SCS Announces New Indonesian Subsidiary
SCS has announced the establishment of a new subsidiary to be headquartered in Jakarta in response to growing demand for certification and verification services from the Indonesian forest products industry. The subsidiary, PT Scientific Certification Systems Indonesia (PT-SCS) now offers Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Management and Chain of Custody Certification in Indonesia.
"Having a full-time presence in Indonesia will allow us to serve clients quickly and effectively," said Dr. Robert Hrubes, Senior Vice President of SCS. "We are excited to expand into a market in which the added transparency of certification will have a large positive impact on a critical resource."
See the level™ team in action at NeoCon 2010
Members of SCS’ level certification team are attending NeoCon 2010 and posting video and twitter updates of the latest in level-certified furniture at TheRaceisOn.info.
SCS has certified more than 470 furniture products to BIFMA’s level™ standard, making it the leader in furniture sustainability certification. Ten of the furniture industry’s leading manufacturers — Allsteel, Gunlocke, The HON Company, izzy+, Kimball Office, Knoll Inc., National Office Furniture, OFS, Paoli and Steelcase Inc — have earned certification through SCS.
Visit TheRaceisOn.info and sign up to receive email updates about the latest companies to get certified and to find out how you can earn level™, your badge of honor in furniture sustainability.
Reduce Pesticide Health Risks with Certified Pesticide Residue Free Foods
Certified Pesticide Residue Free fruits and vegetables available at grocery stores nationwide offer a clear choice to parents who are concerned about studies linking organophosphate pesticides to illnesses in children.
A recent study, published in the journal Pediatrics on May 17, 2010 provides new evidence linking organophosphate residues with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Previous studies have linked this class of chemicals to neurological disorders in children, including autism, behavioral problems, and impacts on short-term memory, motor skills and reaction times. More negative effects of pesticide ingestion are being revealed – pesticide residues are also being linked to neurological disorders like autism and cancer.
Pesticide Residue Free Certification is the most stringent guarantee against pesticide residues in the marketplace today. Scientific Certification Systems has tested and confirmed that all products carrying the Certified Pesticide Residue Free label are residue free down to a detection level of 0.01 parts-per-million, using government limit-of-detection testing protocols.
You can find Certified Pesticide Residue Free foods at national and regional supermarket chains. Certified Pesticide Residue Free produce available now include: Apples, blueberries, cucumbers, grapes, mushrooms, onions, squash, tomato, watermelon and more.
Retailers and growers: find out how you can get your products Certified Pesticide Residue Free.
Knoll awarded level™ 3 Certification
Scientific Certification Systems has certified Knoll’s Dividends Horizon® office furniture system to level™ 3–the highest tier attainable in the BIFMA level™ certification for furniture sustainability. The Dividends Horizon system was designed to promote open, shared workstations and is the industry’s first office systems product to receive level™ 3.
During the level certification process, SCS auditors examined the product and the organization and facilities that produced it. Knoll and its product were scored according to sustainability criteria in four areas: Materials, Energy and Atmosphere, Human and Ecosystem Health, and Social Responsibility. “Knoll is taking leadership steps toward sustainability,” said Stowe Hartridge-Beam, level™ program manager at Scientific Certification Systems. “Knoll’s level™ 3 certification reflects their achievements in waste and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, human and ecosystem health, and social responsibility.”
The Dividends Horizon certification was only the second level™ 3 certificate ever issued, joining the Think® chair from Steelcase on this elite list.
Find out how you can achieve level certification.
Read more about Knoll’s level™ certification.
Support flower workers, communities, and the environment with VeriFlora®
Floral companies have become a key part of many local economies–for example, in Kenya flower production has become the second largest source of foreign exchange, behind tea and ahead of coffee. Consumers have the ability to tip the scales towards a remarkably better lifestyle for workers in these flower growing communities. Choosing VeriFlora certified flowers sends a direct message to the market that there is value in supporting fair labor practices on farms.
The VeriFlora certification process sends auditors to conduct on-site inspections, document audits and in-depth interviews to ensure superior social and environmental practices. When on-site, our auditors look at pest management techniques to promote integrated pest management and reduce dependence on pesticides. VeriFlora also requires that employers work towards paying a wage that is higher than the industry standard with the intention that wages then stay within the community.
