scope:

This Standard establishes a consistent approach to the evaluation and determination of environmentally preferable and sustainable wallcovering manufacturing and distribution processes. The Standard includes relevant criteria across the product life cycle from raw material extraction through manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life management.

The scope of the standard includes the following wallcovering manufacturing processes:

- Raw material inputs (fibers, resins, additives, colorants, and process chemicals)

- Fabric or sheet formation, and

- Finishing treatments

- Attachment systems

The scope of the standard also includes the following wallcovering distribution processes:

- Product Distribution

- Recycling Infrastructure support

- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

As used in this Standard, "Wallcovering Manufacturing & Distribution" includes, but is not limited to, textiles, vinyl, vinyl coated, alternative polymer, alternative polymer coated, textiles, paper and other natural fiber products and natural fiber products. The Standard is applicable to products manufactured in one facility or multiple facilities, one country or multiple countries.

Purpose

The overall purpose of this Standard is to facilitate the thorough communication of information that is verifiable, accurate, and credible associated with the production, distribution, and use of wallcovering products. Such communication is expected to encourage the demand for and supply of products that cause less stress on the environment and society, thereby stimulating the potential for market-driven continuous improvement. The standard is voluntary and encourages inclusive participation in the production and distribution of sustainable wallcovering products across and within the supply chain.

This Standard is intended to be science based, provide transparency and offer creditability for manufacturers and distributors in making claims of environmental preferability and sustainability, and to harmonize the principles and procedures used to support such claims.

This Standard provides a practice for assessing the sustainability of wallcovering manufacturing and distribution processes. Sustainability-related information can inform a manufacturer's and distributors decisions about supply chain modifications, product content changes, manufacturing adjustments, performance improvements, end-of-life options, and corporate governance, with the goal of producing more sustainable products.

This Standard addresses environmental performance and sustainability attributes of wallcovering products and distribution, and provides a means to track incremental changes to the products' sustainability profile. This Standard is intended to provide a consistent framework in which to compare and assess the sustainable nature of different products within the context of performing similar functions.

This Standard is intended to be used by product manufacturers interested in understanding the sustainability performance of their products. Distributors also have an opportunity to improve sustainability of products in the marketplace and this standard addresses them as a separate category to support the sustainability direction of the industry.

Independent auditors, certification bodies and environmental labeling organizations are also potential users of this Standard for its use in supporting market based environmental and sustainability claims. This Standard may also be used by purchasers and consumers who wish to ensure that manufacturers are accurately declaring the sustainable nature of their products.