The LEED® Rating System has long recognized the role that Green Seal certification plays in advancing healthier, more sustainable buildings. Across multiple versions of LEED, projects can earn points by incorporating products certified to Green Seal’s science-based standards into their buildings and operations.
By highlighting and rewarding the use of third party-certified products and services, LEED helps project teams translate sustainability goals into measurable outcomes — supporting better indoor environments, responsible material selection, and long-term operational performance.
That’s why projects that use products certified to our standards for cleaners and degreasers, floor care products, sanitary paper, hand care and hand sanitizers, paints, trash bags, and commercial cleaning services can take advantage of a clear shortcut to earning LEED credits.
Green Seal Standards Recognized by LEED
LEED awards points for projects that use products certified to the following Green Seal standards:
- Sanitary Paper Products (GS-1)
- Paints, Coatings, Stains & Sealers (GS-11)
- Adhesives for Commercial Use (GS-36)
- Cleaning Products for Industrial and Institutional Use (GS-37)
- Floor-Care Products for Industrial and Institutional Use (GS-40)
- Hand Cleaners and Hand Sanitizers for Industrial and Institutional Use (GS-41)
- Specialty Cleaning Products for Household Use (GS-52)
- Specialty Cleaning Products for Industrial and Institutional Use (GS-53)
- Plastic Trash Bags and Can Liners (GS-60)
Eligibility and contribution vary by LEED rating system, credit, and project scope.
These standards address critical sustainability priorities — including safer chemicals, low-impact manufacturing, responsible sourcing, sustainable packaging, and verified performance — making them well aligned with LEED’s health- and materials-focused credits.
Green Seal in LEED v5.0
The newest version of the rating system, LEED v5.0, further strengthens its emphasis on operational sustainability and explicitly specifies Green Seal standards across key product and service categories. LEED v5.0 references Green Seal certification for:
- Cleaners and degreasers
- Floor care products
- Sanitary paper
- Hand care and hand sanitizers
- Paints
- Trash bags
- Commercial cleaning services
How Projects Earn Points Under LEED v5.0
- Using Green Seal-certified products for at least 75% of regularly purchased cleaning products:
- Contributes toward earning the Green Cleaning credit (O&M)
- Using a Green Seal-certified cleaning service:
- Contributes toward earning the Green Cleaning credit (O&M)
- Using Green Seal-certified paints and coatings:
- Contributes toward the Materials & Resources: Building Product Selection & Procurement credit (BD&C and ID&C)
- Supports compliance pathways aligned with the intent of the Low-Emitting Materials credit (BD&C)
Notably, Green Seal is specified in five product and service categories in the Green Cleaning Credit — more than any other third-party standard. When used together, certified cleaning products and a certified cleaning service qualify for 5% of the 40 points required to achieve the minimum LEED certification threshold.
Green Seal in LEED v4.1
Previous versions of LEED also reference Green Seal standards, reinforcing their long-standing role in sustainable building design and operations.
How Projects Earn Points Under LEED v4.1
- Using Green Seal-certified cleaning or floor care products, or hand cleaners or sanitizers earns:
- 1 point in the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit (Building O&M)
- Using Green Seal-certified sanitary paper earns:
- 1 point in the Materials and Resources Credit (O&M: Existing Buildings, Interiors)
- 1 point in the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit (O&M: Existing Buildings, Interiors)
- Using a cleaning service or in-house team certified to Green Seal’s GS-42 standard:
- Fulfills the mandatory Green Cleaning Policy prerequisite (O&M: Existing Buildings, Interiors)
- Using Green Seal-certified paints and coatings earns:
- 1 point in the Materials and Resources Credit (O&M: Existing Buildings, Interiors)
- 3 points in the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit (BD&C and ID&C)
- 2 points in the Materials and Resources Credit (BD&C)
- Using Green Seal-certified adhesives earns
- 1 point in the Materials and Resources Credit (Building O&M)
- 3 points in the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit (BD&C and ID&C)
By choosing Green Seal-certified products and services, building owners and operators can advance healthier indoor environments, strengthen procurement credibility, and make meaningful progress toward LEED certification.
The LEED Rating System is among hundreds of standards and policies that use Green Seal as shorthand for proven-safer products. That’s because sustainability leaders recognize that our science-based standards demand leadership at every stage of the product lifecycle. Together with the manufacturers in our community, we will continue to ensure the Green Seal certification mark helps buyers cut through the chaos to find products that meet truly comprehensive health and sustainability standards — from beginning to end.