Standards in Development
Green Seal does not currently have any upcoming standards in development.
Revisions in progress
As a Type I ecolabel, Green Seal develops and maintains standards within an open and transparent process, aligned with best practices in standard development. Green Seal welcomes comments from stakeholders and members of the public. Instructions for submitting comments are included within the proposal documents, available for download below.
- Paper Products Used for Food Preparation, Food Service Packaging, Recycled Latex Paint – Standards Withdrawal
- Summary: Green Seal is proposing to withdraw our two standards for food packaging and preparation products, and our standard for recycled latex paint. Green Seal reviews our standards on a regular basis to determine interest, feasibility, and impact on the market. The most recent review of these standards has led Green Seal to propose them for withdrawal.
Status: Public comment is open through December 8, 2023.
– Standard Withdrawal Proposal – GS-18, GS-35, GS-43
– GS-18 Standard for Paper Products Used for Food Preparation
– GS-35 Standard for Food Service Packaging
– GS-43 Standard for Recycled Latex Paint
Please contact us to submit a public comment, to schedule a call for more information, or with any questions on the proposed withdrawal. - GS-1 Sanitary Paper Products – Standard Revision
Summary: The market for recycled fiber has undergone dramatic changes in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and impacts of the China Sword policy. Due to these changes, Green Seal is evaluating possible revisions to the sustainability criteria in its GS-1 Standard for Sanitary Paper Products, including the highly stringent recycled fiber requirements, to ensure they align with market needs as well as new sustainability opportunities for the product category. Through this revision, Green Seal will also explore potential certification pathways for sustainably sourced alternative fibers (e.g., bamboo) and will assess whether different leadership criteria are needed for the household market versus the away-from-home market.
Status: Green Seal is currently developing revised criteria with stakeholder and Working Group input. Learn more here. If you are interested in providing feedback or receiving updates on this standard revision, contact us. - PFAS Prohibition, Multi-Standard – Criteria Revision
Summary: PFAS are a large class of chemicals commonly used in consumer products and associated with a number of adverse health and environmental effects. As part of Green Seal’s phased approach to prohibit PFAS in certified products, the following standards are now being revised:
– GS-11 Standard, Paints, Coatings, Stains, and Sealers
– GS-34 Standard, Cleaning and Degreasing Agents
– GS-36 Standard, Adhesives for Commercial Use
– GS-40 Standard, Floor-Care Products for Industrial and Institutional Use
Status: Learn more here. If you are interested in providing feedback or receiving updates on this standard revision, sign up to be a participating stakeholder.
UPCOMING REVISIONS
- Green Seal does not currently have any active upcoming revision projects to existing standards.
RECENTLY COMPLETED REVISIONS AND NEW STANDARDS
2023
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (October 2023) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-11, GS-34, GS-37, GS-40, GS-44, GS-48, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (July 2023) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-1, GS-7, GS-8, GS-11, GS-20, GS-33, GS-34, GS-36, GS-37, GS-40, GS-41, GS-42, GS-44, GS-48, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, GS-53, and GS-60.
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (April 2023) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-8, GS-20, GS-37, GS-41, GS-42, GS-48, GS-52, and GS-53.
- Trash Bags and Can Liners – New Standard (April 2023)
- New standard was issued on April 6
- See all revision documents in the Standards Documents Library
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (January 2023) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-11, GS-41, and GS-52.
2022
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (October 2022) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-11, GS-41, GS-44, and GS-53.
- Healthy Green Schools & Colleges (September 2022)
- New criteria were issued on September 29
- See all revision documents in the Standards Documents Library
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (July 2022) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-37, GS-40, GS-48, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
- PFAS Prohibition in Cleaning and Personal Care Products (June 2022)
- New criteria were issued on June 23
- See all revision documents in the Standards Documents Library
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (April 2022) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-11, GS-20, GS-52, and GS-53.
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (January 2022) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-8, GS-37, GS-48, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
2021
- Standard Withdrawal: Restaurants and Food Services (GS-55) (December 2021)
- Microbial-Based Cleaning Products – Criteria Revision (November 2021)
- New Criteria were issued on November 11
- See all revision documents in the Standards Documents Library
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (October 2021) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-8, GS-37, GS-44, GS-48, GS-50, and GS-52.
- Paints, Coatings, Stains, and Sealers, GS-11, Edition 4.0 (September 2021)
- Standards Withdrawal: Coated Printing Paper (GS-10) (August 2021)
- Sanitary Paper Products, GS-1, Edition 6.4 (August 2021)
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (July 2021) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-8, GS-11, GS-37, GS-41, GS-42, GS-44, GS-48, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
- Environmental Innovation, GS-20, Edition 2.1 (April 2021)
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (April 2021) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-1, GS-8, GS-11, GS-37, GS-41, GS-42, GS-50, and GS-53. Additionally, all standards underwent non-substantiative changes to reference Green Seal’s updated Trademark Use Guidelines.
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (January 2021) Non-substantive changes were made to GS-11, GS-41, GS-42, GS-44, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
2020
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (October 2020) Non-substantive changes were made to GS-8, GS-37, GS-41, GS-42, GS-44, GS-48, and GS-51.
- Hand Sanitizer Criteria Standard Criteria (September 2020)
Please visit our Library of Standards Documents for more information on these and other standard revisions.