Chagrin Falls, Ohio—Tarkett and the Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA) have developed a new product transparency tool to meet the demands by architects, designers and the U.S. Green Building Council for full disclosure of ingredients in the building products industry in North America. The new tool, Environmental and Health Statements (EHS), was introduced during an event with Michael Braungart, founder of the scientific institute EPEA International, in Washington.
An EHS is a third-party reviewed declaration of content and material assessment for building products. The material assessment and review of content is performed by the EPEA. The EHS is designed to thoroughly address ingredient disclosure, possible health and environmental impacts as well as post-use considerations. The EHS discloses, within a rating system, whether or not an ingredient may pose a potential risk to manufacturing workers or users of the product or the environment.
The EHS rating system is based on the precautionary principle and is consistent with the Cradle to Cradle material assessment that is widely accepted in the building and design industry. The tool will be available in North America and more information can be found by contacting the technical services departments of Johnsonite and/or Tandus Centiva. Founded in Hamburg, Germany, the EPEA values are based on intelligent, aesthetic and eco-effective design, and are dedicated to optimizing products within the C2C framework.