Log in
LEED v4
New Construction
Materials and Resources

Building product disclosure and optimization - material ingredients

LEED CREDIT

NC-v4 MRc4: Building product disclosure and optimization - material ingredients 1-2 points

LEEDuser’s viewpoint

Frank advice from LEED experts

LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.

Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Option 1. material ingredient reporting (1 point)

Use at least 20 different permanently installed products from at least five different manufacturers that use any of the following programs to demonstrate the chemical inventory of the product to at least 0.1% (1000 ppm).

  • Manufacturer Inventory. The manufacturer has published complete content inventory for the product following these guidelines:
    • A publicly available inventory of all ingredients identified by name and Chemical Abstract Service Registration Number (CASRN) and/or European Community Number (EC Number)
    • Materials defined as trade secret or intellectual property may withhold the name and/or CASRN/EC Number but must disclose role, amount and hazard screen using either:
      • GreenScreen benchmark, as defined in GreenScreen v1.2.
      • The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals rev.6 (2015) (GHS)
        • The hazard screen must be applied to each trade secret ingredient and the inventory lists the hazard category for each of the health hazards included in Part 3 of GHS (e.g. “GHS Category 2 Carcinogen”).
        • Identify in the inventory all hazard classes for which a classification cannot be made because there are insufficient data for a particular endpoint(s).
  • Health Product Declaration. The end use product has a published, complete Health Product Declaration with full disclosure of known hazards in compliance with the Health Product Declaration open Standard.
  • Cradle to Cradle. The end use product has been certified at the Cradle to Cradle v2 Basic level or Cradle to Cradle v3 Bronze level.
  • Declare. The Declare product label must indicate that all ingredients have been evaluated and disclosed down to 1000 ppm.
  • ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard. The documentation from the assessor or scorecard from BIFMA must demonstrate the product earned 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 e3-2012.
  • Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate. The product has been certified at the Bronze level or higher and at least 90% of materials are assessed by weight.
  • Product Lens Certification
  • Facts - NSF/ANSI 336: Sustainability Assessment for Commercial Furnishings Fabric at any certification level
  • USGBC approved program. Other USGBC approved programs meeting the material ingredient reporting criteria.

AND/OR

Option 2. Material ingredient optimization (1 point)

Use products that document their material ingredient optimization using the paths below for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project.

  • GreenScreen v1.2 Benchmark. Products that have fully inventoried chemical ingredients to 100 ppm that have no Benchmark 1 hazards:
    • If any ingredients are assessed with the GreenScreen List Translator, value these products at 100% of cost.
    • If all ingredients are have undergone a full GreenScreen Assessment, value these products at 150% of cost.
  • Cradle to Cradle Certified. End use products are certified Cradle to Cradle. Products will be valued as follows:
    • Cradle to Cradle v2 Gold: 100% of cost
    • Cradle to Cradle v2 Platinum: 150% of cost
    • Cradle to Cradle v3 Silver: 100% of cost
    • Cradle to Cradle v3 Gold or Platinum: 150% of cost
  • International Alternative Compliance Path – REACH Optimization. End use products and materials have fully inventoried chemical ingredients to 100 ppm and assess each substance against the Authorization list – Annex XIV, the Restriction list – Annex XVII and the SVHC candidate list, (the version in effect in June 2013 ), proving that no such substance is included in the product. If the product contains no ingredients listed on the REACH Authorization, Restriction, and Candidate list, value at 100% of cost.
  • USGBC approved program. Products that comply with USGBC approved building product optimization criteria.
AND/OR
Option 3. Product Manufacturer Supply Chain Optimization (1 point)

Use building products for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project that:

  • Are sourced from product manufacturers who engage in validated and robust safety, health, hazard, and risk programs which at a minimum document at least 99% (by weight) of the ingredients used to make the building product or building material, and
  • Are sourced from product manufacturers with independent third party verification of their supply chain that at a minimum verifies:
    • Processes are in place to communicate and transparently prioritize chemical ingredients along the supply chain according to available hazard, exposure and use information to identify those that require more detailed evaluation
    • Processes are in place to identify, document, and communicate information on health, safety and environmental characteristics of chemical ingredients
    • Processes are in place to implement measures to manage the health, safety and environmental hazard and risk of chemical ingredients
    • Processes are in place to optimize health, safety and environmental impacts when designing and improving chemical ingredients
    • Processes are in place to communicate, receive and evaluate chemical ingredient safety and stewardship information along the supply chain
    • Safety and stewardship information about the chemical ingredients is publicly available from all points along the supply chain

Products meeting Option 3 criteria are valued at 100% of their cost for the purposes of credit achievement calculation.

For credit achievement calculation of options 2 and 3, products sourced (extracted, manufactured, purchased) within 100 miles (160 km) of the project site are valued at 200% of their base contributing cost. For credit achievement calculation, the value of individual products compliant with either option 2 or 3 can be combined to reach the 25% threshold but products compliant with both option 2 and 3 may only be counted once.

Structure and enclosure materials may not constitute more than 30% of the value of compliant building products. Projects with significant amounts of structural and enclosure materials may exceed the 30% limit by calculating an alternative structure and enclosure limit (See Calculations under Further Explanation).

SITES-LEED Equivalency

This LEED credit (or a component of this credit) has been established as equivalent to a SITES v2 credit or component. For more information on using the equivalency as a substitution in your LEED or SITES project, see this article and guidance document.

See all forum discussions about this credit »

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

Does a manufacturer have to reveal everything that’s in a product to comply with the transparency option? 

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Does any published HPD work for a product to comply with the credit, or are there specific conditions it has to meet? 

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

For the Declare option do “LBC Compliant” and “Declared” labels count, or only “Red List Free”?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Does Cradle-to-Cradle’s Material Health certificate count, or only full Cradle-to-Cradle certification? 

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Are there ways to get extra credit for products that exceed the thresholds?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Is the REACH pathway in Option 2 available to projects in the U.S.?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

See all forum discussions about this credit »

Addenda

4/9/2018Updated: 3/12/2021
Form Update
Description of change:
added two new standards: UL Product Lens certification and Facts:NSF/ANSI 336
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
1/26/2018Updated: 1/26/2018
Form Update
Description of change:
Updated calculator to display all Material content on other tabs
Removed 30% cap language
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/8/2017Updated: 7/28/2017
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
At the end of the “Requirements” section in each of the BPDO credits, change text to the following:
“Structure and enclosure materials may not constitute more than 30% of the value of compliant building products. Projects with significant amounts of structural and enclosure materials may exceed the 30% limit by calculating an alternative structure and enclosure limit (See Equation 3 under Further Explanation).”

Furthermore, add the following new section in every BPDO credit under “Further Explanation - CALCULATIONS”:
“Equation 3: Alternative Structure & Enclosure Percentage Limit for Option 2
For projects with significant amounts of structure and enclosure materials, the following calculation can be made to determine an alternative limit for the percentage of value that structure and enclosure materials can contribute to credit achievement. Note: this option is only available for projects that use the actual materials cost method (not the default cost method) to determine total project material costs.
Equation 3: Alternative Structure and Enclosure limit
Alternative Structure and Enclosure limit = (value $ of total building materials that are structural or enclosure) [divided by] (total actual materials value $)
Use the results of equation 3 to replace the 30% contribution factor limit in determining compliance with the credit.”
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/8/2017Updated: 7/10/2017
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Make changes to “FURTHER EXPLANATION > CALCULATIONS” as follows:
“Program valuation factor = multiplier assigned to each compliance program:

• GreenScreen benchmark. Products that have fully inventoried chemical ingredients to 100 ppm:
o All ingredients assessed using GreenScreen List Translator and have no Benchmark-1 hazards, 100% value (by cost)
o All ingredients have undergone a full GreenScreen assessment and have no Benchmark-1 scores, 150% value (by cost)
• Cradle to Cradle Certified version 2.1.1:
o Gold, 100% value (by cost)
o Platinum, 150% value (by cost)
• Cradle to Cradle Certified version 3.0:
o Silver, 100% value (by cost)
o Gold or Platinum, 150% value (by cost)
• REACH Optimization. This is an alternative compliance path for projects outside the U.S. If the product contains no ingredients listed on the REACH authorization or candidate list, value it at 100% of cost.”

Make changes to “FURTHER EXPLANATION > MATERIAL INGREDIENT REPORTING (TABLE 1)” as follows: Modify Table 1:

First row under "Based on what framework" column, modify to read as follow: " GreenScreen (GS) (either GS Translator List or full GreenScreen assessment)"

Manufacturer’s Inventory
Manufacturers may publicly disclose all ingredients by name and Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number. No third-party verification is required for this option, but the information must be publicly available; direct disclosure to the designer or contractor is not acceptable.
If a specific ingredient cannot be disclosed for proprietary reasons, the manufacturer may withhold the name and CAS registry number but still provide the following information:
• Role or function in the product
• Amount, as a percentage of total product content or ppm
• GreenScreen LT score (GS List Translator) or GS Benchmark score (full GS). Report hazard levels and hazard endpoints that result in scoring the ingredient as LT-1 or LT-P1 using GS List Translator (e.g. High for Carcinogenicity) or hazard levels and hazard endpoints that result in scoring the ingredient as Benchmark 1 using full GreenScreen. It is not necessary to report hazards associated with higher Benchmark levels or LT-UNK (Unknown) using GS List Translator.
All ingredients that constitute 0.1% (1,000 ppm) or more of the product must be accounted for. This threshold is 10 times lower than the typical 1% minimum threshold for reporting on a material safety data sheet (MSDS).

Health Product Declaration Open Standard
Disclosure is done through Health Product Declaration (HPD), which is an open standard for reporting product ingredients and their associated health hazards. Manufacturers that use HPDs must provide the nonproprietary information listed above (role or function, amount, and health hazards) for every ingredient, not just those whose names have been withheld. The manufacturer affirms “full disclosure of known hazards” on the front summary page and further affirms the level of disclosure with residuals/impurities. For the material to comply with the credit requirements, the HPD standards for the 1,000-ppm level must be attained and the appropriate box on the summary page checked.

