{"id":60,"date":"2021-11-08T18:08:05","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T18:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/185.160.66.110\/about\/faqs\/"},"modified":"2024-09-18T17:46:45","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T17:46:45","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/greenseal.org\/staging\/about\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \"Green <\/div>\n
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FAQs<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n
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\n \n About Green Seal <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n Green Seal-Certified Products and Services <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n Certification Process <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n Green Seal Standards <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n
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About Green Seal<\/h2>\n \n
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\n What is Green Seal? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal\u00ae is a global nonprofit organization and leading ecolabel. For more than 30 years, Green Seal\u2019s rigorous standards for health, sustainability and product performance have driven permanent shifts in the marketplace, empowering better purchasing decisions and rewarding industry innovators. Green Seal\u2019s flagship certification program and our other initiatives are designed to. accelerate the market adoption of safer and more sustainable products and practices for cleaning and facility care.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n What is Green Seal’s mission? <\/div>\n
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Our mission is to protect human health and the environment by accelerating the adoption of products that are safer and more sustainable. Our vision is to make safer, more sustainable products the norm.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n What is Green Seal Certification? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal certification is a process that ensures that a product or service meets the rigorous performance, health, and environmental criteria in Green Seal\u2019s environmental leadership standards. Green Seal\u2019s scientists and experts comprehensively validate that a product or services meets our science-based standards before awarding certification. Green Seal certification validates a company\u2019s sustainability leadership and helps purchasers and consumers make healthier, greener choices with confidence.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Why is Green Seal Certification Trustworthy? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal\u2019s standards are developed based on science through an open, transparent process that prioritizes public and stakeholder input. Our reputation for rigor and credibility makes Green Seal one of the most trusted ecolabels worldwide. More than 100 federal, state and local purchasing policies specify Green Seal, and more than 33,000 products meet our meet our standards for uncompromising performance, safety and health.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n How is Green Seal funded? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal is a non-profit 50(c)(3) organization. We are funded from sources including grants, contracts, certification fees and special projects.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Where can I find Green Seal’s nonprofit tax form? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal\u2019s most recent Form 990 is available\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Does Green Seal certify companies? <\/div>\n
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We do not certify entire companies. We certify individual products, services and spaces made or provided by companies.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Where are your offices located? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal\u2019s headquarters office is located in Washington, DC.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Does Green Seal apply internationally? <\/div>\n
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Yes. Companies from all over the world have earned Green Seal certification for their products, and many U.S-based companies sell their Green Seal-certified products internationally.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Where does Green Seal get its authority to set standards and certify products and services? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal operates under the international guidelines for environmental labeling programs, ISO 14020 and 14024, set by the International Organization for Standardization. Green Seal follows the US Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) requirements for third-party certification. Green Seal is also a founding member of the\u00a0Global Ecolabeling Network (GEN)<\/a>, and undergoes peer review via the\u00a0GENICES<\/a>\u00a0process. Green Seal standards have been recognized and used by the US Federal Government, many State governments and other civic and environmental entities.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n How can I get in contact with someone at Green Seal? <\/div>\n
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You may contact Green Seal by\u00a0email<\/a>\u00a0or by phone at 202-872-6400. You can also find contact information on our\u00a0Contact Us<\/a>\u00a0page.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n

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Green Seal-Certified Products and Services<\/h2>\n \n
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\n Where can I find a list of Green Seal-certified products and services? <\/div>\n
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All Green Seal-certified products and services can be found on our\u00a0Certified Product and Services<\/a>\u00a0directory page.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n What types of products and services do you certify? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal certifies a wide variety of cleaning and facility care products and services \u2014 from cleaning products, sanitary paper, and paints to cleaning services and hotel and lodging properties. You can view the full list on our\u00a0Certified Product and Services<\/a>\u00a0directory page.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Are there any certified sanitizers or disinfectants? <\/div>\n
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Yes! Search the\u00a0Certified Products and Services<\/a>\u00a0listings using the terms \u201csanitizer\u201d or \u201cdisinfectant.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Where can I purchase Green Seal-certified products? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal-certified products for household or consumer use can be found on manufacturer websites and in a variety of retail stores such as\u00a0Home Depot<\/a>,\u00a0Whole Foods<\/a>,\u00a0Lowe\u2019s<\/a>,\u00a0Office Depot<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Staples<\/a>. Many are also available on\u00a0Amazon.com<\/a>, where they are marked with Amazon\u2019s Climate Pledge Friendly badge.<\/p>\n

