New, Expanded Criteria Verifies Reduced Environmental Impact
KENNESAW, Ga.--(Business Wire)--
INVISTA S.à r.l., global manufacturer of polymers and fibers including
STAINMASTER® and ANTRON® carpet fibers, is the first company to obtain
Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) certification for its carpet fibers
under a new, expanded standard by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a
recognized third-party expert in environmental certification. Environmentally
Preferable Products are defined by U.S. Executive Order 13101 (replaced by EO
13423) as products that have a lesser or reduced effect on the environment when
compared to competitive products that serve the same purpose.
"EPP certification is important to INVISTA and to our customers because it is
third-party affirmation that our STAINMASTER® and ANTRON®
carpet fibers can have a reduced environmental impact," Bobby Berrier,
global sustainability director for INVISTA`s Performance Surfaces & Materials
business. "It also supports our recent Life Cycle Analysis data that shows that
these products can have a reduced environmental impact versus competitive
offerings due to their manufacturing processes and longer first life."
The new EPP certification, performed under the new standard SCS-002, is a
complex evaluation using advanced LCA metrics and product performance data that
quantifies the human health and environmental impacts associated with a product,
across the product life cycle. To achieve EPP certification status, products
must demonstrate reduced impact compared to a reference baseline, reflective of
the typical products in the industry sector. Core impact categories for the
carpet fiber certification standard include Non-renewable Energy Depletion,
Greenhouse Gas Loading, Oceanic and Regional Acidification, Ground Level Ozone
Exposure and Particulate Matter Exposure. Previous EPP certifications used
attribute-based environmental criteria but not quantifiable impact metrics.
According to SCS, the new certification provides green building professionals
with both the breadth and depth needed to assess the environmental impacts of
products. ANTRON® carpet fibers have been certified by SCS as an EPP multiple
times since 2002. This is the first time STAINMASTER® carpet fibers have been
submitted for certification.
"INVISTA was awarded EPP certification after SCS`s scientific review took into
account the full `cradle to grave` consequences of the raw material and energy
inputs, manufacture, use, product performance, and disposal of the STAINMASTER®
and ANTRON® carpet fibers," SCS president Stanley Rhodes, Ph.D., described. "EPP
certification means that STAINMASTER® and ANTRON® carpet fibers were found to
have reduced environmental impacts, when compared against the carpet fiber
baseline."
The SCS evaluation used two baselines for certifying INVISTA`s residential and
commercial carpet fibers, reflective of the fiber mix in their respective
markets. STAINMASTER® carpet fibers were compared to a composite baseline of
polyester, nylon 6 and other nylon 6,6 fibers, while the ANTRON® carpet fibers
were compared to a composite baseline of nylon 6 and other nylon 6,6 fibers. The
baselines were determined from INVISTA-provided performance data, as well as
from various publicly-available databases which reflect work conducted in nylon
and other fiber manufacturing life cycles.
Berrier concluded, "We are proud of the progress we have announced in the past
few weeks, and we will continue to pursue initiatives toward our goal in four
key areas: Enduring Materials, Sustainable Performance, Responsible
Manufacturing, and Corporate Citizenship."
INVISTA is one of the world`s largest integrated producers of polymers and
fibers, primarily for nylon, spandex and polyester applications. With a business
presence in over 20 countries, INVISTA`s global businesses deliver exceptional
value for their customers through technology innovations, market insights and a
powerful portfolio of global trademarks including ADI-PURE®, ANTRON®, AVORA®,
C12, COMFOREL®, COOLMAX®, CORDURA®, CORFREE®, DACRON®, DBE®, DYTEK®, FRESHFX,
LYCRA®, PERFORMA, POLARGUARD®, POLYSHIELD®, POLYCLEAR®, SOLARMAX®, STAINMASTER®,
SUPPLEX®, SUPRIVA®, TACTEL®, TACTESSE®, TERATE®, TERATHANE® and THERMOLITE®. For
more information, visit www.INVISTA.com.
INVISTA
Linda R. Morin, 302-683-3151
Linda.R.Morin@INVISTA.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