An HPD is several pages long, with a one-page summary listing company information, metadata about the report, and ingredients, and continuing on subsequent pages with more detail about individual ingredients and their associated health hazards, plus details on any certifications and associated materials. GreenScreen List Translator scores and/or Benchmarks, if any, are listed for each ingredient in HPDs, in the contents section. A report from a certified GreenScreen profiler may also be used to document the GreenScreen benchmarks for a product’s ingredients.
Manufacturers that use the standard HPD format reduce uncertainty about whether the information that they have provided meets the credit requirements, and they create a report that should be useful in other settings as well.

Qualifying HPDs developed under the Open Standard version 1.0, 2.0, 2.1 or subsequent versions of the standard are eligible for documenting credit achievement if the HPD is still valid at the time that the product is purchased and used on a project.

Make changes to “FURTHER EXPLANATION > MATERIAL INGREDIENT OPTIMIZATION” as follows:

GreenScreen Benchmark 1
The GreenScreen hazard assessment method evaluates individual chemicals. GreenScreen is based on a toxicological assessment that starts with a collection of authoritative lists of “chemicals of concern” published by governmental and nongovernmental organizations (GreenScreen List Translator). These substances are known to be associated with certain health problems. The assessment then proceeds to reviews of the scientific literature, use of structure activity relationship models and chemical analog data to fill data gaps (Full GreenScreen). Chemicals are assigned to one of four main categories: those of highest concern, as indicated in the authoritative lists, are assigned Benchmark 1. Chemicals that are not on the major authoritative lists and pass a toxicological review based on Clean Production Action’s protocols can be assigned benchmarks that indicate lower levels of concern; Benchmark 4 is the lowest level of concern. A full GreenScreen assessment overrides the results of screening using the GreenScreen List Translator only.

The GreenScreen List Translator has been automated by two software providers. It can be accessed through the Chemical and Material Library found in Healthy Building Network’s Pharos Tool, the ToxNot website, and in the GS List Translator module in the GreenWERCS software tool by The Wercs. The Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse has created a website where GreenScreen assessments can be posted by various participating State governments and shared with no costs or restrictions. The GreenScreen Store is another source for some freely available full assessments: www.greenscreenchemicals.org/gs-assessments

Option 1 of this credit requires only the GreenScreen List Translator review of ingredients to ensure that none of the ingredients are on the authoritative lists and thus flagged as Benchmark 1 substances. Project teams should look for documentation from manufacturers that either identifies all ingredients in the product or identifies and characterizes any benchmark hazards.

Option 2 requires the Full GreenScreen toxicological assessment to ensure that none of the ingredients are Benchmark 1. Project teams should look for documentation from manufacturers that shows each ingredient in the product has been subject to a full GreenScreen assessment by a licensed GreenScreen Profiler and that the product contains only Benchmark 2 and higher ingredients.

Products using GreenScreen version 1.2, 1.3, or subsequent versions are eligible for documenting credit achievement if the analysis/scores are valid at the time that the product is purchased and used on a project.


For Manufacturers and Suppliers
GreenScreen’s List Translator assigns hazard classifications based on the various governmental and authoritative hazard lists including lists of chemicals classified using the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling. The GreenScreen List Translator can be used to identify chemicals that achieve or may achieve the Benchmark 1 level of concern. Under Option 1, manufacturers that keep certain ingredients proprietary must characterize any health hazards from those ingredients, as indicated by the List Translator or a full GreenScreen assessment.
Under Option 2, the manufacturer must warrant that no ingredients in the product at levels of 0.01% or more (100 ppm) are designated as Benchmark 1 chemicals based on the referenced lists defined by the List Translator. These products achieve compliance at the first level of the option.

The second level of compliance requires that all ingredients be Benchmark 2 or higher. There is no definitive List Translator for Benchmark 2, so manufacturers must engage an independent third party to screen all their ingredients, using the screening protocol defined by GreenScreen, and certify that none of them are Benchmark 1.

Products using GreenScreen version 1.2, 1.3, or subsequent versions are eligible for documenting credit achievement if the analysis/scores are valid at the time that the product is purchased and used on a project.

Make changes to “FURTHER EXPLANATION > EXAMPLES” as follows:

Example GreenScreen List Translator Result
The GreenScreen List Translator identifies each list that GreenScreen references, including its source, which hazards in the GreenScreen it covers, whether it is “authoritative” or “screening,” and which GreenScreen hazard level and subsequent Benchmark score applies, along with other data.

Table 2. GreenScreen List Translator Result (version 1.2 shown). Used with permission from Clean Production Action.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/14/2017Updated: 4/18/2017
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Change language to read as follows:
Option 1. Material Ingredient Reporting (1 point)
• Manufacturer Inventory. The manufacturer has published complete content inventory for the product following these guidelines:
o A publicly available inventory of all ingredients identified by name and Chemical Abstract Service Registration Number (CASRN) and/or European Community Number (EC Number)
o Materials defined as trade secret or intellectual property may withhold the name and/or CASRN/EC Number but must disclose role, amount and hazard screen using either:
GreenScreen benchmark, as defined in GreenScreen v1.2.
o The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals rev.6 (2015) (GHS)
• The hazard screen must be applied to each trade secret ingredient and the inventory lists the hazard category for each of the health hazards included in Part 3 of GHS (e.g. “GHS Category 2 Carcinogen”).
• Identify in the inventory all hazard classes for which a classification cannot be made because there are insufficient data for a particular endpoint(s).

Make the following addition:
Option 1, add to the list of approved programs, after the bullet for “Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate” and before “USGBC approved program”:
• Product Lens Certification
• Facts - NSF/ANSI 336: Sustainability Assessment for Commercial Furnishings Fabric at any certification level

AND/OR
Change language to read as follows:

Option 2. Material Ingredient Optimization (1 point) Use products that document their material ingredient optimization using the paths below for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project... • International Alternative Compliance Path – REACH Optimization. End use products and materials have fully inventoried chemical ingredients to 100 ppm and assess each substance against the Authorization list – Annex XIV, the Restriction list – Annex XVII and the SVHC candidate list, (the version in effect in June 2013 ), proving that no such substance is included in the product. If the product contains no ingredients listed on the REACH Authorization, Restriction, and Candidate list, value at 100% of cost.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Add the following definitions, in alphabetical order:
Building product manufacturer: Any company making an product for incorporation into the project that would arrive at the job site.
Business unit: A logical segment of a company that represents a specific operational function or production of a product type. Also called department, division, or a functional area.
Component: Uniquely identifiable input, part, element, piece, assembly or subassembly, system or subsystem, that (1) is required to complete or finish an activity, item, or job, (2) performs a distinctive and necessary function in the operation of a system, or (3) is intended to be included as a part of a finished, packaged, and labeled product. Components are usually removable in one piece and are considered indivisible for a particular purpose or use. Commonly, items of very small or insignificant cost are not considered components.
Facility: one or more buildings or locations, or part of a building, that it is clearly delineated in the EMS and includes all process associated with the relevant building product (in the case of a Building Product Manufacturer) or ingredient or component (in the case of a supplier to the building product manufacturer).
First-tier supplier: Any company providing components or ingredients directly to a building product manufacturer.
Green chemistry: The design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances (Anastas, P. T. and Warner, J. C. Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice. Oxford University Press: New York, 1998, p. 30).
Green engineering: The development and commercialization of industrial processes that are economically feasible and reduce the risk to human health and the environment (Anastas, P.T., and Zimmerman, J.B., "Design through the Twelve Principles of Green Engineering", Env. Sci. Tech. 2003, 37(5), 94A-101A).
Ingredient: A substance or single constituent of fixed composition, characterized by its molecular structure(s) used to make a compound, mixture, or finished product. Ingredients can be active (help directly in achieving a performance objective(s)) or inert (facilitate acceptance, application, stability, handling or marketing of the product, or delivery of the active ingredients). Ingredients typically have an associate CAS RN (and may also have synonym CAS RNs).
Optimization: Developing a product or process with the highest achievable combination of functional performance, cost, and positive social, environmental, and health impacts by maximizing desired factors and minimizing undesired ones. For the purposes of LEED’s Material Ingredients credit “optimization” implies giving human and environmental health higher priority among the multiple factors than is typically the case.
Second-tier supplier: A supplier providing ingredients to another supplier that end up in the product being considered by the building product manufacturer.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Add a new section after "Supply Chain Optimization" titled, "Supply Chain Optimization - Enhanced Achievement Options"
Supply Chain Optimization - Enhanced Achievement Options
In addition to the minimum requirements described in Further Explanation – Supply Chain Optimization, building product manufacturers have the option of pursuing more advanced supply chain optimization measures, which can help their products contribute more value towards earning the LEED point, as described in Calculations. Seven enhanced achievement options are available for this LEED point, described below. Each relates only to the product for which the building product manufacturer is seeking credit under Option 3.
Additional ingredient inventory
Instead of identifying ingredients to the 99% level, the building product manufacturers identifies and includes in the screening (and, if appropriate, additional requirements) all ingredients to the 99.9% level (1,000 ppm).
Additional hazard screening
Use GHS Category 2 criteria for hazard screening for carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxicants, skin irritants, and Systemic Toxicity & Organ Effects Repeated Exposure sub‐endpoint (ST‐repeat) for determining which ingredients are subject to management, reporting, and optimization (the basic requirement stops at GHS Category 1 for these endpoints). See Table 2.
Supplier documentation for all ingredients
To address hazardous substances that do not persist into ingredients comprising the end product, the building product manufacturer shall require either self-declared or third-party validated environmental management and health & safety management systems for ALL ingredients up to the 99% threshold, not just those that fail the initial Hazard Screen. If the building product manufacturer is also seeking extra credit in the Supply Chain Depth factor, this would also apply to all ingredients at the additional tier or tiers.
Green chemistry optimization
The building product manufacturer takes actions to design and improve chemical ingredients within their supply chain. To demonstrate compliance, building product manufacturer must:
• Take at least one supply chain ingredient that triggered a Hazard Criteria in Table 1 and conduct a comparative assessment on that ingredient.
• Based on the comparative hazard assessment, the building product manufacturer must substitute or eliminate (e.g. product design change or process change) that ingredient.
• Where substitution occurs, manufacturer shall take action based on that alternatives assessment such that the hazard is no longer flagged at the Enhanced Achievement hazard Criteria level (table 2) in place of the original ingredient.
• After substitution or elimination, safety and stewardship information about the chemical ingredient is publicly available for all points along the supply chain.
Ingredients that are substituted must have been incorporated within 3 years of the alternative assessment date, and the ingredient being replaced must have been present in the product manufacturing processes no more than 6 years prior to the alternatives assessment and a subject of said alternatives assessment (e.g., the alternatives assessment was intended for the ingredient).
Enterprise-wide application of the EMS
The building product manufacturer has met the Option 3 minimum requirements for the entire business unit or company.
Extension of supplier engagement to Tier 2
All Tier 2 suppliers have documented environmental and health & safety management systems as described for Tier 1 suppliers. Building product manufacturer must procure third party verification or self-declaration with documentation that all first and second tier suppliers have those systems in place for the material they are supplying.
Extension of supplier engagement to source
All suppliers in the supply chain of the product have documented processes in place as described for Tier 1 suppliers. Building product manufacturer must procure third party verification or self-declaration with documentation that all suppliers have processes in place for the material they are supplying.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise the section title to read, "Option 2 Material Ingredient Optimization and Option 3 Supply Chain Optimization"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Add a new section, "Supply Chain Optimization" at the bottom of the page.
Supply Chain Optimization
These requirements builds on programs that many companies already have in place, specifically environmental management systems (EMS) such as ISO 14001 and health and safety management systems such as OHSAS 18000, to meet and document compliance with Option 3. To comply with this option, the building product manufacturer (BPM), and any company that supplies it with ingredients or components that are significant health hazards, must have a robust program for continual improvement in environmental management and health & safety management. Specific industry programs that are consistent with ISO 14001:2015 include:
• RC14001:2013 Responsible Care
• ChemStewards Integrated Management System-2011
Guiding Principles
The building product manufacturer publishes a publicly available set of guiding principles for the optimization of ingredients and products in their supply chain with an emphasis on human and environmental health. The principles may be a standalone document or part of a website or other document. The principles include, at a minimum and in the building product manufacturer’s own words, the following:
a. a commitment toward continual improvement (e.g., actual or attempted reduction in use of hazardous chemicals) in their supply chain;
b. a commitment toward greater communication and transfer of information within their supply chain and with their industry partners; and
c. a commitment to applying the principles of green chemistry and principles of green engineering
These principles should be endorsed by top management and referenced in documentation relating to Option 3 conformance.
Inventory
The manufacturer of permanently installed building products determines the composition of the ingredients and components it’s buying, based on final composition of the product in question, to at least the 99% level by mass; no more than 1% of the contents can remain undetermined. A product disclosed via an approved method for Option 1 (such as Declare or HPD or other manufacturers inventory) could also be used to demonstrate conformance. If a supplier chooses to withhold the chemical identity of materials defined as trade secret or intellectual property, they may withhold the name and/or CASRN but must disclose role, amount and associated GHS Hazard classification of each ingredient via Safety Data Sheet and/or supplier’s documentation on company letterhead, signed by a company official. In the case of mixtures, each ingredient in the mixture must be documented. The manufacturer will typically obtain this information from its first-tier suppliers, although if those suppliers provide manufactured components it may be necessary to reach further back into the supply chain to obtain content information to the 99% level.
Hazard Screen
All documented ingredients representing at least 99% by mass of the final product shall be screened for human health and environmental hazard characteristics according to the most current available criteria of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). For each product, any ingredient that is flagged against the hazard criteria identified in Table 2 is determined to “not pass” the hazard screen, and shall be addressed by the building product manufacturer’s environmental and health & safety management systems and supplier engagement (see below). While the GHS Screening is required, it is encouraged to go beyond the GHS screening criteria. For example, if a hazardous chemical is present at 0.05% in product but the GHS screening level is at 0.1%, the building product manufacturer is encouraged but not required to flag the ingredient.
Ingredients with data gaps (no information available on the substance for one or more endpoints) should be flagged (i.e., should not pass) the hazard screen. If the 99% of ingredients to be screened includes recycled content, the building product manufacturer shall document its best management practices to characterize the sources of pre- and post-consumer recycled material and reduce or eliminate hazards associated with these materials.

Table 2. GHS Hazard Criteria by Endpoint for Option 3 Screening: http://www.usgbc.org/resources/scowg-li-table-2

Environmental and Health & Safety Management Systems
Building product manufacturers shall have programs for environmental and health & safety management that include all the essential elements listed below and cover the facility, facilities, or portion of a facility where the building products for which the manufacturer seeks credit under Option 3 are manufactured. Building product manufacturers may need to specify new requirements or processes as compared to existing ISO or Responsible Care systems to meet these requirements. This step describes an environmental or health and safety management system as the framework, with health and safety criteria added to the EMS, but the systems can be combined differently as long as they contain the same elements.

For the purposes of documenting conformance with Option 3, all building product manufacturer’s environmental and health & safety management systems must meet requirements 1 through 3 for the facility, facilities, or portion of a facility where the building product in question is manufactured, whether these systems are separate or combined into one:
1. Publicly available policy statement signed by top management that describes the company’s commitment and what the environmental or health and safety management system is intended to achieve.
2. Processes or controls that address continual improvement based on a list of existing and potential environmental aspects and impacts or health and safety risks. The plan must include:
a. Targets and objectives addressing all significant environmental aspects or health and safety risks on list.
b. Monitoring and measurement of key elements in the operation that have relevant impacts.
c. Documented activities implementing the plan.
d. Internal evaluation, corrective action and audits of conformance to plan.
e. Communication to top management about results of audits.
3. The management system policy and plan shall include chemical safety & health as objectives with specific targets and goals in the plan. Joint objectives and targets set at both the corporate level and operational level are found to be most effective as they show a level of commitment throughout the organization. As a general framework, the plan should seek to, on a continual improvement basis:
a. eliminate the use of hazardous ingredients,
b. minimize the use of hazardous ingredients where elimination is not possible,
c. transition to more effective control measures where hazardous ingredients remain, and
d. manage those remaining hazardous ingredients responsibly with a goal of zero exposure and discharge to humans and the environment.
Building product managers with one or more hazard flagged ingredients must further meet requirements 4 through 6:

4. For any building product for which the manufacturer seeks credit under Option 3, at least 99% by mass of the ingredients comprising that product must be identified and screened for hazardous characteristics pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 2.3. ,
5. The building product manufacturer shall share hazardous characteristics for each ingredient that fails the hazard screen with customers to inform their appropriate handling, installation, and management of the product, and with suppliers as an input to their management system prioritization.
6. The management system shall have a continual improvement plan to evaluate and eliminate or reduce chemical hazards and exposure to the ingredients in the final building products as well as chemical hazards and exposures during the manufacturing processes.
a. For optimization purposes established frameworks that contain steps for the comparative or alternatives assessment that meet the intent of this requirement are listed below, but others can also be used as long as they are known as acceptable equivalents. Frameworks that factor in broader environmental impacts such as climate change and resource extraction impacts are encouraged but not required.
i. National Academy of Sciences (National Research Council) Alternatives Assessment Framework
ii. BizNGO Chemical Alternatives Assessment Protocol
iii. Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse Alternatives Assessment Guide
Supplier Engagement
Suppliers of any chemical ingredient or component flagged in the hazard screen must have systems for environmental and health & safety management as described above, items 1–3. The building product manufacturer will notify its immediate (first-tier) suppliers that this requirement is due to the presence of flagged ingredients or components.
The supplier provides documentation of its management system(s) to the building product manufacturer. This documentation can be third party verification or a self-declaration stating that processes are in place for the ingredients and/or components supplied. Any self-declaration must be accompanied by supporting documentation, which must be reviewed as part of the third-party verification of the building product manufacturer’s environmental and health & safety management systems.
Verification
The building product manufacturer obtains third-party validation of fulfillment of the requirements of Option 3. Pre-existing audit processes may be acceptable if the audit process specifically includes validation of Option 3-related steps, including confirming that the steps listed above are completed and a review of documentation from the suppliers about their corresponding programs. Audits are to be repeated at least every three years.
If no ingredients are hazard-flagged, then the fact that the hazard screen was completed is the only specific element required beyond basic conformance with the environmental and health & safety practices described above in parts 1-3. Procedures for building product manufacturer’s assessment of ingredient hazards must be disclosed to the auditor.
Customer Communication
The building product manufacturer provides a certificate from a third-party verifying its Option 3-conforming program to anyone seeking to specify or purchase its product for a LEED project. The certificate must include a brief summary of the manufacturer’s continual improvement objectives specific to that product or product line.
LEED Documentation
Project teams specify and install products that have verified processes in place for assessing and improving the health impact of the product along the supply chain. The team must obtain third party-verification that the building product manufacturer has processes in place for the specific product, as defined above. The LEED project team submits that certification with its LEED application as evidence that the products or materials purchased contribute to the 25% by cost threshold for Options 2 & 3 in the credit.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise the first sentence to include Equation 2 and the second sentence to make "this option" plural, so that they read, "Using Equation 1 and Equation 2, determine the total value of compliant products (see Further Explanation, Calculations). These options calculates compliance based on product cost."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Delete the last sentence in the first paragraph, "For Option 3 Product Manufacturer Supply Chain Optimization, check USGBC’s website for updates on how to achieve compliance."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Add the following to the section, in alphabetical order:
ChemStewards Integrated Management System
http://www.socma.com/chemStewards/?subsec=478
GHS: Globally Harmonized System. A Guide to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling, also known as the ‘Purple Book”; most current version https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/ghs.html
ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management Systems http://www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/management-standards/iso14000.htm or most current version
OHSAS 18001:2007
http://www.ohsas-18001-occupational-health-and-safety.com/ or most current version
Responsible Care RC-14001 program
http://responsiblecare.americanchemistry.com/
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
At the end of the seciton, add the following for Option 3:
Use the following equation for Option 3 Supply Chain Optimization (see Further Explanation, Supply Chain Optimization). Products that meet the requirements of Option 3, as outlined below, contribute toward earning LEED credit at 100% of the product cost. To encourage actions beyond those minimum requirements, additional credit can be earned in a number of ways.
Equation 2 Percentage Supply Chain Optimization of compliant materials cost.
% of materials cost = {〖product cost〗_1 (criterion val.factor)(supply chain depth factor)(location val.factor)} + {〖product cost〗_2 (criterion val.factor)(supply chain depth factor)(location val.factor)} + ⋯ X100 / Cost of all permanently installed products
where:
Criteria valuation factor = multiplier assigned to number of enhanced achievement measures
100% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements are met.
150% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements plus:
Inventory and screening performed to 99.9% level
OR
Use GHS Category 2 criteria for hazard screening for carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxicants, and skin irritants for determining which ingredients are subject to management, reporting, and optimization (the basic requirement stops at GHS Category 1 for these endpoints). See Table 1.
OR
The building product manufacturer shall require either self-declared or third-party validated environmental management and health & safety management systems as described in the requirements in Section 4 for ALL ingredients up to the 99% threshold, not just those that fail the initial hazard screen. If the building product manufacturer is also seeking extra credit in the Supply Chain Depth factor, this would also apply to all ingredients at the additional tier or tiers.
The building product manufacturer shall document substitution or elimination of at least one ingredient that was flagged in the hazard screening process. Where substitution occurs, manufacturer shall take action based on that alternatives assessment such that the hazard is no longer flagged at the Enhanced Achievement hazard Criteria level (table 1) in place of the original ingredient.
200% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements are met plus any two of the four above options.