Green Seal-certified products that are manufactured for commercial use rather than consumer use can be purchased from distributors, online retailers including Amazon, or directly from the manufacturer. You can view additional information about a specific product by searching on the\u00a0Certified Products and Services<\/a>\u00a0directory page and clicking on the product name.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n What happens to currently certified products when the standard changes? <\/div>\n
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When Green Seal issues a new edition of an existing standard, manufacturers have one year to demonstrate their certified products comply with the new criteria, unless Green Seal publicly communicates a different compliance timeline on the standard webpage. Once Green Seal\u2019s certification reviewers have confirmed a product meets the new criteria, the product\u2019s listing in the Green Seal Certified Directory is updated to reference the new standard edition.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n

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Certification Process<\/h2>\n \n
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\n How do I apply for certification? <\/div>\n
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Visit our\u00a0Certification<\/a>\u00a0page to fill out a Certification Interest Form.\u00a0 Our Customer Success team will contact you within 2-3 business days. You can also contact us\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n What are the fees associated with certification? <\/div>\n
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A number of factors affect the certification fee, including the types and number of products or services on the application. Our Customer Success team is happy to provide you an estimate. Contact the team\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0or visit our\u00a0Certification<\/a>\u00a0page to submit a certification interest form.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n How long does the certification process take? <\/div>\n
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The certification review process for a full product generally takes between 2-3 months, once you submit all of the required documentation. Factors that help reduce the overall time include being prepared and familiar with the standard, providing complete information early in the process, and using the client portal and information templates.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n What documentation do I need to submit for my product? <\/div>\n
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The certification review process for a full product generally takes between 2-3 months, once you submit all of the required documentation. Factors that help reduce the overall time include being prepared and familiar with the standard, providing complete information early in the process, and using the client portal and information templates.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n What if a standard does not exist for my product\/service? <\/div>\n
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If you do not see a standard that fits your product or service, please\u00a0contact us<\/a>. We will be happy to discuss your needs.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Can we apply for certification for a product that is not yet being manufactured? <\/div>\n
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You can apply and work through part of the evaluation process, but some required information can be gathered only once the product is being manufactured\/produced.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Do we have to meet all of the requirements in the standard or just a percentage, to be certified? <\/div>\n
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All of the requirements of the standard must be met. Green Seal standards are pass\/fail. Your Certification Reviewer will work with you collaboratively until all of the requirements are met for certification.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Can we apply for certification for a product that is not yet being manufactured? <\/div>\n
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You can apply and work through part of the evaluation process, but some required information can be gathered only once the product is being manufactured\/produced.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n What happens after I submit the Certification Interest Form? <\/div>\n
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A Green Seal Customer Success member will contact you within 2-3 business days.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n How does Green Seal handle confidential information? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal takes confidentiality very seriously, and confidentiality protocols and agreements are an important piece of the certification process. Confidential information is never shared without the explicit agreement of the original party. We have been trusted with handling the confidential information of hundreds of companies, large and small, since our start in 1989.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n How long does certification last? <\/div>\n
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Green Seal conducts periodic monitoring to ensure certified products continue to meet our high standards. Your product will remain certified as long as you remain in compliance with the latest version of our standards. Learn more about compliance monitoring\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n How do I appeal a Green Seal certification decision? <\/div>\n
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Applicants who believe they were inappropriately denied certification may appeal these certification decisions by following the\u00a0Certification Appeals Process<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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