Providing third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development.

Program Details

Eligibility

Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) certification is available to producers of manufactured goods, input material manufacturers, and electricity providers.

Certification Criteria

To be certified, your product must perform equal to or better in every category of potential environmental impact than other products serving the same function, with no environmental trade-offs. This performance addresses every stage of the product life cycle from raw material extraction and processing through manufacturing, use, and final disposition.

SCS uses the most advanced life cycle assessment (LCA) protocols, now described in a new draft standard undergoing finalization in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) process, to make its EPP determinations.

Complementary Services

SCS provides a number of additional services that are complementary to EPP certification, including production of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), life cycle assessment studies (LCA), and Whole Building LCAs. In addition, we are happy to bundle your EPP certification with specific environmental claims to respond to your customers' specifications.

Impact Categories

EPP results are reported for those impact categories that are applicable and environmentally relevant for your product. They are drawn from the following complete list. To learn more about each category, download this pdf.

Resource Depletion

• Energy Resource Depletion (Biotic/Abiotic)
• Water Resource Depletion
• Minerals and Metals Resource Depletion (by type)
• Biobased Resource Depletion (by type)

Land Use Ecological Impacts

• Terrestrial Biome Disturbance
• Fresh Water Biome Disturbance
• Riparian/Wetland Biome Disturbance
• Loss of Key Species (by species)

Impacts From GHG/BC Emissions

• Global Climate Change
• Arctic Climate Change
• Ocean Acidification
• Ocean Warming

Regional Environmental Impacts From Emissions

• Regional Acidification
• Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
• Ecotoxicity
• Eutrophication

Human Health Impacts From Emissions

• Ground Level Ozone
• PM 2.5
• Toxic Emissions - Effects from Inhalation (Chronic, Non-Carcinogenic)
• Toxic Emissions - Effects from Inhalation (Carcinogenic)
• Indoor Air Toxic Emissions - Inhalation
• Toxic Emissions - Effects from Ingestion (Chronic, Non-Carcinogenic)
• Toxic Emissions - Effects from Ingestion (Carcinogenic)

Risks From Untreated Hazardous and Radioactive Waste

• Risks from Radioactive Wastes
• Risks from Hazardous Wastes (by type)

Process

1. Apply for Service

   Complete and submit the SCS Application Form. SCS reviews the information provided on your application form, and schedules a scoping call.

2. Scoping Call

   The scoping call is intended to answer any outstanding questions SCS may have about your product.  Together, we define the benchmark or baseline case to be used for comparison, and the scope of the assessment. Data resources are also discussed.

3. Authorize a Proposal and Work Order

   SCS prepares a proposal and work order for your approval spelling out the scope of work, timeline and quote.

4. Data Request Form

   SCS customizes a data request form (DRF) for you, based on the product and scope of work. Once you receive the DRF, fill it out and send it back to SCS. SCS answers any questions you have to help you fill it out correctly.

5. Comparative Life Cycle Assessment

   Once SCS receives the completed DRF, the EPP assessment is conducted.

6. Certification Decision

   SCS makes the final certification decision. If certification is granted, SCS issues the certificate and final report. The product is posted to the SCS Certified Product Directory.

Benefits

Certification to this rigorous EPP standard provides the following potential benefits:

Product Manufacturers

• Achieve third-party certification of your significant environmental achievements
• Satisfy buyer specifications
• Demonstrate leadership position
• Obtain objective, scientific review with valuable feedback
• Identify viable opportunities for further improvement
• Stand up to stakeholder review

Customers (Retailer, Institutional Buyer, Consumer, Government Procurement)

• Gain independent assurance that green claims have been thoroughly scrutinized
• Support your green purchasing objectives

Certified products are entitled to use the SCS Kingfisher certification mark for on-product and off-product applications.