered by the Furniture & Fabrics Standard?

The GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Furniture & Fabrics is for evaluating commercial and residential furnishings including, but not limited to, desk systems, seating, accessories, case work, mattresses, fabric upholstery, window treatments and wall coverings.

What is the value of GreenScreen Certified® for Furniture & Fabrics?

The Standard promotes PFAS-free and preferred chemistry in furniture and fabrics.

It:

is third party certified
builds on the GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals suite of tools
meets increasing demand for fluorine-free internal and commercial furniture and fabrics
comprehensively focuses on the material health of products
restricts classes of chemicals of concern including all PFAS, phthalates, bisphenol, flame retardants, and antimicrobials along with California Proposition 65 chemicals and other hazardous chemicals
aligns with the LEED credit requirements for material ingredient reporting and optimization
enables suppliers to utilize the Health Product Declaration® (HPD) Open Standard to report chemical ingredients
meets the environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) specifications of one of the largest non-profit healthcare organizations in the U.S. – Kaiser Permanente.

What products are covered under the GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Cleaners & Degreasers?

The GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Cleaners & Degreasers in Manufacturing is for the evaluation of cleaners and degreasers used as manufacturing process chemicals, including direct use chemicals to clean components, casings, and materials or to clean manufacturing machines during operation and maintenance. While a primary focus for this standard is electronics manufacturing, cleaners and degreasers used in other industrial applications are also in scope.

Cleaning products used in the Electronics Manufacturing, include but are not limited to:

Removing solder and flux residuals from PCB’s, components
Cleaning up the contaminated inside surfaces of reflow ovens
Cleaning the flux residual on stencil, carrier, and frames
Adhesive dispensing needles cleaning
Screen wiping
Optical lens cleaning
Packaging printer cleaning
De-bonding solutions for re-work or recycle
Degreasing tooling and machine parts
Coating layer stripping

How is the GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Cleaners & Degreasers protective of worker health?

How is the standard protective of worker health?

Industrial cleaners can contain a range of hazardous chemicals. The standard is protective of worker health by requiring manufacturers to:

disclose all intentionally added chemicals in the product
disclose impurities and residuals present above 100 ppm in the product
prohibit over 2,000 known chemicals of high concern, and other problematic chemicals and chemical classes listed in the Restricted Substances List
ensure skin and eye irritation requirements are met, and
require analytic testing for substances of particular concern

What is the value of GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Cleaners & Degreasers in Manufacturing?

Certified products are achievable, protective of worker health and will help transform the global electronics and other manufacturing sectors to safer chemicals use. Cleaners account for a large percentage of chemicals used in manufacturing and are often the most common chemicals for direct contact with workers. Clean Production Action developed the new certification with experts in the field including Apple, a leader in safer chemistry adoption. For years, Apple has used GreenScreen®for Safer Chemicals to assess and promote safer chemicals in their supply chain and 100% of their final assembly sites now utilize only approved safer cleaners. Because this standard can be applied to all cleaners and degreasers, industry leaders in other industrial sectors can now promote safer chemicals use through GreenScreen Certified products.

What products are covered in the GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Standard for Single-Use Food Service Ware & Thermal Paper?

The standard applies to single-use products used for serving or transporting food or beverages including, but not limited to, plates, cups, bowls, trays, utensils, plastic straws, cup lids, hinged or lidded containers, and disposable gloves. This standard also applies to thermal paper used in cashier receipts as many of the manufacturers are shared between these product categories. Prepackaged items, food or beverages filled and sealed in containers before the grocery store or restaurant receives them, are out of scope of this standard.

Aligning with other principles of sustainability and circularity, for products to be certified, they must either be recyclable or compostable. Reusable containers and cutlery that are non-toxic and sustainably sourced are preferable to single use service ware, however, there is still a need to address the chemical safety of single use foodservice ware.

The standard also applies to thermal paper used in cashier receipts.

What has changed in v.1.1 of the GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Furniture & Fabrics?

The Standard now requires analytical testing to ensure certified materials are PFAS-free. PFAS-free is defined as zero intentionally added PFAS to the product and PFAS contamination in the product must be less than 0.01 percent by weight of the product (100 parts per million) total organic fluorine measured by total fluorine by combustion ion chromatography or combustion followed by ion selective electrode.

Is analytical testing required to verify absence of PFAS?

Yes, for products that are designed to impart stain, water or grease resistance e.g., durable water repellants. For products made on assets only used for PFAS-free production, one sample from three different lots or batches must be tested for total organic fluorine using total fluorine by combustion ion chromatography and have results of < 20 ppm total organic fluorine.

