scope:

As used in this standard, "resilient floor coverings" include, but are not limited to, vinyl tile, luxury vinyl tile, rigid core tile, solid vinyl tile, vinyl composition tile, heterogeneous and homogeneous sheet vinyl, rubber flooring, polymeric flooring, linoleum flooring, and cork flooring. Also included are flooring accessories such as wall base, moldings, and stair treads.

Purpose

The overall purpose of this standard is a thorough communication of information that is verifiable, accurate and not misleading about the Environmental Impacts, Health and Wellness Impacts, and Social Impacts associated with the production and use of resilient floor coverings. Such communication is expected to encourage the demand for and supply of products that cause less stress on the environment, health, and society, thereby stimulating the potential for market-driven continual improvement. This standard is intended to be science-based, provide transparency, and offer credibility for product manufacturers in making claims of environmental transparency and sustainability, and to harmonize the principles and procedures used to support such claims.

This standard provides a means for assessing the sustainability of resilient floor coverings. Sustainability-related information can inform a product manufacturer's decisions about supply chain modifications, product content changes, manufacturing process changes, performance improvements, end-of-life options, and corporate governance, with the goal of manufacturing more sustainable resilient flooring products.

This standard addresses environmental performance and sustainability attributes (including health and wellness and social aspects) of products. This standard provides specific sustainability, health and wellness, and social impact requirements which must be met in order to certify to the standard.

The standard is intended to be used primarily by resilient flooring product manufacturers interested in understanding the sustainability performance of their products. 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 resilient flooring product manufacturers are accurately declaring the sustainable nature of their products.