Supply chain depth factor = multiplier assigned to level of supply chain engagement
100% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements are met.
150% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements plus one of these two:
The building product manufacturer has met the Option 3 minimum requirements for the entire business unit or company.
OR
All tier 2 suppliers have documented processes in place as described for tier 1 suppliers. This multiplier is not available to products with only tier 1 suppliers in their supply chain.
200% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements plus:
All suppliers in the supply chain of the product have documented processes in place as described for tier 1 suppliers. This multiplier is not available to products with only tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers in their supply chain.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In "Step 1, Specify and Select Compliant Products", make "this option" plural in the second sentence so that it reads, "Note that these options evaluates complete products; therefore, the criteria for assemblies found in other MR credits do not apply to these options."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise the second bullet to read, "Option 2 Material Ingredient Optimization and Option 3 Supply Chain Optimization are for projects with 25% permanently installed products,
by cost, that meet at least one of the paths listed in the credit requirements."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
6/10/2016Updated: 6/10/2016
Form Update
Description of change:
Added the following programs to Material Ingredients tab:
Manf Inv – GHS
Manf Inv – GS
Declare
ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard
C2C MHC
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016Updated: 4/7/2016
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Add a new bullet under the Cradle to Cradle bullet that reads:
• Declare. The Declare product label must indicate that all ingredients have been evaluated and disclosed down to 1000 ppm.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016Updated: 4/7/2016
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Add a new bullet under the Cradle to Cradle bullet that reads:
• Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate. The product has been certified at the Bronze level or higher and at least 90% of materials are assessed by weight.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016Updated: 4/7/2016
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Revise the second sub-bullet under Manufacturer's Inventory, and add additional sub-bullets, so that the second sub-bullet reads:
o Materials defined as trade secret or intellectual property may withhold the name and/or CASRN but must disclose role, amount and hazard screen using either:
• GreenScreen benchmark, as defined in GreenScreen v1.2
• The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals rev.6 (2015) (GHS)
_____• The hazard screen must be applied to each trade secret ingredient and the inventory lists the hazard category for each of the health hazards included in Part 3 of GHS (e.g. “GHS Category 2 Carcinogen”).
_____• Identify in the inventory all hazard classes for which a classification cannot be made because there are insufficient data for a particular endpoint(s).
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016Updated: 4/7/2016
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Add a new bullet under the Cradle to Cradle bullet that reads:
• ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard. The documentation from the assessor or scorecard from BIFMA must demonstrate the product earned 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 e3-2012.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/1/2015Updated: 6/16/2015
Form Update
Description of change:
Revisions to the 30% cap on structure and enclosure materials.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In the fourth row of the table, change "lists of ingredients with GreenScreen benchmarks" to "lists of ingredients with GreenScreen Benchmark or LT scores"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Form Update
Description of change:
Revised location valuation factor calculations to specify that the entire product meets local criteria.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Table 1. Manufactures' documentation for compliant products
In the column labeled "What Has to be Reported" change the row for "Manufacturer's inventory to, "All ingredients at or above 0.1%; Report hazards associated with LT-1, LT-P1 (GS List Translator) or Benchmark 1 (full GreenScreen) scores"

In the column labeled "Based on What Framework" change the row for "Manufacturer's Inventory" to "GreenScreen (GS) v1.2 or higher (either GS List Translator or full GreenScreen)"

In the column labeled "Based on What Framework" change the row "Health product declaration" delete "Health risks based on"

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In the 3rd paragraph for BD+C and 2nd paragraph for ID+C replace the 4th-7th sentences with the following: "If optional products or materials are included in cost-based credit calculations, such as Option 2 under each Building Product Disclosure and Optimization credits, they must be included consistently across all cost-based credit calculations. Additionally, if optional products and materials are included in product based calculations, such as Option 1 under each Building Product Disclosure and Optimization credits, they are not required to be included in cost-based credit calculations. However, unlike furniture, if some of these products are included in credit calculations, not all products of that type must be included."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In the last sentence of the third paragraph, replace "also" with "not" so that the sentence reads: "Projects in the U.S. may not use this alternative compliance path."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Change the first sub-bullet under GreenScreen version 1.2 benchmark to read "All ingredients screened using GreenScreen List Translator and no ingredients with Benchmark 1 hazards, 100% value (by cost)"
Change the second sub-bullet under GreenScreen version 1.2 benchmark to read "All ingredients fully assessed by full GreenScreen method and no ingredients with Benchmark 1 hazards, 150% value (by cost)"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In Table 1. Example Calculation for $500 office chair, the row “Wheels” in the column “Percentage of component meeting sustainability criteria” replace "5% with "10%" so the cell reads “10% postconsumer recycled content”
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

How can I use version 2 of the Health Product Declaration Open Standard to meet the requirements of the Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Material Ingredients credit?

Ruling:

Option 1 in the Material Ingredients credit references a specific threshold for reporting when using the pathway for Health Product Declarations. This threshold was called, “full disclosure of known hazards” in HPD v1. HPD v2 was released September 10, 2015 and the standard no longer includes this threshold designation. To meet the same level of disclosure of HPD v1, a version 2 HPD must:
· List substance name and CAS RN, role or function, amount, and health hazards for every substance at or above 1000 ppm in the finished product for Option 1, 100 ppm for Option 2; name and CAS RN may be withheld for ingredients defined as trade secret or intellectual property, but role, amount, and hazards must be reported.
· Indicate whether residuals and impurities were considered, with explanation as required in the HPD Open Standard.
HPD v2 provides two formats for reporting – Basic Inventory and Nested Material and Substance. Either can be used for LEED. If using the Basic Inventory format, the manufacturer must report all substances in the final product to a threshold of at least 1,000 ppm by weight for Option 1 or 100 ppm for Option 2.
If using the Nested Material and Substance format, the inventory is still relative to the final product for the purposes of LEED. Since this format is reporting the inventory of each material rather than the final product, it is possible that a product with the boxes checked the "Per GHS" or "Per OSHA” boxes could still be compliant, even if the "1000 ppm of per material" box is unchecked. In this scenario, manufacturers should note in the Inventory and Screening Notes that all ingredients over 1000 ppm or 100 ppm of the product are disclosed. The Nested Material and Substance format also can be used as specified in the HPD Open Standard, with the threshold specified for each material to be at least 1000 ppm in each material for Option 1 and 100 ppm in Option 2. The Nested Material and Substance format also can be used as specified in the HPD Open Standard, with the threshold specified for each material to be at least 1000 ppm in each material for Option 1 and 100 ppm in Option 2.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
1/1/2015
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

Can equipment and machinery in CSI divisions 11, 21-28 and other specialty divisions, including special equipment such as elevators, escalators, process equipment, and fire suppression systems contribute towards the 20 minimum number of products required in Option 1 of Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations, Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials, and of Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Material Ingredients?

Ruling:

Yes, these products may contribute towards Option 1 of Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations, Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials, and of Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Material Ingredients. Note that if these products are included in Option 1 of a credit, they are not required to be included in Option 2.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

Can Cradle to Cradle certified products use the Material Health score to meet the credit requirements for Option 2 in the Material Ingredients credit instead of the overall score for the product (including energy, water, etc.)?

Ruling:

Yes, products that have received a full C2C certification may use the score for the material health category to document Option 2 of the Material Ingredients credit. The value for the material health score follows the same levels as a full product certification (C2C v2 Gold valued at 100%, platinum at 150%; C2C v3 Silver – 100%, Gold and Platinum - 150%).

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »

Documentation toolkit

The motherlode of cheat sheets

LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.