Find out where you can get VeriFlora certified flowers.
Find out how your floral business can become VeriFlora certified.
SCS Certifies 500,000 Acres of Indiana Forests
Scientific Certification Systems has issued Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest management and chain of custody certifications for the State of Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The certificate covers 528,332 acres of Indiana forests–almost 10,000 acres of which are considered high conservation value forests–and 7,800 landowners. The FSC certification signifies the entry of Indiana foresters into the growing green economy.
“This certificate provides assurance for the people of Indiana that the state’s forest resources are managed responsibly and will be protected for future Hoosiers,” said John Seifert, Indiana State Forester. “And because each 1,000 acres of timberland in Indiana directly supports 12 forest-based manufacturing jobs, certification ensures those jobs will enhance the green economy for years to come.”
SCS has also issued Indiana DNR the first state-administered group chain of custody certificate (SCS-COC-002041). This certificate covers 39 small sawmills and logging businesses which process the harvested wood from certified forests. Timber harvesting is primarily accomplished by small, independent logging companies employing fewer than 20 people. The FSC label provides a market-driven boost to these small business owners and their employees as they supply wood for green products and green building.
Find out more about FSC certification.
Read our press release about the Indiana DNR Certification.
The Symbol of Fair Labor:
Fair Labor Practices & Community Benefits Certification
Our Fair Labor Practices & Community Benefits Certification ensures socially responsible practices that directly benefit workers, their families and communities in all types of agricultural production and processing. This unique certification ensures socially responsible practices at every step of the supply chain, from the farm all the way to the consumer.
Certification ensures:
- Equitable hiring and employment practices
- Safe working conditions
- Access to health, education and transportation services
- Support of local and regional communities
- Appreciation of cultural and environmental impacts
Learn more about the Fair Labor Practices & Community Benefits Certification and how it can complement organic and other environmental certifications.
3000 Forest Stewardship Council
Chain of Custody Certificates Issued
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) recently issued its 3000th Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certificate.
This milestone demonstrates that FSC certification is becoming more widely adopted and that SCS continues to be the top certifier in the US. SCS is proud to support businesses working to improve their environmental bottom line. One of the original certification bodies accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council, SCS has certified more than 30 million acres of natural forests and plantations and more than 3,000 wood and paper products companies to the FSC standards since 1996.
FSC Chain of Custody Certification requires annual audits on each member of the wood supply chain, from the forest to the shelf, including paper companies and printers. FSC requires that certificate holders be audited to determine that they have access to FSC-certified source material. Companies must also have tracking systems in place to ensure that certified products are accounted for through their inventory and production systems.
This quality assurance means that consumers who seek out the FSC label can trust that their purchases directly support responsible forest management. In addition to conserving forest land, using FSC-certified wood enables builders to earn LEED Materials & Resources (MR) Credit 7 for their projects.
About Forest Management Certification
About FSC Chain of Custody Certification
Greenbuild 2009: How BIFMA’s level™ standard is setting the benchmark for sustainability
In a presentation for architects, designers and furniture manufacturers, Stowe Hartridge-Beam joins representatives from BIFMA, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association, to introduce the BIFMA e3 standard and show what level™-certified manufacturers have accomplished in the program’s first year.
See how your purchase of level-certified furniture is making a real difference toward greater environmental stewardship. Learn how those products earn points in the categories of material efficiency, social responsibility, human and ecosystem health which can also be applied to LEED projects.
Visit booth #557 at the Greenbuild international Conference and Expo on Wednesday and Thursday, November 11 and 12, at 11:00 am for this talk. Attendance is free with tradeshow pass.
Greenbuild 2009: Science and Greenwash in Indoor Air Quality Certification
Certified cubicles, certified tile, certified paint, even a certified baby's nursery …we're all trying to reduce our intake of harmful airborne toxins. How does SCS determine whether products are certifiable under its leading SCS Indoor Advantage indoor air quality program?
Stowe Hartridge-Beam presents Indoor Air Quality Science in a presentation for architects, designers and product manufacturers, on Wednesday and Thursday, November 11 and 12, at 2:00 pm.
In less than ten minutes, he will walk you through the indoor air quality certification process: from standards and modeling to why SCS will certify your linoleum floor but not your child's crib (yet). Q& A to follow.