Does use of ingredient(s) listed on the USEPA Safer Chemical Ingredient List streamline the certification process?

Yes, the Safer Chemical Ingredient List will soon be implemented across all standards. For the Gold level of certification, the requirement to have the ingredients assessed using GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals is waived for all chemicals listed on the USEPA Safer Chemical Ingredient List (SCIL).

How does the GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Textile Chemicals evaluate polymers and mixtures?

For the Silver level of certification, the polymer and each additive (present at any level), and each monomer, catalyst, or residual or impurity present in the homogeneous material at or above 100 ppm must be assessed using GreenScreen List Translator.

For the Gold level of certification, in addition to the Silver assessment requirements, the polymer and each additive (present at any level) must be assessed using GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals v1.4 but the chemical of high concern analysis step is waived.

For the Platinum level of certification, in addition to the Silver assessment requirements, the polymer and each additive (present at any level) must be assessed using GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals v1.4.

Until otherwise specified, mixtures are evaluated based on individual constituents.

What has changed in v2.2 of the GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Firefighting Foam?

The v2.2 update includes more comprehensive requirements for manufacturing practices and total organic fluorine analytical testing to verify lack of PFAS contamination.

What has changed in v1.2 of the GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Furniture & Fabrics?

The v1.2 update allows flame retardants in privacy curtains and drapery, provided the flame retardants have GreenScreen assessments of Benchmark-3 or higher. This allowance is temporary, and will only be available until alternatives to use of flame retardants in privacy curtains and drapery that meet fire safety requirements become more widely available in the marketplace.

What products are covered in the GreenScreen Certified® Standard for Reusable Food Packaging, Food Service Ware, & Cookware?

The GreenScreen Certified Standard for Reusable Food Packaging, Food Service Ware, & Cookware (hereafter referred to as the “GreenScreen Certified Standard for Reusables”) applies to the following:

Food Packaging are products used to protect food and increase shelf life.

Food Service Ware are containers, bowls, plates, trays, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, takeout containers, and other items including food service ware accessories used to contain and consume food, foodstuffs, and beverages. Food Storage is included in this scope because it is used to store food, foodstuff, and beverages and is intended to contact food for more than two hours at room temperature or below (for higher temperature applications, see Cookware).

Food Service Ware Accessories include straws, stirrers, cup sleeves, utensils (including chopsticks), cocktail sticks/picks, toothpicks, napkins, and other similar accessory or accompanying food service ware used as part of food or beverage service or packaging.

Cookware are durable items that are used to prepare, dispense, or store food, foodstuffs, or beverages at greater than room temperature. Some examples include baking molds, baking sheets, bowls, grills, pans, pots, skillets, trays, and cooking utensils.

Why was cookware included in the standard?

The requirements of the standard for reusable food service ware products are relevant to cookware products. Cookware are made from the same material types as food service ware and come into contact with food. In addition, non-stick coatings on cookware are a primary use for PFAS and the standard is intended to identify products that are PFAS-free and use preferred chemistry.

What is meant by ‘reusable’?

Reusable is a product that meets the GreenScreen Certified Reusability Criteria which requires the product to be durable and suitable for repeated use over an extended period of time. Products made of polymeric materials and products made with a polymeric coating or finish, regardless of the base material type, must be tested to show they maintain their shape, structure, and function after 780 cycles in a cleaning and sanitizing process as defined in specific California Health and Safety Codes. See Section 10.1 of the Standard for details of the codes and testing. Regulatory precedent was used– see the Standard for more details.

Products made of only ceramic, porcelain, glass, or non-foil metal and not coated with any polymeric coating or finish do not need to be tested to demonstrate reusability.

Why are certain types of plastics prohibited in the Standard?

The following material restrictions were added to the “Other Chemicals of Concern” group in the Restricted Substances List (RSL):

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
Polyvinylidene dichloride (PVDC),
Polystyrene, Polycarbonate,
Melamine, Acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene (ABS), Styrene
butadiene rubber (SBR),
Polysulfones PSU, and
Polyethersulfones (PES).

These restrictions were included to prevent problematic plastic materials from becoming certified in a leading standard for reusable food service ware. These materials contain problematic monomers and additives and are otherwise not preferable materials from a life cycle perspective.

Polymers not included on this list must meet stringent criteria for full chemical ingredient disclosure, comply with the Restricted Substances List and undergo analytical migration testing. This applies to recycled plastics as well.

What types of analytical testing do products have to undergo to be certified?

In order to be certified, companies must prove that their products do not expose customers to harmful chemicals. This is achieved both through evaluating the materials and manufacturing of the product and by conducting analytical testing.