LEEDuser expert

Tommy Linstroth

Green Badger
CEO

Get the inside scoop

Our editors have written a detailed analysis of nearly every LEED credit, and LEEDuser premium members get full access. We’ll tell you whether the credit is easy to accomplish or better left alone, and we provide insider tips on how to document it successfully.

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Option 1. material ingredient reporting (1 point)

Use at least 20 different permanently installed products from at least five different manufacturers that use any of the following programs to demonstrate the chemical inventory of the product to at least 0.1% (1000 ppm).

  • Manufacturer Inventory. The manufacturer has published complete content inventory for the product following these guidelines:
    • A publicly available inventory of all ingredients identified by name and Chemical Abstract Service Registration Number (CASRN) and/or European Community Number (EC Number)
    • Materials defined as trade secret or intellectual property may withhold the name and/or CASRN/EC Number but must disclose role, amount and hazard screen using either:
      • GreenScreen benchmark, as defined in GreenScreen v1.2.
      • The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals rev.6 (2015) (GHS)
        • The hazard screen must be applied to each trade secret ingredient and the inventory lists the hazard category for each of the health hazards included in Part 3 of GHS (e.g. “GHS Category 2 Carcinogen”).
        • Identify in the inventory all hazard classes for which a classification cannot be made because there are insufficient data for a particular endpoint(s).
  • Health Product Declaration. The end use product has a published, complete Health Product Declaration with full disclosure of known hazards in compliance with the Health Product Declaration open Standard.
  • Cradle to Cradle. The end use product has been certified at the Cradle to Cradle v2 Basic level or Cradle to Cradle v3 Bronze level.
  • Declare. The Declare product label must indicate that all ingredients have been evaluated and disclosed down to 1000 ppm.
  • ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard. The documentation from the assessor or scorecard from BIFMA must demonstrate the product earned 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 e3-2012.
  • Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate. The product has been certified at the Bronze level or higher and at least 90% of materials are assessed by weight.
  • Product Lens Certification
  • Facts - NSF/ANSI 336: Sustainability Assessment for Commercial Furnishings Fabric at any certification level
  • USGBC approved program. Other USGBC approved programs meeting the material ingredient reporting criteria.

AND/OR

Option 2. Material ingredient optimization (1 point)

Use products that document their material ingredient optimization using the paths below for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project.

  • GreenScreen v1.2 Benchmark. Products that have fully inventoried chemical ingredients to 100 ppm that have no Benchmark 1 hazards:
    • If any ingredients are assessed with the GreenScreen List Translator, value these products at 100% of cost.
    • If all ingredients are have undergone a full GreenScreen Assessment, value these products at 150% of cost.
  • Cradle to Cradle Certified. End use products are certified Cradle to Cradle. Products will be valued as follows:
    • Cradle to Cradle v2 Gold: 100% of cost
    • Cradle to Cradle v2 Platinum: 150% of cost
    • Cradle to Cradle v3 Silver: 100% of cost
    • Cradle to Cradle v3 Gold or Platinum: 150% of cost
  • International Alternative Compliance Path – REACH Optimization. End use products and materials have fully inventoried chemical ingredients to 100 ppm and assess each substance against the Authorization list – Annex XIV, the Restriction list – Annex XVII and the SVHC candidate list, (the version in effect in June 2013 ), proving that no such substance is included in the product. If the product contains no ingredients listed on the REACH Authorization, Restriction, and Candidate list, value at 100% of cost.
  • USGBC approved program. Products that comply with USGBC approved building product optimization criteria.
AND/OR
Option 3. Product Manufacturer Supply Chain Optimization (1 point)

Use building products for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project that:

  • Are sourced from product manufacturers who engage in validated and robust safety, health, hazard, and risk programs which at a minimum document at least 99% (by weight) of the ingredients used to make the building product or building material, and
  • Are sourced from product manufacturers with independent third party verification of their supply chain that at a minimum verifies:
    • Processes are in place to communicate and transparently prioritize chemical ingredients along the supply chain according to available hazard, exposure and use information to identify those that require more detailed evaluation
    • Processes are in place to identify, document, and communicate information on health, safety and environmental characteristics of chemical ingredients
    • Processes are in place to implement measures to manage the health, safety and environmental hazard and risk of chemical ingredients
    • Processes are in place to optimize health, safety and environmental impacts when designing and improving chemical ingredients
    • Processes are in place to communicate, receive and evaluate chemical ingredient safety and stewardship information along the supply chain
    • Safety and stewardship information about the chemical ingredients is publicly available from all points along the supply chain

Products meeting Option 3 criteria are valued at 100% of their cost for the purposes of credit achievement calculation.

For credit achievement calculation of options 2 and 3, products sourced (extracted, manufactured, purchased) within 100 miles (160 km) of the project site are valued at 200% of their base contributing cost. For credit achievement calculation, the value of individual products compliant with either option 2 or 3 can be combined to reach the 25% threshold but products compliant with both option 2 and 3 may only be counted once.

Structure and enclosure materials may not constitute more than 30% of the value of compliant building products. Projects with significant amounts of structural and enclosure materials may exceed the 30% limit by calculating an alternative structure and enclosure limit (See Calculations under Further Explanation).

SITES-LEED Equivalency

This LEED credit (or a component of this credit) has been established as equivalent to a SITES v2 credit or component. For more information on using the equivalency as a substitution in your LEED or SITES project, see this article and guidance document.

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 »

In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:

  • Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
  • Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
  • Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
  • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
  • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
  • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.

Does a manufacturer have to reveal everything that’s in a product to comply with the transparency option? 

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Does any published HPD work for a product to comply with the credit, or are there specific conditions it has to meet? 

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

For the Declare option do “LBC Compliant” and “Declared” labels count, or only “Red List Free”?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Does Cradle-to-Cradle’s Material Health certificate count, or only full Cradle-to-Cradle certification? 

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Are there ways to get extra credit for products that exceed the thresholds?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Is the REACH pathway in Option 2 available to projects in the U.S.?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

4/9/2018Updated: 3/12/2021
Form Update
Description of change:
added two new standards: UL Product Lens certification and Facts:NSF/ANSI 336
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
1/26/2018Updated: 1/26/2018
Form Update
Description of change:
Updated calculator to display all Material content on other tabs
Removed 30% cap language
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/8/2017Updated: 7/28/2017
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
At the end of the “Requirements” section in each of the BPDO credits, change text to the following:
“Structure and enclosure materials may not constitute more than 30% of the value of compliant building products. Projects with significant amounts of structural and enclosure materials may exceed the 30% limit by calculating an alternative structure and enclosure limit (See Equation 3 under Further Explanation).”

Furthermore, add the following new section in every BPDO credit under “Further Explanation - CALCULATIONS”:
“Equation 3: Alternative Structure & Enclosure Percentage Limit for Option 2
For projects with significant amounts of structure and enclosure materials, the following calculation can be made to determine an alternative limit for the percentage of value that structure and enclosure materials can contribute to credit achievement. Note: this option is only available for projects that use the actual materials cost method (not the default cost method) to determine total project material costs.
Equation 3: Alternative Structure and Enclosure limit
Alternative Structure and Enclosure limit = (value $ of total building materials that are structural or enclosure) [divided by] (total actual materials value $)
Use the results of equation 3 to replace the 30% contribution factor limit in determining compliance with the credit.”
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/8/2017Updated: 7/10/2017
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Make changes to “FURTHER EXPLANATION > CALCULATIONS” as follows:
“Program valuation factor = multiplier assigned to each compliance program:

• GreenScreen benchmark. Products that have fully inventoried chemical ingredients to 100 ppm:
o All ingredients assessed using GreenScreen List Translator and have no Benchmark-1 hazards, 100% value (by cost)
o All ingredients have undergone a full GreenScreen assessment and have no Benchmark-1 scores, 150% value (by cost)
• Cradle to Cradle Certified version 2.1.1:
o Gold, 100% value (by cost)
o Platinum, 150% value (by cost)
• Cradle to Cradle Certified version 3.0:
o Silver, 100% value (by cost)
o Gold or Platinum, 150% value (by cost)
• REACH Optimization. This is an alternative compliance path for projects outside the U.S. If the product contains no ingredients listed on the REACH authorization or candidate list, value it at 100% of cost.”

Make changes to “FURTHER EXPLANATION > MATERIAL INGREDIENT REPORTING (TABLE 1)” as follows: Modify Table 1:

First row under "Based on what framework" column, modify to read as follow: " GreenScreen (GS) (either GS Translator List or full GreenScreen assessment)"

Manufacturer’s Inventory
Manufacturers may publicly disclose all ingredients by name and Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number. No third-party verification is required for this option, but the information must be publicly available; direct disclosure to the designer or contractor is not acceptable.
If a specific ingredient cannot be disclosed for proprietary reasons, the manufacturer may withhold the name and CAS registry number but still provide the following information:
• Role or function in the product
• Amount, as a percentage of total product content or ppm
• GreenScreen LT score (GS List Translator) or GS Benchmark score (full GS). Report hazard levels and hazard endpoints that result in scoring the ingredient as LT-1 or LT-P1 using GS List Translator (e.g. High for Carcinogenicity) or hazard levels and hazard endpoints that result in scoring the ingredient as Benchmark 1 using full GreenScreen. It is not necessary to report hazards associated with higher Benchmark levels or LT-UNK (Unknown) using GS List Translator.
All ingredients that constitute 0.1% (1,000 ppm) or more of the product must be accounted for. This threshold is 10 times lower than the typical 1% minimum threshold for reporting on a material safety data sheet (MSDS).

Health Product Declaration Open Standard
Disclosure is done through Health Product Declaration (HPD), which is an open standard for reporting product ingredients and their associated health hazards. Manufacturers that use HPDs must provide the nonproprietary information listed above (role or function, amount, and health hazards) for every ingredient, not just those whose names have been withheld. The manufacturer affirms “full disclosure of known hazards” on the front summary page and further affirms the level of disclosure with residuals/impurities. For the material to comply with the credit requirements, the HPD standards for the 1,000-ppm level must be attained and the appropriate box on the summary page checked.

