Who’s Behind The Standards?

Green America has always been committed to high levels of transparency and stakeholder engagement in our ongoing standards development. As best practices improve and industries change, we continually invite a collaborative process of mutual reflection, sharing, and learning with our partners and members.

Our partners include...

Academic institutions
Government agencies
Consumer groups
Labor groups
Worker groups
Environmental groups
Industry trade associations
Green Business Network members

 

External Advisors

During our public beta year, we are formalizing the role of external partners in two types of advisory groups to ensure our certification program upholds fair and rigorous standards.

 

Certification Advisory Board

The Certification Advisory Committee advises on the ongoing strategic and technical development of the certification program and online sustainability tool GreenGain.

The Certification Advisory Committee is currently comprised of the following members:

Bianca Alexander, Conscious Planet L3C
Rachelle Carson-Begley, Actress: Living with Ed, On Begley Street
Reed Doyle, Seventh Generation
Heather Franzese, Fair Trade USA
Lauren Frederic, EcoVenture International
Kerry Hughes, IMO Fair for Life
Thor Peterson, Synthesis Consultants
Thomas Rawls, Native Energy and green-e
Kimberlee Robertella, Center for Social Value Creation, U of Maryland Smith School of Business
Harry Stevens, 3BL Media, Justmeans
Denise Tashcereau, Fairware
Jon Widrick, Ascensus Law


Industry Sector Taskforces

The Industry Sector Taskforces provide input on industry-specific standards and best practices. A panel of experts from each sector serves on a taskforce during the duration of an industry sector standards review.

 

Our standards for body care are currently under review. Here are the members of our Body Care Task Force:
Lisa Archer, Breast Cancer Fund/Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
Renee Ponder, Renee Ponder Herbs
Jonelle Salzman, Intelligent Nutrients
Mary Kearns, Herban Lifestyle

 


Standards Development Process

Green America staff members who sit on our Standards Committee are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the certification program. The Standards committee conducts company reviews at the Gold Certification level and guides the ongoing standards revisions process. The Committee reports directly to the Green America Board of Directors.

The Standards Committee begins the standards review process by conducting an internal review of an industry sector. Once the internal review is complete, the Committee collects input from the appropriate Industry Sector Taskforce. The Committee incorporates their revisions and makes a draft available online for public comment.


Public Comment Period

The public comment period for industry standards revisions are open to the public for 30 days. After the public comment period closes, the Standards Committee reviews comments and shares with the Industry Sector Taskforce. Once the review is complete, the Standards Committee prepares a final draft for approval by the Certification Advisory Board.

Green Business Network members, non-members, individuals, and other organizations are encouraged to submit comments collectively.

The following drafts are currently open for comment. Please submit comments using the online comment form that follows the standards.

Public Comment Dates: Until Jan. 31, 2013

Spa Industry

Required Standards: Bronze

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Business is starting on the path of sustainability and implementing sustainable practices in the workplace. They are mapping their impact in company operations. They are removing the worst ingredients from their products.

  • Company social and environmental mission and vision statement on website.
  • Existence of office Green Team to champion green initiatives in company operations. Sustainability work is part of all job descriptions.
  • Sustainability mission and all supporting documents easily available to all staff, whether digital or in paper.
  • Knowledge of environmental and significant labor impacts, feedback mechanisms and disclosure procedures.
  • Clear feedback mechanisms on performance for all staff.
  • Disclosure of process used to modify client/vendor contracts.
  • Design client treatment protocols to incorporate sustainability, including product quality, resource efficiency, and non-toxicity.
  • Treatment products used by staff and available for sale to customers made without synthetic fragrances or musks, dyes, phthalates, or parabens.
  • Policy and employee training that encourages reduction, reuse, and sustainable laundering of linens (including phosphate, petroleum, and synthetic fragrance free detergents, fabric softeners, and whiteners).
  • Provide all spa guests with water or organic tea/beverage that is filtered and chlorine free.
  • Establish community bulletin board.
  • Incorporate company's desire to be a standard bearer for best practices in your industry in company mission statement.
  • Replace equipment on an as-needed basis with more sustainable equipment.
  • Evaluate current pool O&M protocol (i.e. water use, energy use, chemical use).
  • Use sustainable, non-toxic, and/or non-chemical water treatment strategies in pool (i.e. saline instead of chlorine or bromine).
  • Install pool cover systems to reduce night-time water and heat loss.
  • Use sanitizers for equipment that do not contain chlorine or triclosan.

Required Standards: Silver

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Business is deepening commitment to social AND environmental responsibility in core business practices, along supply chain, and in community. They are developing criteria/standards, identifying main areas of concern, and creating action plans. They are focused on producing completely natural/non-toxic products.

  • Minimum environmental and labor criteria for suppliers, vendors and contractors; information part of staff training and readily available.
  • Prioritization of sustainable and socially responsible suppliers, vendors, contractors.
  • Annual goals/action plans for sustainable improvement projects in service chain and company operations.
  • Minimum set of environmental and labor criteria/standards on website.
  • Policies that encourage a nourishing work culture, including job flexibility, work/ life balance and employee healing aspirations.
  • Involvement in local community through hiring, sourcing, and supporting activities using volunteer time, financial resources, use of office space, etc.
  • Offer location dependent living wage to all employees including lowest paid.
  • Treatment products used by staff and available for sale to customers made without ethoxylated compounds, petroleum-based chemicals such as dimethcione, butylene glycol, propylene glycol, petrolatum, paraffin.
  • Methods of laundering using cold water, minimal water quantity, or zero use of detergents, fabric softeners, and whiteners.
  • Protocols, employee training, and regular use of non-toxic cleaning and sanitation products.
  • Recycle all pool water on site.
  • Reduce or remove disposable cups, plates; replace with washable alternatives.
  • Source paper goods with recycled content (toilet paper, paper towels).

Required Standards: Gold

Green America Gold Certified Business

Business is pioneering best practices in their industry and embedding social and environmental responsibility into the DNA of the company. They are reporting, reassessing, continuously improving performance. They are focused on producing the purest product at the highest standards possible, including organic, Fair Trade, and/or local.

  • Shared documents include regularly updated metrics by which successes and in progress work is measured.
  • Annual reassessment of priorities/goals/action plans for sustainability improvement projects in service chain and company operations.
  • Regular focus on improvement of client healing experience in alignment with sustainability mission and connection to nature (i.e. sensory inputs including sound, aromas, visual elements.)
  • Regular employee training and development practices in core work and sustainability.
  • Educational materials offered to clients on environmentally and socially preferable product/service offerings and industry best practices.
  • Involvement in local or national organization supporting community building.
  • Treatment products used by staff and available for sale to customers third party certified as not tested on animals. For non- spa treatment products available for sale, at least half made with ingredients/ materials that are at least 50% local, fair trade, and or certified organic/biodynamic.
  • Install renewable energy water heating systems (i.e. solar, waste heat, geothermal, etc.
  • Purchase of sustainable equipment and materials use in operations, including spa textiles and linens, massage tables, vintage and reclaimed furniture, exercise machines, etc.



Fill out my online form.

You may also submit comments on our standards for the Spa Industry by emailing standards@greenamerica.org.

Questions or suggestions about our standards development process? Contact us at standards@greenamerica.org.
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