The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its LEED
Interpretation Ruling, which sets the standard for recycled content
claims and documentation for LEED projects. The official LEED
Interpretation Ruling deems national averages unacceptable for LEED
documentation and is a step toward total product transparency and
industry integrity.
The ruling addresses the issue of potential "greenwashing" by
some manufacturers. The LEED Interpretation Ruling states: "An
average recycled content claim, especially one that incorporates
multiple product lines or places of manufacture, does not meet the
credit intent and is not acceptable for LEED documentation." The
ruling demands product- and plant-specific recycled content
evaluation and documentation. It also states "recycled content
claims must be specific to the installed product (and therefore
place of manufacture); regional or national claims do not meet
credit requirements."
USGBC's clarification provides a transparent, clear system for
LEED project teams pursuing the recycled content credit. Recycled
content documented on a plant and product basis allows the most
sustainable products to be selected within LEED projects and
fosters continual improvement in...
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