An HPD is several pages long, with a one-page summary listing company information, metadata about the report, and ingredients, and continuing on subsequent pages with more detail about individual ingredients and their associated health hazards, plus details on any certifications and associated materials. GreenScreen List Translator scores and/or Benchmarks, if any, are listed for each ingredient in HPDs, in the contents section. A report from a certified GreenScreen profiler may also be used to document the GreenScreen benchmarks for a product’s ingredients.
Manufacturers that use the standard HPD format reduce uncertainty about whether the information that they have provided meets the credit requirements, and they create a report that should be useful in other settings as well.

Qualifying HPDs developed under the Open Standard version 1.0, 2.0, 2.1 or subsequent versions of the standard are eligible for documenting credit achievement if the HPD is still valid at the time that the product is purchased and used on a project.

Make changes to “FURTHER EXPLANATION > MATERIAL INGREDIENT OPTIMIZATION” as follows:

GreenScreen Benchmark 1
The GreenScreen hazard assessment method evaluates individual chemicals. GreenScreen is based on a toxicological assessment that starts with a collection of authoritative lists of “chemicals of concern” published by governmental and nongovernmental organizations (GreenScreen List Translator). These substances are known to be associated with certain health problems. The assessment then proceeds to reviews of the scientific literature, use of structure activity relationship models and chemical analog data to fill data gaps (Full GreenScreen). Chemicals are assigned to one of four main categories: those of highest concern, as indicated in the authoritative lists, are assigned Benchmark 1. Chemicals that are not on the major authoritative lists and pass a toxicological review based on Clean Production Action’s protocols can be assigned benchmarks that indicate lower levels of concern; Benchmark 4 is the lowest level of concern. A full GreenScreen assessment overrides the results of screening using the GreenScreen List Translator only.

The GreenScreen List Translator has been automated by two software providers. It can be accessed through the Chemical and Material Library found in Healthy Building Network’s Pharos Tool, the ToxNot website, and in the GS List Translator module in the GreenWERCS software tool by The Wercs. The Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse has created a website where GreenScreen assessments can be posted by various participating State governments and shared with no costs or restrictions. The GreenScreen Store is another source for some freely available full assessments: www.greenscreenchemicals.org/gs-assessments

Option 1 of this credit requires only the GreenScreen List Translator review of ingredients to ensure that none of the ingredients are on the authoritative lists and thus flagged as Benchmark 1 substances. Project teams should look for documentation from manufacturers that either identifies all ingredients in the product or identifies and characterizes any benchmark hazards.

Option 2 requires the Full GreenScreen toxicological assessment to ensure that none of the ingredients are Benchmark 1. Project teams should look for documentation from manufacturers that shows each ingredient in the product has been subject to a full GreenScreen assessment by a licensed GreenScreen Profiler and that the product contains only Benchmark 2 and higher ingredients.

Products using GreenScreen version 1.2, 1.3, or subsequent versions are eligible for documenting credit achievement if the analysis/scores are valid at the time that the product is purchased and used on a project.


For Manufacturers and Suppliers
GreenScreen’s List Translator assigns hazard classifications based on the various governmental and authoritative hazard lists including lists of chemicals classified using the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling. The GreenScreen List Translator can be used to identify chemicals that achieve or may achieve the Benchmark 1 level of concern. Under Option 1, manufacturers that keep certain ingredients proprietary must characterize any health hazards from those ingredients, as indicated by the List Translator or a full GreenScreen assessment.
Under Option 2, the manufacturer must warrant that no ingredients in the product at levels of 0.01% or more (100 ppm) are designated as Benchmark 1 chemicals based on the referenced lists defined by the List Translator. These products achieve compliance at the first level of the option.

The second level of compliance requires that all ingredients be Benchmark 2 or higher. There is no definitive List Translator for Benchmark 2, so manufacturers must engage an independent third party to screen all their ingredients, using the screening protocol defined by GreenScreen, and certify that none of them are Benchmark 1.

Products using GreenScreen version 1.2, 1.3, or subsequent versions are eligible for documenting credit achievement if the analysis/scores are valid at the time that the product is purchased and used on a project.

Make changes to “FURTHER EXPLANATION > EXAMPLES” as follows:

Example GreenScreen List Translator Result
The GreenScreen List Translator identifies each list that GreenScreen references, including its source, which hazards in the GreenScreen it covers, whether it is “authoritative” or “screening,” and which GreenScreen hazard level and subsequent Benchmark score applies, along with other data.

Table 2. GreenScreen List Translator Result (version 1.2 shown). Used with permission from Clean Production Action.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/14/2017Updated: 4/18/2017
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Change language to read as follows:
Option 1. Material Ingredient Reporting (1 point)
• Manufacturer Inventory. The manufacturer has published complete content inventory for the product following these guidelines:
o A publicly available inventory of all ingredients identified by name and Chemical Abstract Service Registration Number (CASRN) and/or European Community Number (EC Number)
o Materials defined as trade secret or intellectual property may withhold the name and/or CASRN/EC Number but must disclose role, amount and hazard screen using either:
GreenScreen benchmark, as defined in GreenScreen v1.2.
o The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals rev.6 (2015) (GHS)
• The hazard screen must be applied to each trade secret ingredient and the inventory lists the hazard category for each of the health hazards included in Part 3 of GHS (e.g. “GHS Category 2 Carcinogen”).
• Identify in the inventory all hazard classes for which a classification cannot be made because there are insufficient data for a particular endpoint(s).

Make the following addition:
Option 1, add to the list of approved programs, after the bullet for “Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate” and before “USGBC approved program”:
• Product Lens Certification
• Facts - NSF/ANSI 336: Sustainability Assessment for Commercial Furnishings Fabric at any certification level

AND/OR
Change language to read as follows:

