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Joel Ann Todd
Independent Consultant
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
Encourage any and all members of the project team to promote and further social equity by integrating strategies that address identified social and community issues, needs and disparities among those affected by the project by:
- Promoting fair trade, respect for human rights, and other equity practices among disadvantaged communities
- Creating more equitable, healthier environments for those affected by manufacturing of the materials created for the project.
Requirements
This credit addresses social equity for those involved in the production of materials and products used in the project, including the stages of raw materials extraction, processing, manufacturing, and assembly of final components and products. Projects must use permanently installed products1 from at least 10 different manufacturers that meet one of the following options.2
Option 1 – Supplier Assessment
Establish and distribute supplier assessments or scorecards, which may include self-assessments, and document return of completed assessments from Tier 1 suppliers (or suppliers further up the supply chain) comprising 75% of each manufacturer’s total direct material spend for a consecutive 12-month period within the previous 2 years. Qualifying assessments must be from the manufacturer’s Tier 1 suppliers directly responsible for extraction of raw materials or the processing / manufacturing / sub-assembly of materials and products in the manufacturers’ supply chains. Brokers, distributors, inventory management providers, etc. to the manufacturer are not counted towards the credit, however, assessments may be passed through them to qualifying suppliers. The assessment must address at minimum the following social responsibility elements:3- No child / forced / bonded labor
- Health and safety procedures and training
- Right of freedom of association
- Non-discrimination
- Discipline / harassment and grievance procedures
- Fair working hours and compensation
- Anti-corruption and bribery
Option 2: Code of Conduct
Document completion and acceptance of a Supplier Code of Conduct, based on criteria from an internationally recognized social responsibility guideline or standard, by Tier 1 suppliers comprising at least 50% of each manufacturer’s total direct material spend1 for a consecutive 12-month period within the previous 2 years. Qualifying Tier 1 suppliers are those that are directly responsible for the extraction of raw materials or the processing / manufacturing / sub-assembly of materials and products in the manufacturers’ supply chains. Brokers, distributors, inventory management providers, etc. to the manufacturer are not counted towards the credit, however, assessments may be passed through them to qualifying suppliers. This Code of Conduct must address the total supply chain and the Tier 1 suppliers must require those in their supply chains to comply with this Code. The Code of Conduct must include at minimum the following social responsibility elements:4- No child / forced / bonded labor
- Health and safety procedures and training
- Right of freedom of association
- Non-discrimination
- Discipline / harassment and grievance procedures
- Fair working hours and compensation
- Anti-corruption and bribery
Option 3 – USGBC-approved equivalent / project-submitted Alternative Compliance Path (see below)
Submittals
General
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Documentation / Submittals
The following are required to document achievement of this credit.Option 1 (Supplier Assessment)
- For each manufacturer, a spreadsheet that lists:
- All Tier 1 suppliers
- Spending for each supplier (or percentage of total)
- Indication of whether or not supplier has submitted signed Assessment
- Total spending (for calculating 75% of total)
- 5 signed assessment documents that address criteria listed in the credit (additional assessments may be requested) AND
- Manufacturer’s signed assessment document
- For each manufacturer, documentation of certification under ANSI/BIFMA e3-2014e Furniture Sustainability Standard, including achievement of Section 8.7.2.1 plus submittal of a manufacturer policy on freedom of association. OR
- Other program approved by USGBC
Option 2 (Supplier Code of Conduct)
The following are required to document achievement of this credit- For each manufacturer, a spreadsheet that lists:
- All Tier 1 suppliers
- Spending for each supplier (or percentage of total)
- Indication of whether or not supplier has submitted signed Code of Conduct
- Total spending (for calculating 50% of total)
- 5 signed Code of Conduct documents that address criteria listed in the credit (additional Code of Conduct documents may be requested) AND
- Manufacturer’s signed Code of Conduct
- For each manufacturer, documentation of certification under ANSI/BIFMA e3-2014e Furniture Sustainability Standard, including achievement of Section 8.7.2.2 plus submittal of a manufacturer policy on freedom of association. OR
- Other program approved by USGBC
Option 3 (Alternative Compliance Path)
The following are required to document achievement of this credit USGBC welcomes the idea of alternative strategies to those discussed in the credit language for this pilot credit; as a means to learn more about other possibilities towards meeting the goals, and in order to potentially incorporate good ideas into future pilot credits and/or standard LEED credits. For an alternate strategy to be considered, the following information must be included in the submission:- Intent of the proposed strategy
- How does it meet the intent and goals of this pilot credit? How does it address the social responsibility elements listed above?
