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

Eligible Products

Products eligible for certification include: vinyl tile, vinyl composition tile, sheet vinyl, rubber, poly-olefin or ethylene, and linoleum flooring products in which the wearing surface is non-textile. Also included are flooring accessories such as wall base, moldings, and stair treads. The Standard is applicable to products manufactured in one facility or multiple facilities, one country or multiple countries.

NSF/ANSI 332 Criteria

Qualification for the SCS Certified Sustainable Choice mark under the NSF/ ANSI 332 standard for resilient flooring involves assessment of conformance with criteria under six specific categories:

• Product Design
• Product Manufacturing
• Long-term Value
• End-of-Life Management
• Corporate Governance
• Innovation

Certification Tiers

Successful applicants achieve one of four levels of certification, depending on the number of points earned:

• Conformant - Basic certification level
• Silver - Second tier of certification
• Gold - Third Tier certification, moving toward best practices
• Platinum - Highest level of performance recognized

1. Apply for Certification

   Complete and submit an SCS Application Form. SCS will scope the project based on information provided in the application and will prepare a proposal for your approval with suggested timeline and quote. Once you approve the proposal, you will sign a Work Order and an account manager will be assigned to guide you through the certification process.

2. Data Collection

   A SCS technical coordinator will help you assemble preliminary data which will be submitted to SCS. SCS will review the product data, corporate documentation, manufacturing process, product formulation, testing, etc., and assess your readiness for an audit. Once sufficient data is collected, an auditor is assigned.

3. On-site Audit

   The auditor will conduct an on-site audit to evaluate your data. The auditor will interact with your technical staff to clarify and obtain any additional information that might prove essential to reaching an accurate supportable evaluation.

4. Draft Assessment Report

   The auditor will write a draft assessment report that details the findings of the audit, which will include data analysis, non-conformities, and opportunities for improvement.

5. Internal peer review

   Another qualified SCS auditor will review the report, making any necessary corrections or changes before the report is sent to the client.

6. Corrective Actions

   You will need to respond to any non-conformities with a corrective action plan. You may also make comments and responses to the information contained in the report and the conclusions drawn by the auditor.

7. Certification Decision

   SCS will conduct a final technical review of the assessment report and make the final certification decision. If certification is granted, SCS will issue the certificate and final report to your facility or operation. Once certified, your company is listed in the Green Products Certificate Database and SCS website.

8. Certification Maintenance and Renewal

   Depending on the certification, SCS requires annual audits to maintain your certification and support continual improvement.

SCS is the leading brand in third-party sustainability certification based on our strong technical expertise and reputable and consistent track record. SCS Certification to the NSF/ANSI 332 Sustainability Standard qualifies you to:

I already have FloorScore® certification. How is NSF/ANSI 332 different?

NSF/ANSI 332 is a multi-attribute standard, while FloorScore is a single-attribute standard. NSF/ANSI 332 is a point-based system based on life cycle assessment approach. Certification to a multi-attribute standard is demonstrating a level of environmental commitment beyond just offering a green product. It proves that you have progressive corporate governance and believe in social equity.

Can I self-certify to the standard?

You can assess your company against the standard for conformance, but you cannot claim to achieve Certification without third-party verification.

How is SCS different from other certification bodies that certify to ANSI/NSF 332?

• SCS has special expertise in multi-attribute certification assessments. We have been certifying against multi-attribute standards for over 20 years. SCS understands that the market is placing increasing demand on you to reach ever higher levels of sustainability. We have the experience, knowledge, and qualified personnel to accurately measure your environmental performance so you can confidently communicate it to the market.
• We approach each project strategically, knowing that no two projects are alike. Our strategic approach means we maximize efficiencies and leverage our proficiencies to ensure that your project is completed on time and on budget.
• SCS provides third-party verification of conformance to environmental standards. That is all we do. We do it better than anyone else because it is our focus and passion.
• SCS walks the talk. We are a certified B Corporation which means that we conduct business for the benefit of people and the environment, with services that promote sustainability and transparency.