Credit achievement is based on the cost of environmentally preferable purchases compared to the cost of total purchases. The credit offers four options that each focus on a different product category:
- Ongoing consumables
- Building materials
- Electronic equipment
- Food and beverages
O+M projects can earn up to 1 point, while Interiors projects can earn up to 4 points.
Connection to the Purchasing Prerequisite
This credit builds on the policy developed for the purchasing prerequisite. The policy is essentially a blueprint for this credit and can be a helpful document to reference.
Tracking Duration
For all options, teams must track purchases for a minimum of one month.
Sustainability Criteria: Ongoing Consumables
Post-consumer recycled content
Products must meet the EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for Recycled Content for their product type. Product types that are not covered by the EPA Guidelines get credit for their recycled content with no minimum. Pre-consumer recycled content does not contribute to credit compliance.
Extended use
Extended use refers to rechargeable batteries and re-manufactured toner cartridges.
FSC certified
Paper and wood products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council meet the credit requirements. SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) products are still not approved by USGBC and therefore do not contribute to credit compliance.
Biobased material
Biobased materials are composed of biological products, renewable agricultural materials, or forestry products. To qualify as sustainable, biobased materials must meet the Sustainable Agriculture Network’s (SAN) Sustainable Agriculture Standard, oor FSC if they are forestry products.
The most well-known label that meets the SAN standard is the Rainforest Alliance. Products can self-declare conformance with SAN but they must meet additional requirements. Given the extra legwork required, it’s likely not worth the effort to document biobased materials other than those that carry the Rainforest Alliance label.
Extended producer responsibility
Products purchased from a manufacturer that participates in an extended producer responsibility program may contribute towards credit achievement.
Cradle to Cradle
Products with any level of Cradle to Cradle certification (Version 3 or newer) contribute to credit compliance.
Sustainability Criteria: Building Materials
Health Product Declaration
A complete HPD with full disclosure is required for the end use product.
Cradle to Cradle
Products with any level of Cradle to Cradle certification (Version 3 or newer) contribute to credit compliance.
Declare
The Declare label must show that all ingredients have been evaluated and disclosed down to 1,000 ppm.
ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard
Best known as BIFMA “level” certification, this program addresses multi-attribute product sustainability but you can be certified to the standard without meeting LEED transparency requirements. That’s why you have to specifically confirm that the product earned transparency points: at least 3 points under 7.5.1.3 Advanced Level in e3-2014 or 3 points under 7.4.1.3 Advanced Level in e3-2021.
Product Lens
This is a relatively new program from UL Environment, and few products are currently certified to it. You can check for them in UL’s SPOT database.
Facts – NSF/ANSI 336: Sustainability Assessment for Commercial Furnishings Fabric
Several different organizations certify products to this standard, so they’re listed in various places. Products can be certified at any level. SCS Global Services is the most active certifier under this standard.
Environmental Product Declaration
An industry-wide (generic) EPD or product specific Type III EPD can meet the requirements. There is also an EPD optimization path available, see the LEED v4.1 O+M Beta Guide for details.
GreenScreen v1.2 Benchmark
Products must have fully inventoried chemical ingredients to 100 ppm and have no Benchmark 1 hazard materials.
Product manufacturer supply chain optimization
The intent of this criterion is to encourage purchasing products from manufacturers that have robust and validated safety, health, hazard, and risk programs in place for each of their building materials or products. It also ensures that each manufacturer’s supply chain has programs for optimizing environmental and human health and safety throughout their suppliers, and are transparent in their health and safety claims.
Extended producer responsibility
Products purchased from a manufacturer that participates in an extended producer responsibility program may contribute towards credit achievement.
FSC certified
Paper and wood products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council meet the credit requirements. SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) products are still not approved by USGBC and therefore do not contribute to credit compliance.
Biobased material
Bio-based materials are composed of biological products, renewable agricultural materials, or forestry products. To qualify as sustainable, bio-based materials must meet the Sustainable Agriculture Network’s (SAN) Sustainable Agriculture Standard, for FSC if they are forestry products.
Recycled content
Post-consumer recycled content is valued at its full value, while pre-consumer recycled content is valued at half its full value. For example, if a $100 product contains 20% post-consumer content and 20% pre-consumer content, the contributing value is $20 for post-consumer and $10 for pre-consumer, for a total of $30.
Low formaldehyde emissions
All composite wood must be constructed from materials with low formaldehyde emissions that meet the CARB requirements for ULEF resins or no-added formaldehyde based resins.
Low VOC emissions (products other than furniture)
Products must be either inherently low-emitting or be tested for compliance with CDPH Standard Method v1.2-2017.
Low VOC emissions (furniture)
Products must be tested for compliance with ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 Furniture Sustainability Standard 7.6.2
VOC content for wet-applied products
These products must not contain excessive levels of VOCs to protect the health of installers and other trade workers onsite.
Zero waste manufacturing
Products made by manufacturers that have achieved zero waste certification (such as TRUE or UL Standard 2799) contribute to credit compliance.
Sustainability Criteria: Electronic Equipment
EPEAT rated
EPEAT rated products must have a Silver rating or better to contribute to credit compliance. The EPEAT program covers the following equipment types as of March 2016: desktop computers, laptops/notebooks, workstations, thin clients, displays (computer monitors), televisions, printers, copiers, scanners, multifunction devices, fax machines, digital duplicators and mailing machines.
Energy Star rated
Energy Star may be used to demonstrate compliance only if the equipment type is not covered by the EPEAT program. For example, if you purchase an Energy Star qualified laptop that is not EPEAT Silver rated, you will not earn any credit for that purchase, since laptops are covered by EPEAT.
Mercury in lamps
Lamps can either contain zero mercury (while being as energy efficient as comparable mercury-containing lamps) or have an average low mercury content of 25 picograms per lumen-hour or less.
Sustainability Criteria: Food and Beverage
Sustainable agriculture
Item must carry one of the following labels: USDA Organic, Food Alliance Certified, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Protected Harvest Certified, Fair Trade, Marine Stewardship Council’s Blue Eco-Label, or European Community Organic Production.
Local sourcing
Local foods and beverages are defined as harvested and produced within a 100-mile radius of the project.
What’s New in LEED v4.1
- The credit combines the v4 purchasing credits (ongoing, lamps, and facility maintenance and renovation) into a single credit
- Point structure has been added for Interiors projects
- Purchasing criteria have been supplemented and modified
- Compliance may now be demonstrated with a minimum one month of purchases
- The compliance threshold has been reduced for ongoing consumables from 60% to 50%
- The compliance threshold has increased for electronic equipment from 40% to 50%
- The compliance threshold has been reduced for food from 25% to 15%
Should I upgrade?
The v4.1 credit combines multiple v4 purchasing credits into a single credit and makes adjustments to point allocations and compliance thresholds. Review and compare the versions carefully to determine which is best for your project.