Option 2. Material Ingredient Optimization (1 point) Use products that document their material ingredient optimization using the paths below for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed products in the project... • International Alternative Compliance Path – REACH Optimization. End use products and materials have fully inventoried chemical ingredients to 100 ppm and assess each substance against the Authorization list – Annex XIV, the Restriction list – Annex XVII and the SVHC candidate list, (the version in effect in June 2013 ), proving that no such substance is included in the product. If the product contains no ingredients listed on the REACH Authorization, Restriction, and Candidate list, value at 100% of cost.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Add the following definitions, in alphabetical order:
Building product manufacturer: Any company making an product for incorporation into the project that would arrive at the job site.
Business unit: A logical segment of a company that represents a specific operational function or production of a product type. Also called department, division, or a functional area.
Component: Uniquely identifiable input, part, element, piece, assembly or subassembly, system or subsystem, that (1) is required to complete or finish an activity, item, or job, (2) performs a distinctive and necessary function in the operation of a system, or (3) is intended to be included as a part of a finished, packaged, and labeled product. Components are usually removable in one piece and are considered indivisible for a particular purpose or use. Commonly, items of very small or insignificant cost are not considered components.
Facility: one or more buildings or locations, or part of a building, that it is clearly delineated in the EMS and includes all process associated with the relevant building product (in the case of a Building Product Manufacturer) or ingredient or component (in the case of a supplier to the building product manufacturer).
First-tier supplier: Any company providing components or ingredients directly to a building product manufacturer.
Green chemistry: The design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances (Anastas, P. T. and Warner, J. C. Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice. Oxford University Press: New York, 1998, p. 30).
Green engineering: The development and commercialization of industrial processes that are economically feasible and reduce the risk to human health and the environment (Anastas, P.T., and Zimmerman, J.B., "Design through the Twelve Principles of Green Engineering", Env. Sci. Tech. 2003, 37(5), 94A-101A).
Ingredient: A substance or single constituent of fixed composition, characterized by its molecular structure(s) used to make a compound, mixture, or finished product. Ingredients can be active (help directly in achieving a performance objective(s)) or inert (facilitate acceptance, application, stability, handling or marketing of the product, or delivery of the active ingredients). Ingredients typically have an associate CAS RN (and may also have synonym CAS RNs).
Optimization: Developing a product or process with the highest achievable combination of functional performance, cost, and positive social, environmental, and health impacts by maximizing desired factors and minimizing undesired ones. For the purposes of LEED’s Material Ingredients credit “optimization” implies giving human and environmental health higher priority among the multiple factors than is typically the case.
Second-tier supplier: A supplier providing ingredients to another supplier that end up in the product being considered by the building product manufacturer.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Add a new section after "Supply Chain Optimization" titled, "Supply Chain Optimization - Enhanced Achievement Options"
Supply Chain Optimization - Enhanced Achievement Options
In addition to the minimum requirements described in Further Explanation – Supply Chain Optimization, building product manufacturers have the option of pursuing more advanced supply chain optimization measures, which can help their products contribute more value towards earning the LEED point, as described in Calculations. Seven enhanced achievement options are available for this LEED point, described below. Each relates only to the product for which the building product manufacturer is seeking credit under Option 3.
Additional ingredient inventory
Instead of identifying ingredients to the 99% level, the building product manufacturers identifies and includes in the screening (and, if appropriate, additional requirements) all ingredients to the 99.9% level (1,000 ppm).
Additional hazard screening
Use GHS Category 2 criteria for hazard screening for carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxicants, skin irritants, and Systemic Toxicity & Organ Effects Repeated Exposure sub‐endpoint (ST‐repeat) for determining which ingredients are subject to management, reporting, and optimization (the basic requirement stops at GHS Category 1 for these endpoints). See Table 2.
Supplier documentation for all ingredients
To address hazardous substances that do not persist into ingredients comprising the end product, the building product manufacturer shall require either self-declared or third-party validated environmental management and health & safety management systems for ALL ingredients up to the 99% threshold, not just those that fail the initial Hazard Screen. If the building product manufacturer is also seeking extra credit in the Supply Chain Depth factor, this would also apply to all ingredients at the additional tier or tiers.
Green chemistry optimization
The building product manufacturer takes actions to design and improve chemical ingredients within their supply chain. To demonstrate compliance, building product manufacturer must:
• Take at least one supply chain ingredient that triggered a Hazard Criteria in Table 1 and conduct a comparative assessment on that ingredient.
• Based on the comparative hazard assessment, the building product manufacturer must substitute or eliminate (e.g. product design change or process change) that ingredient.
• Where substitution occurs, manufacturer shall take action based on that alternatives assessment such that the hazard is no longer flagged at the Enhanced Achievement hazard Criteria level (table 2) in place of the original ingredient.
• After substitution or elimination, safety and stewardship information about the chemical ingredient is publicly available for all points along the supply chain.
Ingredients that are substituted must have been incorporated within 3 years of the alternative assessment date, and the ingredient being replaced must have been present in the product manufacturing processes no more than 6 years prior to the alternatives assessment and a subject of said alternatives assessment (e.g., the alternatives assessment was intended for the ingredient).
Enterprise-wide application of the EMS
The building product manufacturer has met the Option 3 minimum requirements for the entire business unit or company.
Extension of supplier engagement to Tier 2
All Tier 2 suppliers have documented environmental and health & safety management systems as described for Tier 1 suppliers. Building product manufacturer must procure third party verification or self-declaration with documentation that all first and second tier suppliers have those systems in place for the material they are supplying.
Extension of supplier engagement to source
All suppliers in the supply chain of the product have documented processes in place as described for Tier 1 suppliers. Building product manufacturer must procure third party verification or self-declaration with documentation that all suppliers have processes in place for the material they are supplying.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise the section title to read, "Option 2 Material Ingredient Optimization and Option 3 Supply Chain Optimization"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Add a new section, "Supply Chain Optimization" at the bottom of the page.
Supply Chain Optimization
These requirements builds on programs that many companies already have in place, specifically environmental management systems (EMS) such as ISO 14001 and health and safety management systems such as OHSAS 18000, to meet and document compliance with Option 3. To comply with this option, the building product manufacturer (BPM), and any company that supplies it with ingredients or components that are significant health hazards, must have a robust program for continual improvement in environmental management and health & safety management. Specific industry programs that are consistent with ISO 14001:2015 include:
• RC14001:2013 Responsible Care
• ChemStewards Integrated Management System-2011
Guiding Principles
The building product manufacturer publishes a publicly available set of guiding principles for the optimization of ingredients and products in their supply chain with an emphasis on human and environmental health. The principles may be a standalone document or part of a website or other document. The principles include, at a minimum and in the building product manufacturer’s own words, the following:
a. a commitment toward continual improvement (e.g., actual or attempted reduction in use of hazardous chemicals) in their supply chain;
b. a commitment toward greater communication and transfer of information within their supply chain and with their industry partners; and
c. a commitment to applying the principles of green chemistry and principles of green engineering
These principles should be endorsed by top management and referenced in documentation relating to Option 3 conformance.
Inventory
The manufacturer of permanently installed building products determines the composition of the ingredients and components it’s buying, based on final composition of the product in question, to at least the 99% level by mass; no more than 1% of the contents can remain undetermined. A product disclosed via an approved method for Option 1 (such as Declare or HPD or other manufacturers inventory) could also be used to demonstrate conformance. If a supplier chooses to withhold the chemical identity of materials defined as trade secret or intellectual property, they may withhold the name and/or CASRN but must disclose role, amount and associated GHS Hazard classification of each ingredient via Safety Data Sheet and/or supplier’s documentation on company letterhead, signed by a company official. In the case of mixtures, each ingredient in the mixture must be documented. The manufacturer will typically obtain this information from its first-tier suppliers, although if those suppliers provide manufactured components it may be necessary to reach further back into the supply chain to obtain content information to the 99% level.
Hazard Screen
All documented ingredients representing at least 99% by mass of the final product shall be screened for human health and environmental hazard characteristics according to the most current available criteria of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). For each product, any ingredient that is flagged against the hazard criteria identified in Table 2 is determined to “not pass” the hazard screen, and shall be addressed by the building product manufacturer’s environmental and health & safety management systems and supplier engagement (see below). While the GHS Screening is required, it is encouraged to go beyond the GHS screening criteria. For example, if a hazardous chemical is present at 0.05% in product but the GHS screening level is at 0.1%, the building product manufacturer is encouraged but not required to flag the ingredient.
Ingredients with data gaps (no information available on the substance for one or more endpoints) should be flagged (i.e., should not pass) the hazard screen. If the 99% of ingredients to be screened includes recycled content, the building product manufacturer shall document its best management practices to characterize the sources of pre- and post-consumer recycled material and reduce or eliminate hazards associated with these materials.

Table 2. GHS Hazard Criteria by Endpoint for Option 3 Screening: http://www.usgbc.org/resources/scowg-li-table-2

Environmental and Health & Safety Management Systems
Building product manufacturers shall have programs for environmental and health & safety management that include all the essential elements listed below and cover the facility, facilities, or portion of a facility where the building products for which the manufacturer seeks credit under Option 3 are manufactured. Building product manufacturers may need to specify new requirements or processes as compared to existing ISO or Responsible Care systems to meet these requirements. This step describes an environmental or health and safety management system as the framework, with health and safety criteria added to the EMS, but the systems can be combined differently as long as they contain the same elements.

For the purposes of documenting conformance with Option 3, all building product manufacturer’s environmental and health & safety management systems must meet requirements 1 through 3 for the facility, facilities, or portion of a facility where the building product in question is manufactured, whether these systems are separate or combined into one:
1. Publicly available policy statement signed by top management that describes the company’s commitment and what the environmental or health and safety management system is intended to achieve.
2. Processes or controls that address continual improvement based on a list of existing and potential environmental aspects and impacts or health and safety risks. The plan must include:
a. Targets and objectives addressing all significant environmental aspects or health and safety risks on list.
b. Monitoring and measurement of key elements in the operation that have relevant impacts.
c. Documented activities implementing the plan.
d. Internal evaluation, corrective action and audits of conformance to plan.
e. Communication to top management about results of audits.
3. The management system policy and plan shall include chemical safety & health as objectives with specific targets and goals in the plan. Joint objectives and targets set at both the corporate level and operational level are found to be most effective as they show a level of commitment throughout the organization. As a general framework, the plan should seek to, on a continual improvement basis:
a. eliminate the use of hazardous ingredients,
b. minimize the use of hazardous ingredients where elimination is not possible,
c. transition to more effective control measures where hazardous ingredients remain, and
d. manage those remaining hazardous ingredients responsibly with a goal of zero exposure and discharge to humans and the environment.
Building product managers with one or more hazard flagged ingredients must further meet requirements 4 through 6:

4. For any building product for which the manufacturer seeks credit under Option 3, at least 99% by mass of the ingredients comprising that product must be identified and screened for hazardous characteristics pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 2.3. ,
5. The building product manufacturer shall share hazardous characteristics for each ingredient that fails the hazard screen with customers to inform their appropriate handling, installation, and management of the product, and with suppliers as an input to their management system prioritization.
6. The management system shall have a continual improvement plan to evaluate and eliminate or reduce chemical hazards and exposure to the ingredients in the final building products as well as chemical hazards and exposures during the manufacturing processes.
a. For optimization purposes established frameworks that contain steps for the comparative or alternatives assessment that meet the intent of this requirement are listed below, but others can also be used as long as they are known as acceptable equivalents. Frameworks that factor in broader environmental impacts such as climate change and resource extraction impacts are encouraged but not required.
i. National Academy of Sciences (National Research Council) Alternatives Assessment Framework
ii. BizNGO Chemical Alternatives Assessment Protocol
iii. Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse Alternatives Assessment Guide
Supplier Engagement
Suppliers of any chemical ingredient or component flagged in the hazard screen must have systems for environmental and health & safety management as described above, items 1–3. The building product manufacturer will notify its immediate (first-tier) suppliers that this requirement is due to the presence of flagged ingredients or components.
The supplier provides documentation of its management system(s) to the building product manufacturer. This documentation can be third party verification or a self-declaration stating that processes are in place for the ingredients and/or components supplied. Any self-declaration must be accompanied by supporting documentation, which must be reviewed as part of the third-party verification of the building product manufacturer’s environmental and health & safety management systems.
Verification
The building product manufacturer obtains third-party validation of fulfillment of the requirements of Option 3. Pre-existing audit processes may be acceptable if the audit process specifically includes validation of Option 3-related steps, including confirming that the steps listed above are completed and a review of documentation from the suppliers about their corresponding programs. Audits are to be repeated at least every three years.
If no ingredients are hazard-flagged, then the fact that the hazard screen was completed is the only specific element required beyond basic conformance with the environmental and health & safety practices described above in parts 1-3. Procedures for building product manufacturer’s assessment of ingredient hazards must be disclosed to the auditor.
Customer Communication
The building product manufacturer provides a certificate from a third-party verifying its Option 3-conforming program to anyone seeking to specify or purchase its product for a LEED project. The certificate must include a brief summary of the manufacturer’s continual improvement objectives specific to that product or product line.
LEED Documentation
Project teams specify and install products that have verified processes in place for assessing and improving the health impact of the product along the supply chain. The team must obtain third party-verification that the building product manufacturer has processes in place for the specific product, as defined above. The LEED project team submits that certification with its LEED application as evidence that the products or materials purchased contribute to the 25% by cost threshold for Options 2 & 3 in the credit.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise the first sentence to include Equation 2 and the second sentence to make "this option" plural, so that they read, "Using Equation 1 and Equation 2, determine the total value of compliant products (see Further Explanation, Calculations). These options calculates compliance based on product cost."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Delete the last sentence in the first paragraph, "For Option 3 Product Manufacturer Supply Chain Optimization, check USGBC’s website for updates on how to achieve compliance."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Add the following to the section, in alphabetical order:
ChemStewards Integrated Management System
http://www.socma.com/chemStewards/?subsec=478
GHS: Globally Harmonized System. A Guide to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling, also known as the ‘Purple Book”; most current version https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/ghs.html
ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management Systems http://www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/management-standards/iso14000.htm or most current version
OHSAS 18001:2007
http://www.ohsas-18001-occupational-health-and-safety.com/ or most current version
Responsible Care RC-14001 program
http://responsiblecare.americanchemistry.com/
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
At the end of the seciton, add the following for Option 3:
Use the following equation for Option 3 Supply Chain Optimization (see Further Explanation, Supply Chain Optimization). Products that meet the requirements of Option 3, as outlined below, contribute toward earning LEED credit at 100% of the product cost. To encourage actions beyond those minimum requirements, additional credit can be earned in a number of ways.
Equation 2 Percentage Supply Chain Optimization of compliant materials cost.
% of materials cost = {〖product cost〗_1 (criterion val.factor)(supply chain depth factor)(location val.factor)} + {〖product cost〗_2 (criterion val.factor)(supply chain depth factor)(location val.factor)} + ⋯ X100 / Cost of all permanently installed products
where:
Criteria valuation factor = multiplier assigned to number of enhanced achievement measures
100% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements are met.
150% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements plus:
Inventory and screening performed to 99.9% level
OR
Use GHS Category 2 criteria for hazard screening for carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxicants, and skin irritants for determining which ingredients are subject to management, reporting, and optimization (the basic requirement stops at GHS Category 1 for these endpoints). See Table 1.
OR
The building product manufacturer shall require either self-declared or third-party validated environmental management and health & safety management systems as described in the requirements in Section 4 for ALL ingredients up to the 99% threshold, not just those that fail the initial hazard screen. If the building product manufacturer is also seeking extra credit in the Supply Chain Depth factor, this would also apply to all ingredients at the additional tier or tiers.
The building product manufacturer shall document substitution or elimination of at least one ingredient that was flagged in the hazard screening process. Where substitution occurs, manufacturer shall take action based on that alternatives assessment such that the hazard is no longer flagged at the Enhanced Achievement hazard Criteria level (table 1) in place of the original ingredient.
200% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements are met plus any two of the four above options.

