Certifying your products as green and purchasing green products is an excellent way to demonstrate your company’s commitment to sustainability. Below are some of the premier certification agencies and guidelines to follow when aiming for green products and operations.

Certifiers

Biodegradable Products Institute (Find products scientifically certified as compostable)

Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Initiative (Cradle to Cradle certified building, design and personal products)

Ecolabel Index (A database of over 400 environmentally related labels and certifications)

Energy Star Products (A database of Energy Star rated energy efficient products)

EPEAT (A resource for certifying electronics and helping purchasers select greener products)

Forest Stewardship Council (Certification and guidelines for paper products)

Good Guide (A personal guide for selecting safe, environmentally and socially healthy products)

Green-e (Certification based on green energy production and usage)

Green Seal Products & Services (A database for Green Seal certified cleaning and paper products)

Rainforest Alliance (Certifying food, home and office products for their rainforest sustainability)

Recycled Products Cooperative (A coop dedicated to collaborating to purchasing recycled products at competitive prices)

SCS Global Services (Certifying a wide variety of products in a variety of industries)

UL Environment Sustainable Product Database (Search for products certified by UL, GREENGUARD or EcoLogo)

Guidelines

Alameda County Guidelines (Green purchasing facts, guidelines and other related resources)

EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (An overview of EPP guidelines from the EPA)

Green Schools Initiative (A variety of resources for responsible purchasing for schools)

King County Procurement (An extensive list of environmentally preferable purchasing policies and environmental benefits calculators)

NASPO Green Purchasing Guide (An outline for putting together a company’s green purchasing plan)

Responsible Purchasing Network Purchasing Guides (Guidelines for a plethora of buying areas)

Toxic and Pollution Prevention Purchasing Guide (Advisement on making purchases that prevent pollution)

U.S. Communities: Green Government Initiative (Tips and options for purchasing green items)