ASTM International has formed Committee E60 on Sustainability. This new standards development initiative resulted from the efforts of the US EPA and industry stakeholders who share goals for global sustainability standards. Committee E60 is taking over ownership of “sustainability” standards that include terminology, environmental assessment, risk management and corrective action. The new committee E60 has already gained over 500 members and three technical subcommittees ( E60.01 – Buildings and Construction, E60.02 – Hospitality, and E60.03 – General Sustainability Standards). ASTM notes that “these standards will play a pre-eminent role in all aspects of sustainability and sustainable development.”
Discussions in E60.01.09 subcommittee have focused on “New Classification for Environmentally Preferred Products”. This will meet a significant market demand for EPP products, in response to Executive Order 13423 which encourages Federal agencies to identify and purchase environmentally preferred products and services. The EPA encourages Federal agencies to use third party non-governmental standards-setting organizations to identify “environmentally preferable products“. With a consistent approach used by ASTM, this standard will help the marketplace compare environmental impacts of products.
In subcommittee E60.01.04 there was discussion on E2129-05, “Standard Practices for Data Collection for Sustainability Assessment of Building Products”. The draft was modified and will be circulated for comment. Another guide, “WK3161 – New Guide for Marketing and Product Claims Related to Sustainable Buildings” was reviewed. The guide is consistent with the FTC Green Guides, but also outlines market expectations for communication of environmental data related to sustainable buildings. And another guide, “WK23356 – New Specification for Product Category Rules for Building Products and Services” was reviewed. That guide would establish basic requirements for environmental declarations associated with building products and systems. It is intended to create a standard for consistent communication of environmental data.
The next ASTM E60 committee meeting will be held in Atlanta, GA on October 20-22, 2009. ISO News
ISO has published an updated edition of its guide to reducing the potential environmental impact of products.Every product has an impact on the environment during all stages of its life cycle, from extraction of resources to end-of-life treatment. The newly published ISOO Guide 64:2008 , Guide for Addressing Environmental Issues in Product Standards, is a practical tool for addressing these issues, and is a contribution to sustainable international trade.
For more information visit www.iso.org.