Visit booth #557 at the Greenbuild international Conference and Expo for this and other ecolabeling talks. Attendance is free with tradeshow pass.
Greenbuild 2009: Why FSC is so important to USGBC’s creditability
There’s an intense debate surrounding LEED’s recognition of certified wood. The current system only recognizes wood from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forests. Should LEED expand its certified wood “MR 7” credit to include wood from forests certified under other schemes?
The fact is that LEED’s MR7 credit, in its current form, conserves forests.
In a presentation for architects, product and interior designers and wood products manufacturers, Dr. Robert J. Hrubes will compare FSC and SFI as applied on the ground in a state forest system.
Visit booth #557 at the Greenbuild international Conference and Expo on Wednesday and Thursday, November 11 and 12, at 3:00pm for Dr. Hrubes’ presentation. Attendance is free with tradeshow pass.
Arctic Climate Action Registry
Stopping the Arctic Meltdown
Scientists have confirmed that the Arctic is in crisis. At the current rate of warming, Arctic summers will be ice-free within five to ten years, for the first time in 65 million years, causing enormous disruption to local communities and wildlife. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A melting Arctic will have dire consequences for the entire planet. That’s why urgent action is needed now. The Arctic Climate Action Registry is the world’s first registry dedicated to stimulating projects that can put today’s technology and know-how to work to protect the Arctic.
New Draft American (ANSI) GHG Accounting Standard
It is being built around rigorous climate and lifecycle assessment metrics that take into account the latest scientific research and discoveries about the key Arctic greenhouse gases and aerosols. Get involved in this unique initiative to identify and support creative solutions for the Arctic that will stop this melting, and slow down global climate change Download the GHG Accounting Standard.Arctic Climate Summit: May 2010
No matter how successful the Copenhagen Summit may be, its timetable for action will not be adequate to address the immediate needs of the Arctic crisis. SCS is calling for an Arctic Summit in May of 2010 to approve projects and actions within the context of the Arctic Climate Action Registry, designed to reduce the current Arctic Regional Mean Temperature of +2.5°C by -1.0°C by no later than 2015. In addition, summit participants will consider a request for an ISO-14000 work item to standardize Arctic GHG accounting protocols. Find out what you can do to help us prepare for the Arctic Climate Summit.Climate Claims. Climate Gains. SCS Ensures the Facts.
The SCS Greenhouse Gas Verification Program provides third-party verification for forestry and land use projects that seek to provide climate benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our independent verification services ensure emissions reductions claims are credible, transparent and tradable in international carbon markets.
SCS is accredited to ISO 14065 for GHG Validation and Verification by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and, under this accreditation, offers Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate Action Reserve (CAR) offset verification services. SCS also offers offset verification services under the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) standards.
SCS has verified climate offset projects on three continents and we continue to expand our reach. SCS also verifies carbon footprints and recently verified The Nature Conservancy of California’s emissions under the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR). Learn more about the SCS Greenhouse Gas Verification Program and discover how we can put our 25 years of experience to work ensuring the validity of your organization’s climate work.
Green Branding for Retailers
Leading national brands from Starbucks to Safeway to The Home Depot are introducing green labels and green practices backed by the scientific certainty only SCS can provide.
Demonstrate your business’s commitment to value, quality and true environmental leadership. Let us help you implement labeling and resourcing programs that truly make a difference for our planet and its people. SCS provides both turnkey and customized solutions to improve your brand’s green standing in each of the following categories:
CARB ATCM Certification & Directory
Fabricating, importing, distributing or selling a product in California that utilizes composite wood products? If so, your business must comply with Phase 1 of the Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM 93120) to control formaldehyde emissions.
SCS — the first California-based, CARB-approved third-party certifier — can not only help your business meet this regulatory obligation, our scientifically rigorous and independently conducted certification services can deliver your business a true marketing advantage.
With just one visit to your facility, SCS’ highly skilled team of inspectors and auditors can help your business deliver improved environmental performance and health benefits by certifying to additional standards in the areas of indoor air quality, recycled content and FSC chain-of-custody. Meeting one or more of these additional benchmarks can help your business earn LEED® green building and CHPS credits.
Learn more about calCOMPliant and find out how to put our 25 years of experience to work delivering scientific certainty for your business.
