Joint Committee Issue Paper
NSF Standard(s) Impacted: NSF/ANSI 140 - 2012
Background:
Provide a brief background statement indicating the cause and nature of concern, the impacts identified
relevant to public health, public understanding, etc, and any other reason why the issue should be
considered by the Committee. Reference as appropriate any specific section(s) of the standard(s) that are
related to the issue.
Life cycle impact assessment provides a science-based approach to evaluating reductions in
environmental impacts and is the only tool that can evaluate carpet across all relevant
environmental indicators. Currently, manufacturers can receive points for conducting a life cycle
assessment under three criteria: (1) demonstrating a reduction of toxic chemicals and media
pollutants per unit of carpet produced from 1986-1999, (2) demonstrating a reduction in at least
six environmental life cycle impact categories (i.e. global warming, stratospheric ozone
depletion, acidification, eutrophication, photochemical smog, human health, fossil fuel depletion,
criteria air pollutants, ecological toxicity, and solid and hazardous waste) relative to a baseline
no older than 2000, and (3) completing a life cycle assessment. Given the current point system
structure, the standard allows for double-counting of points and relies on an outdated carpet
industry baseline for purposes of evaluating the performance of specific products. Specifically,
manufacturers are awarded points for conducting a life cycle assessment even if it shows the
products they produce have high environmental impacts relative to the industry baseline.
Further, the NSF 140 standard has been in use for more than six years and there is sufficient
information available to establish an updated carpet industry baseline and improve the
standard’s use of life cycle assessment to increase the sustainability of carpet.
Recommendation:
Clearly state what action is needed: e.g., recommended changes to the standard(s) including the current
text of the relevant section(s) indicating deletions by use of strike-out and additions by highlighting or
underlining; e.g., reference of the issue to a Task Group for detailed consideration; etc.
All points for life cycle assessment should be consolidated and awarded based upon evaluation
of product-specific results relative to an updated industry baseline. The number of points
awarded for reductions in life cycle impacts should be doubled in order to incentivize
manufacturers to evaluate the cross-media impacts of the carpet they produce. For the Platinum
level, the standard should require that the life cycle assessment demonstrate the carpet has
reduced its environmental impact across at least six environmental life cycle impact categories
(i.e. global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, photochemical
smog, human health, fossil fuel depletion, criteria air pollutants, ecological toxicity, and solid and
hazardous waste) relative to the current carpet industry baseline.
Supplementary Materials (photographs, diagrams, reports, etc.):
If not provided electronically, the submitter will be responsible to have sufficient copies to distribute to
committee members.
I hereby grant NSF International the non-exclusive, royalty free rights, including non-exclusive,
royalty free rights in copyright; in this item and I understand that I acquire no rights in any
publication of NSF International in which this item in this or another similar or analogous form is
used.
2014-2
Item No._______
(For NSF International internal use)
03/2013
Joint Committee Issue Paper
Signature*: Fareed Ferhut
and Dan Burgoyne
Company: CalRecycle and Department of General Services
Telephone Number: 916-341-6482
E-mail:[email protected]
Submission Date:
Please submit to: JC Secretariat’s Name and email address
*Type written name will suffice as signature
2014-2
Item No._______
(For NSF International internal use)
03/2013