Products must undergo migration testing, which measures if any chemicals of concern come out of the material and into food during normal use conditions. This is done by putting a food simulant such as oil onto the product, and measuring how much of a harmful chemical can be detected in the oil after a specified incubation period and temperature. Because reusable food service ware is used over and over again, it is vital to know if harmful chemicals are leaching out of the material and into food.

Additionally, plastic and polymeric materials must undergo content testing, where the material is tested to see if it contains any chemicals of concern, as well as reusability testing, which simulates if the product will break down over normal use. Please see the GreenScreen Certified Standard, Section 9, for more information on analytical testing.

Is analytical testing required to verify absence of PFAS in Furniture & Fabrics?

Yes, analytical testing for PFAS is required for all fabrics, including those used as part of a furniture final product. This is due to the widespread use of per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in fabrics to impart stain, water or grease resistance, or other properties.

A Total Fluorine test by Combustion Ion Chromatography (or Combustion followed by Ion Selective Electrode) is required on three samples of fabric from three different production runs or lots. This is to ensure the fabric consistently meets the threshold. Testing shall verify that Total Fluorine is < 100 ppm (0.01% by mass) in the fabric. For fabrics that are manufactured on equipment shared with PFAS containing materials, there are additional testing and monitoring requirements.

Full requirements can be found in the Furniture & Fabric Standard Section 6.2.

Can you pre-screen my product to let me know if it will pass Certification criteria?

Yes. Since the criteria for certification are freely available to the public, you are able to prescreen your products yourself to get a better sense of whether it will pass at your desired certification level.

We suggest familiarizing yourself with the certification criteria that is available in each specific GreenScreen Certified standard. First, determine whether you can provide CPA the level of information required for the Chemical Inventory. Next, familiarize yourself with the restricted substances list, and see if your product contains any chemicals on the Restricted Substances List which would prevent the product from meeting the certification requirements. If you are seeking the Silver level of certification or higher, we recommend you use Pharos or ToxNot to look up List Translator scores and public Benchmark scores for chemicals in your product, to see whether there are any LT-1 or Benchmark-1s that would result in the product failing to meet the certification requirements. Finally, if you have existing analytical testing data, check whether your product meets the requirements specified in the standard e.g., specific migration testing limits.

How was the RSL developed for the Reusables Standard and how were chemicals selected for inclusion?

The Restricted Substances List (RSL) was developed in conjunction with experts and peer reviewers, including the Center for Environmental Health and the Food Packaging Forum, to prioritize chemicals with known toxicity to humans or the environment that are widely used in reusable food packaging, food service ware, and cookware. The criteria for inclusion on the RSL takes into account the chemical’s hazard, as well as existence of safer alternatives that the industry needs to move towards.

Both individual chemicals as well as chemical classes are included on the RSL. Restricting chemical classes is a protective and efficient approach to avoid chemical hazards, particularly for chemicals with limited data. Members of a class share structural similarities that often translate to similarities in their inherent hazard. Targeting classes of chemicals for removal can help prevent regrettable substitutions when one chemical is replaced by a structurally similar chemical that will end up having similar hazardous effects.

Why don’t certain materials need to be tested for reusability?

The inherent physical properties, including heat tolerance and durability in normal use conditions, of glass, ceramics and metals mean that products solely made of these materials don’t need to be tested for reusability via repeated wash cycle testing.

All products that contain polymers and polymeric coatings must be tested for reusability as these materials are subject to degradation through elements of heat, repeated use, abrasion, or cooling. The major concern for these materials is physical breakdown.

For all materials, there is a concern of chemicals leaching from the material into foodstuffs – which is covered in the migration testing requirements rather than reusability testing.

Can materials used to make food packaging, food service ware, or cookware be certified?

Yes, materials used to make food packaging, food service ware, and/or cookware can be certified. These are within the scope of the Standard. For further questions about the scope, or whether your product can be certified, please contact certification@cleanproduction.org.

Are there really hazardous chemicals in common materials like glass, ceramics, and metals?

Yes, even glass, ceramics and metals contain hazardous chemicals, especially heavy metals which are not removed during the high heat processing of these materials. It is for this reason that GreenScreen Certified requires migration testing for all materials, including glass, ceramics and metals. Migration testing conditions act as a proxy for real life use of the product – such as cooking, storing food, or baking. Migration testing results tell us whether a product is likely to leach heavy metals into food during normal use.

How can I address my concerns about a GreenScreen Certified result?

Please see the GreenScreen Certified Complaints & Appeals Procedure.