Intertek Increases Validation Support to Brands and Governments Seeking to Verify Green Claims
28 Oct 2009
Chicago, IL--Intertek Group plc (LSE:ITRK), the leading provider of quality and safety services to a wide range of industries, continues to expand its services to help companies verify green product claims. Today it launched the new design for its global Green Leaf Mark for clients wanting to certify product compliance with a range of international regulatory standards.
Recent studies show that consumers continue to support companies and brands that demonstrate social and environmental responsibility and are increasingly looking for certification marks or labels on products to validate environmental credentials. Manufacturers and retail brands are under greater pressure to ensure products meet standards and have accurate test and analysis data to back up their claims.
Recent developments bear out these concerns, with the US Department of Energy Inspector General issuing a report criticizing the current ENERGY STAR® program in the U.S. for weak controls in the way that products are tested. The report alleges that this may result in the program failing to deliver maximum energy savings, thereby misleading consumers into thinking they were purchasing energy efficient appliances and undermining confidence in the ENERGY STAR® program.
“We are starting to see more scrutiny by regulators of ‘green labeling’ and retailers are increasing pressure on suppliers to ensure that product performance claims are based on fact and independently verified,” said Dr. Ruud Overbeek, Vice President of Intertek’s Health and Environmental Services. “Brands and OEMs are seeking external verification that their sourcing and manufacturing processes are environmentally sound and meet internationally recognized standards. They want to protect their brand, not only if their green claims are found to be overstated, but also if their supply chain is found to be compromised.”
Intertek is one of the world’s leading independent certification and testing companies with 24,000 employees and operations in more than 100 countries. Many of the world’s major retailers and manufacturers use Intertek to test, analyze and validate product performance and certify to internationally recognized green standards. Intertek also provides environmental systems compliance and certification audits for major brands and their supply management systems.
Green claims testing can include measuring levels of controlled chemicals and substances of concern against accepted concentration limits, validating recyclable content, energy and water efficiency claims and verifying that products and processes meet regulatory and reporting requirements, carbon footprint and eco-management goals. Intertek also helps companies identify opportunities to lower energy and raw materials usage and reduce waste and pollution, which can introduce cost savings.
Intertek’s Green Leaf Mark can be used by its customers to show that a product conforms to multiple existing environmental regulations, such as RoHS laws, REACH and Eco Design requirements through one mark rather than multiple marks. The Green Leaf Mark can be used on product packaging, in point of purchase displays, product advertising and literature to explain a product’s environmental credentials. The new design replaces Intertek’s existing ROHS marks to accommodate an expanding scope of environmental verification and certification requirements that extend beyond just RoHS. To meet growing market demands in the future, Intertek will extend the scope of the certification scheme to support manufacturer- and retailer-driven green product performance claims through the same single mark and consumer labeling system.
For additional information about Intertek’s green claims services, please contact our experts directly at green@intertek.com or visit www.intertek.com/green
Contacts
For further information, please contact
Tricia Morley
Intertek PR Americas
Telephone: 713-806-7894
E-Mail: tricia.morley@intertek.com
Joel Pekay
Global Marketing and Business Development Director
Health and Environmental
Telephone: 630-481-3126
E-Mail: joel.pekay@intertek.com
Michael Parker
Vice President of Marketing
Commercial & Electrical
Telephone 978-635-8559
E-Mail: mike.parker@intertek.com
About Intertek Health & Environmental Services
Health & Environmental Services offers the complete solution for global, regional, or local compliance, providing sound traceability systems and strict enforcement of due diligence policies. Intertek does more than simply help our clients comply, we give them the competitive advantage they desire. Our Services offer comprehensive solutions for RoHS, Restricted Substances, CPSIA, REACH, California Proposition 65, Carbon Management, and Greenhouse Gas reduction, including on-call consulting, testing and analysis, legal representation, certification, and corporate education appropriate for all types and levels of business. Intertek Health & Environmental Services is a leader in global environmental compliance, consulting, technology services and product stewardship.
About Intertek
Intertek is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 24,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world.
For further information, visit www.intertek.com