- What metric(s) are used to measure success? How is the level of effort or rigor equivalent to the existing options?
- Provide supporting documentation demonstrating equivalence to the Code of Conduct or Supplier Assessment, including all specified human rights issues.
Survey Questions for Project Teams:
- What aspects of the credit were easiest? Most difficult? Impossible? What revisions would you recommend to address these shortcomings?
- Where is your project located? Did location make a difference in compliance with the credit requirements?
- Did location of suppliers make a difference in compliance with manufacturers’ requests for self-assessments or Codes of Conduct? Were manufacturers successful in obtaining these documents from suppliers in social equity “hot spots”?
- Were manufacturers already collecting any of this information? If so, for internal purposes or for other reporting (include other certifications, compliance with laws or regulations, etc.)?
- In addition to BIFMA standard with inclusion of freedom of association, are there other comparable standards that USGBC should consider as alternative compliance paths?
- If projects chose not to attempt this credit, was it because it was deemed to be too difficult or because it did not reflect their project’s goals or some other reason?
1 This credit is consistent with definitions in the MR section. “Permanently installed building products” are defined as products and materials that create the building or are attached to it. If furniture is included in MR credit calculations, it may be included in this credit. Some specific products that are part of MEP systems but are “passive” (meaning not part of the active portions of the system) may be included in credit calculations. This allows flexibility for the optional assessment of piping, pipe insulation, ducts, duct insulation, conduit, plumbing fixtures, faucets, showerheads, and lamp housings. Special equipment, such as elevators, escalators, process equipment, and fire suppression, systems, is excluded from the credit calculations. Also excluded are products purchased for temporary use on the project, like formwork for concrete.
2 Development of this credit was informed by ANSI/BIFMA e3-2014e Furniture Sustainability Standard.
3 See definitions appended to the credit.
4 See definitions appended to the credit.
Changes log
- 1/30/2018 ACP guidance added for Option 3
What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
Encourage any and all members of the project team to promote and further social equity by integrating strategies that address identified social and community issues, needs and disparities among those affected by the project by:
- Promoting fair trade, respect for human rights, and other equity practices among disadvantaged communities
- Creating more equitable, healthier environments for those affected by manufacturing of the materials created for the project.
Requirements
This credit addresses social equity for those involved in the production of materials and products used in the project, including the stages of raw materials extraction, processing, manufacturing, and assembly of final components and products. Projects must use permanently installed products1 from at least 10 different manufacturers that meet one of the following options.2
Option 1 – Supplier Assessment
Establish and distribute supplier assessments or scorecards, which may include self-assessments, and document return of completed assessments from Tier 1 suppliers (or suppliers further up the supply chain) comprising 75% of each manufacturer’s total direct material spend for a consecutive 12-month period within the previous 2 years. Qualifying assessments must be from the manufacturer’s Tier 1 suppliers directly responsible for extraction of raw materials or the processing / manufacturing / sub-assembly of materials and products in the manufacturers’ supply chains. Brokers, distributors, inventory management providers, etc. to the manufacturer are not counted towards the credit, however, assessments may be passed through them to qualifying suppliers. The assessment must address at minimum the following social responsibility elements:3- No child / forced / bonded labor
- Health and safety procedures and training
- Right of freedom of association
- Non-discrimination
- Discipline / harassment and grievance procedures
- Fair working hours and compensation
- Anti-corruption and bribery
Option 2: Code of Conduct
Document completion and acceptance of a Supplier Code of Conduct, based on criteria from an internationally recognized social responsibility guideline or standard, by Tier 1 suppliers comprising at least 50% of each manufacturer’s total direct material spend1 for a consecutive 12-month period within the previous 2 years. Qualifying Tier 1 suppliers are those that are directly responsible for the extraction of raw materials or the processing / manufacturing / sub-assembly of materials and products in the manufacturers’ supply chains. Brokers, distributors, inventory management providers, etc. to the manufacturer are not counted towards the credit, however, assessments may be passed through them to qualifying suppliers. This Code of Conduct must address the total supply chain and the Tier 1 suppliers must require those in their supply chains to comply with this Code. The Code of Conduct must include at minimum the following social responsibility elements:4- No child / forced / bonded labor
