Frequently Asked Questions

What is a recycled content product third-party certification program? Its a way to provide expert, reliable, independent, third-party authentication that a product is made with recycled materials or has as much recycled content as it is claimed to have. Its a form of consumer protection.

Why is a program like this needed? According to a recent report, as many as 95 percent of the consumer products that claim to be green either provide no proof, make vague claims, or actually misrepresent themselves. Deceptive green marketing is called greenwashing. Having independent review of a claim is critical to credibility in todays marketplace.

How does the certification process work? GreenCircle Certified, LLC, (GCC) follows a detailed, uniform, independent process. The company seeking certification has to be very specific about its product claim and has to provide detailed back-up documentation. GCC then conducts a detailed evaluation of the product and the manufacturing operation, including manufacturing facility audits. Certification attests to the fact that GCC has evaluated and verified the information provided by the manufacturer and that the manufacturer can and does produce a product in compliance with its claims.

Do you have an example of the importance of certification? Composite wood is a good example. The amount of recycled content in composite wood products varies greatly from brand to brand. Certification as to the percentage of recycled content can help the buyer determine exactly what he or she is getting. Certification is especially important in the construction industry. In an instance like this, GCC would use criteria for recycled content for building products developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to verify and certify recycled content claims. The GreenCircle certification can be used to satisfy credit requirements for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the Leadership in the Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating Systems and by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for the National Green Building Standard Program.

Why is this partnership between the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, Inc. (RMC) and GCC important for Pennsylvania? First, this is the only nonprofit/for-profit partnership of its kind in the country. The RMC works in the public interest but helps many independent Pennsylvania manufacturers increase their use of recycled materials in new products. GCC is a private company. What unites them is a shared commitment to environmentally sound, sustainable business. Second, this is a Pennsylvaniaspecific partnershipits focus is on products made in Pennsylvania by Pennsylvania companies. We think it will grow to be widely recognized, just like the PA Preferred licensing program for Pennsylvania agricultural products. Finally, the relationship is an exclusive onethis is the only recycled content product certification program in which the RMC is partnering. The point of it all is to foster the growth of recycling as a contributor to Pennsylvanias economy.

OK, I understand how this is useful for consumers, but will companies want to take part? Sure. Getting certified is like getting the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. It helps companies build their reputations and distinguish themselves from the competition. It helps them build trust with consumers.

So GCC does the evaluation. How does the RMC contribute to the partnership? The RMC is itself an established name in Pennsylvania recycling, so it adds credibilityit lends the clout of its own brand, so to speak. The RMC will work with GCC exclusively, referring companies to GCC while preparing, coaching, and working with the applicant companies seeking certification, to help them improve their products or get over any hurdles they may face with the GCC product certification process. Either before or after a companys products have been certified, the RMC will be available to assist the company to potentially expand the recycled materials that are used in its products, preferably with Pennsylvania-sourced recycled materials. The RMC supports recycling plants through research and development of new and innovative technologies to minimize market barriers for recycled materials. The RMC works with manufacturers to help them incorporate new types of recycled materials into their products and help them turn out new recycled-content product lines. In this way the RMC will continue to strengthen and broaden its mission of helping to develop and encourage recycling as a growing business and jobs-producing sector in Pennsylvania. The economy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the ultimate beneficiary.

Do companies pay a fee to have their products evaluated and certified? Yes, companies pay the cost of the initial evaluation process and then pay an annual fee for recertification. If a company makes substantial changes to its product or the way it makes the product, it has to undergo the process again to make sure the product is still eligible to be certified.

Does GCC do more than evaluate and certify recycled products? Yes. It evaluates and certifies a broad range of green claims and practicescovering more than 350 products made by 15 companies. In addition to recycling, the areas of certification include:

Carbon Footprint Reduction Closed Loop Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Optimized Rapidly Renewable Resource Content Renewable Energy Use Sustainable Manufacturing Practices