Best Certifications for Sustainable Building Materials

Declare Label

International Living Future Institute

A transparency label for building products that discloses every ingredient, similar to a nutrition label for materials. Created by the International Living Future Institute and required for Living Building Challenge projects.

UL GREENGUARD Gold certification

UL Solutions

The strictest indoor air quality emissions certification for building materials and furnishings. GREENGUARD Gold meets California Department of Public Health standards and is required by many school and healthcare projects.

UL GREENGUARD certification

UL Solutions

UL's baseline certification for low-emitting building materials and products. GREENGUARD certified products meet strict chemical emissions limits for VOCs, formaldehyde, and other pollutants.

EPD

EDP International AB

Environmental Product Declarations provide standardized, third-party verified data on a product's environmental impact across its lifecycle. Essential for earning LEED and other green building credits.

FloorScore

SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services' indoor air quality certification specifically for hard surface flooring. FloorScore tests for VOC emissions and is the most widely recognized flooring emissions standard in North America.

Health product declaration collaborative

Health product declaration collaborative

An open standard for reporting the chemical contents and health hazards of building products. HPDs complement Declare labels and are increasingly required by health-focused building standards.

C2C Certified Material Health Certificate™

Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Inc

Evaluates the chemical composition of building products to ensure they are safe for human health. A standalone certificate from the Cradle to Cradle framework focused purely on material safety.

Cradle-to-Cradle Certified Gold

Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Inc

The gold standard for circular economy product design. Cradle to Cradle evaluates material health, circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness.

ANSI/NSI 373 Sustainable Stone

Natural Stone Institute

The sustainability standard for natural stone products, covering quarrying, fabrication, and supply chain practices. The only ANSI-accredited standard for stone building materials.

SCS Indoor Air Quality Gold

SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services' certification for buildings and products achieving superior indoor air quality. Verifies low levels of VOCs, formaldehyde, and other pollutants through rigorous testing.