- Health and safety procedures and training
- Right of freedom of association
- Non-discrimination
- Discipline / harassment and grievance procedures
- Fair working hours and compensation
- Anti-corruption and bribery
Option 3 – USGBC-approved equivalent / project-submitted Alternative Compliance Path (see below)
Submittals
General
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Documentation / Submittals
The following are required to document achievement of this credit.Option 1 (Supplier Assessment)
- For each manufacturer, a spreadsheet that lists:
- All Tier 1 suppliers
- Spending for each supplier (or percentage of total)
- Indication of whether or not supplier has submitted signed Assessment
- Total spending (for calculating 75% of total)
- 5 signed assessment documents that address criteria listed in the credit (additional assessments may be requested) AND
- Manufacturer’s signed assessment document
- For each manufacturer, documentation of certification under ANSI/BIFMA e3-2014e Furniture Sustainability Standard, including achievement of Section 8.7.2.1 plus submittal of a manufacturer policy on freedom of association. OR
- Other program approved by USGBC
Option 2 (Supplier Code of Conduct)
The following are required to document achievement of this credit- For each manufacturer, a spreadsheet that lists:
- All Tier 1 suppliers
- Spending for each supplier (or percentage of total)
- Indication of whether or not supplier has submitted signed Code of Conduct
- Total spending (for calculating 50% of total)
- 5 signed Code of Conduct documents that address criteria listed in the credit (additional Code of Conduct documents may be requested) AND
- Manufacturer’s signed Code of Conduct
- For each manufacturer, documentation of certification under ANSI/BIFMA e3-2014e Furniture Sustainability Standard, including achievement of Section 8.7.2.2 plus submittal of a manufacturer policy on freedom of association. OR
- Other program approved by USGBC
Option 3 (Alternative Compliance Path)
The following are required to document achievement of this credit USGBC welcomes the idea of alternative strategies to those discussed in the credit language for this pilot credit; as a means to learn more about other possibilities towards meeting the goals, and in order to potentially incorporate good ideas into future pilot credits and/or standard LEED credits. For an alternate strategy to be considered, the following information must be included in the submission:- Intent of the proposed strategy
- How does it meet the intent and goals of this pilot credit? How does it address the social responsibility elements listed above?
- What metric(s) are used to measure success? How is the level of effort or rigor equivalent to the existing options?
- Provide supporting documentation demonstrating equivalence to the Code of Conduct or Supplier Assessment, including all specified human rights issues.
Survey Questions for Project Teams:
- What aspects of the credit were easiest? Most difficult? Impossible? What revisions would you recommend to address these shortcomings?
- Where is your project located? Did location make a difference in compliance with the credit requirements?
- Did location of suppliers make a difference in compliance with manufacturers’ requests for self-assessments or Codes of Conduct? Were manufacturers successful in obtaining these documents from suppliers in social equity “hot spots”?
- Were manufacturers already collecting any of this information? If so, for internal purposes or for other reporting (include other certifications, compliance with laws or regulations, etc.)?
- In addition to BIFMA standard with inclusion of freedom of association, are there other comparable standards that USGBC should consider as alternative compliance paths?
- If projects chose not to attempt this credit, was it because it was deemed to be too difficult or because it did not reflect their project’s goals or some other reason?
1 This credit is consistent with definitions in the MR section. “Permanently installed building products” are defined as products and materials that create the building or are attached to it. If furniture is included in MR credit calculations, it may be included in this credit. Some specific products that are part of MEP systems but are “passive” (meaning not part of the active portions of the system) may be included in credit calculations. This allows flexibility for the optional assessment of piping, pipe insulation, ducts, duct insulation, conduit, plumbing fixtures, faucets, showerheads, and lamp housings. Special equipment, such as elevators, escalators, process equipment, and fire suppression, systems, is excluded from the credit calculations. Also excluded are products purchased for temporary use on the project, like formwork for concrete.
2 Development of this credit was informed by ANSI/BIFMA e3-2014e Furniture Sustainability Standard.
3 See definitions appended to the credit.
4 See definitions appended to the credit.
Changes log
- 1/30/2018 ACP guidance added for Option 3
LEEDuser expert
Joel Ann Todd
Independent Consultant
