Bostik Green Mission

Glossary of Terms
AQS: Air Quality Sciences, an Atlanta-based, independent laboratory is the only lab certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute for conducting Green Label and Green Label Plus testing. It employs the most up-to-date, dynamic, environmental chamber technology available on the market today.

CARB: The California Air Resources Board. This Consumer Products Program targets a reduction in the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted from the use of consumer products in homes and institutions. "Consumer product" means a chemically formulated product used by household and institutional consumers, including, but not limited to, detergents; cleaning compounds; polishes; floor finishes; cosmetics; personal care products; home, lawn, and garden products; disinfectants; sanitizers; aerosol paints; and automotive specialty products; but does not include other paint products, furniture coatings, or architectural coatings. The VOC standards set forth by CARB are also recognized by other organizations such as the Ozone Transport Commission.

CRI: The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) is the national trade association representing the carpet and rug industry. Headquartered in Dalton, GA, the Institute’s membership consists of manufacturers representing over 90% of all carpet produced in the United States, and suppliers of raw materials and services to the industry. The CRI manages its Green Label and Green Label Plus third party certification programs for low-VOC emissions. It is regarded as the leading independent agency establishing national standards for the floor covering industry.

CRI Green Label: The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has developed and administered the "Green Label" IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) testing and labeling program, first for carpet and then for adhesives and cushion materials. These unique testing programs identify low-emitting products by requiring that representative product samples meet scientifically established standards. Products that meet the CRI Green Label standard are eligible to display the Green Label logo on their packaging.

CRI Green Label Plus: The CRI Green Label Plus testing program assures customers that approved carpet products meet stringent requirements for low chemical emissions. Green Label Plus was designed for architects, facility administrators and others who want greater assurance of good indoor air quality. Every carpet receiving Green Label Plus certification has been tested for emission levels for all chemicals as required by California Section 01350, plus six additional chemicals, utilizing a 14 - day test. Subsequent annual tests will target emissions of 13 chemicals, and quarterly tests will measure for the total level of volatile organic compounds (TVOC). The emissions standards are based on stringent criteria outlined in Section 01350. Green Label Plus expands on Section 01350 in several respects, including annual testing for the specific chemicals, a chain of custody process, and an annual audit of the testing laboratory.

Earthcraft: The EarthCraft House Program is a regional green building program (Atlanta) that serves as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. EarthCraft House is a partnership between the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, Southface, and government and industry partners.

GBI: The mission of the Green Building Initiative is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches for residential and commercial construction. Utilizing its Green Globes rating system, the GBI serves as a leading industry authority in North America.

Green Globes: The commercial Green Building guideline developed by the Green Building Institute, or GBI. The Green Globes system is a revolutionary green management tool that includes an assessment protocol, rating system and guide for integrating environmentally friendly design into commercial buildings. Once complete, it also facilitates recognition of the project through third-party verification. It's an interactive, flexible and affordable approach to environmental design.

IAQ: IAQ is an acronym for indoor air quality. EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasion more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. Unlike outdoor air, indoor air is recycled again and again. This causes it to trap and build up pollutants. Common pollutants include dust, mold and spores, pollen, pet dander and smoke.

LEED: The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary, consensus-based, national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. It represents the U.S. Green Building Council's effort to provide a national standard for what constitutes a green building. Through its use as a design guideline and third-party certification tool, it aims to improve occupant well being, environmental performance and economic returns of buildings using established and innovative practices, standards and technologies.

LEED-H: Leed-H is the residential equivalent (H represents Home) of the LEED-NC commercial Green Building program of the USGBC. The LEED for Homes program is being developed by the USGBC with input from local and national stakeholder groups. It is a voluntary initiative promoting the transformation of the mainstream home building industry towards more sustainable practices. It will provide a much-needed tool for homebuilders, homeowners, and local governments for building environmentally sound, healthy, and resource-efficient places to live.

LEED – NC: LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (LEED-NC) is a green building rating system that was designed to guide and distinguish high-performance commercial and institutional projects, with a focus on office buildings. Practitioners have also applied the system to K-12 schools, multi-unit residential buildings, manufacturing plants, laboratories and many other building types.

NAHB: NAHB is a trade association that helps promote the policies that make housing a national priority. Since 1942, NAHB has been serving its members, the housing industry, and the public at large. NAHB exists to represent the building industry by serving its members and affiliated state and local builders associations. To achieve an overall mission of member satisfaction, NAHB concentrates on the following goals:

Balanced national legislative, regulatory, and judicial public policy.
Public appreciation for the importance of housing and those who provide it.
The premier resource for industry information, education, research, and technical expertise.
Improved business performance of its members and affiliates.
Effective management of staff, financial, and physical resources to satisfy the association's needs.

OTC: The Ozone Transport Commission is a consortium of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states formed from the Clean Air Act. The OTC is determined to reduce the ground level ozone (smog) formed through reaction of VOC's and Nitrous Oxide. The OTC has developed a comprehensive program to meet the requirements of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard, known as the NOx Budget Program. The OTC has adopted the VOC guidelines established by CARB.

SCAQMD: The South Coast Air Quality Management District establishes some of the most stringent VOC guidelines in the U.S. The SCAQMD is the air pollution control agency for all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. This area of 10,743 square miles is home to over 16 million people – about half the population of the whole state of California. It is the second most populated urban area in the United States and one of the smoggiest.

Different types and levels of air pollution can cause or contribute to everything from watery eyes and fatigue to respiratory disease, lung damage, cancer, birth defects and premature death. Because this area's smog problem is so severe, SCAQMD often finds itself at the forefront of the nation's emission reduction efforts.

SCAQMD is responsible for controlling emissions primarily from stationary sources of air pollution. These can include anything from large power plants and refineries to the corner gas station.

Solvent: Solvents are currently an integral component in many adhesive and sealant formulations, affecting such properties as viscosity and wettability. Many solvents are identified chemically as VOCs. Bostik continuously strives to offer materials with little to no solvent levels, without sacrificing performance characteristics. This translates into higher solids content, enhancing the value of our products over the competition.

USGBC: The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Its 6,000 member organization works together to develop a variety of programs and services, and forge strategic alliances with key industry and research organizations and federal, state and local government agencies. The collective power of the USGBC and its members is leading the transformation of the building industry and market to sustainability. The USGBC establishes its guidelines and standards in the LEED Green Building Rating System.

VOC: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a classification of chemicals that are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a wide variety of carbon-based chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects and/or significant environmental implications such as contribution to ground level smog. VOCs are emitted by a myriad of consumer and commercial products.

VOC Exempt Solvents: These are chemicals which do not contribute to ground-level ozone or promote smog, and are thus not necessarily targeted by the EPA or other environmental entities. However, many of these chemicals do have associated health risks for humans. In other words, safe for environment does not necessarily equate to being safe for human beings. Many competitive products incorporate these VOC exempt solvents into their products in order to meet VOC regulations, without considering their effect on the applicator. Exploiting a loophole is not Bostik's approach to meeting VOC Regulations!