Supply chain depth factor = multiplier assigned to level of supply chain engagement
100% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements are met.
150% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements plus one of these two:
The building product manufacturer has met the Option 3 minimum requirements for the entire business unit or company.
OR
All tier 2 suppliers have documented processes in place as described for tier 1 suppliers. This multiplier is not available to products with only tier 1 suppliers in their supply chain.
200% value (by cost) where the minimum requirements plus:
All suppliers in the supply chain of the product have documented processes in place as described for tier 1 suppliers. This multiplier is not available to products with only tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers in their supply chain.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In "Step 1, Specify and Select Compliant Products", make "this option" plural in the second sentence so that it reads, "Note that these options evaluates complete products; therefore, the criteria for assemblies found in other MR credits do not apply to these options."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/17/2016Updated: 11/9/2016
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise the second bullet to read, "Option 2 Material Ingredient Optimization and Option 3 Supply Chain Optimization are for projects with 25% permanently installed products,
by cost, that meet at least one of the paths listed in the credit requirements."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
6/10/2016Updated: 6/10/2016
Form Update
Description of change:
Added the following programs to Material Ingredients tab:
Manf Inv – GHS
Manf Inv – GS
Declare
ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard
C2C MHC
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016Updated: 4/7/2016
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Add a new bullet under the Cradle to Cradle bullet that reads:
• Declare. The Declare product label must indicate that all ingredients have been evaluated and disclosed down to 1000 ppm.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016Updated: 4/7/2016
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Add a new bullet under the Cradle to Cradle bullet that reads:
• Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate. The product has been certified at the Bronze level or higher and at least 90% of materials are assessed by weight.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016Updated: 4/7/2016
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Revise the second sub-bullet under Manufacturer's Inventory, and add additional sub-bullets, so that the second sub-bullet reads:
o Materials defined as trade secret or intellectual property may withhold the name and/or CASRN but must disclose role, amount and hazard screen using either:
• GreenScreen benchmark, as defined in GreenScreen v1.2
• The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals rev.6 (2015) (GHS)
_____• The hazard screen must be applied to each trade secret ingredient and the inventory lists the hazard category for each of the health hazards included in Part 3 of GHS (e.g. “GHS Category 2 Carcinogen”).
_____• Identify in the inventory all hazard classes for which a classification cannot be made because there are insufficient data for a particular endpoint(s).
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016Updated: 4/7/2016
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Add a new bullet under the Cradle to Cradle bullet that reads:
• ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard. The documentation from the assessor or scorecard from BIFMA must demonstrate the product earned 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 e3-2012.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/1/2015Updated: 6/16/2015
Form Update
Description of change:
Revisions to the 30% cap on structure and enclosure materials.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In the fourth row of the table, change "lists of ingredients with GreenScreen benchmarks" to "lists of ingredients with GreenScreen Benchmark or LT scores"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Form Update
Description of change:
Revised location valuation factor calculations to specify that the entire product meets local criteria.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Table 1. Manufactures' documentation for compliant products
In the column labeled "What Has to be Reported" change the row for "Manufacturer's inventory to, "All ingredients at or above 0.1%; Report hazards associated with LT-1, LT-P1 (GS List Translator) or Benchmark 1 (full GreenScreen) scores"

In the column labeled "Based on What Framework" change the row for "Manufacturer's Inventory" to "GreenScreen (GS) v1.2 or higher (either GS List Translator or full GreenScreen)"

In the column labeled "Based on What Framework" change the row "Health product declaration" delete "Health risks based on"

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In the 3rd paragraph for BD+C and 2nd paragraph for ID+C replace the 4th-7th sentences with the following: "If optional products or materials are included in cost-based credit calculations, such as Option 2 under each Building Product Disclosure and Optimization credits, they must be included consistently across all cost-based credit calculations. Additionally, if optional products and materials are included in product based calculations, such as Option 1 under each Building Product Disclosure and Optimization credits, they are not required to be included in cost-based credit calculations. However, unlike furniture, if some of these products are included in credit calculations, not all products of that type must be included."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In the last sentence of the third paragraph, replace "also" with "not" so that the sentence reads: "Projects in the U.S. may not use this alternative compliance path."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Change the first sub-bullet under GreenScreen version 1.2 benchmark to read "All ingredients screened using GreenScreen List Translator and no ingredients with Benchmark 1 hazards, 100% value (by cost)"
Change the second sub-bullet under GreenScreen version 1.2 benchmark to read "All ingredients fully assessed by full GreenScreen method and no ingredients with Benchmark 1 hazards, 150% value (by cost)"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In Table 1. Example Calculation for $500 office chair, the row “Wheels” in the column “Percentage of component meeting sustainability criteria” replace "5% with "10%" so the cell reads “10% postconsumer recycled content”
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

How can I use version 2 of the Health Product Declaration Open Standard to meet the requirements of the Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Material Ingredients credit?

Ruling:

Option 1 in the Material Ingredients credit references a specific threshold for reporting when using the pathway for Health Product Declarations. This threshold was called, “full disclosure of known hazards” in HPD v1. HPD v2 was released September 10, 2015 and the standard no longer includes this threshold designation. To meet the same level of disclosure of HPD v1, a version 2 HPD must:
· List substance name and CAS RN, role or function, amount, and health hazards for every substance at or above 1000 ppm in the finished product for Option 1, 100 ppm for Option 2; name and CAS RN may be withheld for ingredients defined as trade secret or intellectual property, but role, amount, and hazards must be reported.
· Indicate whether residuals and impurities were considered, with explanation as required in the HPD Open Standard.
HPD v2 provides two formats for reporting – Basic Inventory and Nested Material and Substance. Either can be used for LEED. If using the Basic Inventory format, the manufacturer must report all substances in the final product to a threshold of at least 1,000 ppm by weight for Option 1 or 100 ppm for Option 2.
If using the Nested Material and Substance format, the inventory is still relative to the final product for the purposes of LEED. Since this format is reporting the inventory of each material rather than the final product, it is possible that a product with the boxes checked the "Per GHS" or "Per OSHA” boxes could still be compliant, even if the "1000 ppm of per material" box is unchecked. In this scenario, manufacturers should note in the Inventory and Screening Notes that all ingredients over 1000 ppm or 100 ppm of the product are disclosed. The Nested Material and Substance format also can be used as specified in the HPD Open Standard, with the threshold specified for each material to be at least 1000 ppm in each material for Option 1 and 100 ppm in Option 2. The Nested Material and Substance format also can be used as specified in the HPD Open Standard, with the threshold specified for each material to be at least 1000 ppm in each material for Option 1 and 100 ppm in Option 2.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
1/1/2015
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

Can equipment and machinery in CSI divisions 11, 21-28 and other specialty divisions, including special equipment such as elevators, escalators, process equipment, and fire suppression systems contribute towards the 20 minimum number of products required in Option 1 of Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations, Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials, and of Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Material Ingredients?

Ruling:

Yes, these products may contribute towards Option 1 of Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations, Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials, and of Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Material Ingredients. Note that if these products are included in Option 1 of a credit, they are not required to be included in Option 2.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

Can Cradle to Cradle certified products use the Material Health score to meet the credit requirements for Option 2 in the Material Ingredients credit instead of the overall score for the product (including energy, water, etc.)?

Ruling:

Yes, products that have received a full C2C certification may use the score for the material health category to document Option 2 of the Material Ingredients credit. The value for the material health score follows the same levels as a full product certification (C2C v2 Gold valued at 100%, platinum at 150%; C2C v3 Silver – 100%, Gold and Platinum - 150%).

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes

LEEDuser expert

Tommy Linstroth

Green Badger
CEO

See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about NC-v4 MRc4