Shaw Laminates Achieve GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification
09.24.2009
Dalton, Georgia –
All Shaw laminate flooring products are now GREENGUARD Children & Schools SM Certified, The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) announced today. As an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to improving public health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air quality, GEI created the GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification Program to recognize companies whose products meet or exceed stringent requirements for low chemical emissions.
To achieve GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification, Shaw laminates were screened for more than 10,000 different VOCs and were verified to meet the required California chronic exposure levels including 13.5 parts per billion formaldehyde. To maintain certification, Shaw’s laminates will be re-tested according to these strict standards on an ongoing basis. Interestingly, of the products that seek GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification, about 60 percent cannot initially meet the rigorous requirements of the program.
"The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute applauds Shaw Industries on its commitment to indoor air quality," said Henning Bloech, GEI’s executive director. "Products like Shaw’s GREENGUARD Certified laminates make it easier for contractors, building owners and consumers to create beautiful interior spaces and healthier indoor environments."
According to David Wilkerson, Shaw’s corporate director of sustainability and product stewardship, "We are pleased to receive this prestigious certification from GREENGUARD. Our belief is that it will help differentiate Shaw laminate products in the marketplace while reinforcing our ongoing commitment to manufacture flooring products that contribute favorably to indoor environmental quality".
To view the company’s 2008 sustainability report, visit www.shawgreenedge.com.
About GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI)
Founded in 2001, GEI is an industry-independent, non-profit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification ProgramSM. GEI’s mission is to protect human health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air. As an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for building materials, furnishings, electronic equipment, indoor environments and buildings. GREENGUARD Certification is recognized and accepted by "green" building programs, including the United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED program. For a free online guide to certified products visit www.greenguard.org.
About Shaw
Shaw Industries Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and a leading floor covering provider with more than $5 billion in annual sales and approximately 26,000 associates. Headquartered in Dalton, Ga., the company manufactures and distributes carpeting, rugs, hardwood, laminate and ceramic tile for residential and commercial applications worldwide. A recognized leader in environmental stewardship, Shaw has implemented hundreds of sustainability initiatives and cradle to cradle design solutions, collectively termed the Shaw Green Edge. For more information, visit www.shawfloors.com.
