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certificate of compliance. Manufactur-
ers such as Armstrong (flooring) are
among a growing number of manufac-
turers adopting the Forest Steward-
ship Council’s shared vision
Gate-to-grave
The life cycle of a product from the
end user to end-of-use disposal.
Global Reporting
Initiative (GRI)
The Global Reporting Initiative,
based in Amsterdam the Nether-
lands, is a registered, not-for-profit
organization. It is funded by dona-
tions from all over the world including
the Bill and Melinda Gates Founda-
tion, the International Finance Corpo-
ration (IFC) and the Organizational
Stakeholders. Considered the de
facto world standard in sustainable
development reporting, the GRI
uses a global network of stakehold-
ers to form a consensus-based pro-
cess in shaping and revising its ac-
counting structure. GRI encourages
port outcomes
by third-party assurance providers.
However, there is no mechanism in
place requiring these audits.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
A greenhouse gas is an atmo-
spheric gas which absorbs and/or
emits radiation within the infrared
light r uses a green-
house oto Protocol
identifies six atmospheric gases as
key greenhouse gases: carbon diox-
ide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous
oxide (N2O), perfluorocarbons
(PFCs), hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs)
and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Each
compound has a different global
warming potential (GWP). GWP is
based on the difference between
incoming and outgoing solar radia-
tion energy (radiative forcing). With
carbon dioxide used as one unit
of GWP, also known as the carbon
dioxide equivalent, GHGs have had
their GWP calculated in terms of
their carbon dioxide equivalent.
Higg Index
The Higg Index is a self-described
“Holistic self-assessment tool used for
educational purposes that allows the
user to benchmark performance over
time. It’s a starting place for engage-
ment and understanding of sustain-
ability impacts. Further it encourages
continuous improvement and pro-
motes collaboration and transpar-
ency.” Introduced in 2012, The Higg
Index targets the apparel and foot-
wear industries’ environmental and
social performance. Since this is an
educational, self-help tool, there is no
mechanism in place for verification or
validation of the outcomes derived by
its use.
LEED Green Building
Rating System
Leadership in Energy and Environ-
mental Design (LEED) is a certifica-
tion rating system for structures
designed and built with the goal
of water efficiency, good indoor air
quality, energy savings and an over-
all reduction in its carbon footprint.
LEED is an open source tool created
by a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, the US
Green Building Council (USGBC). The
USGBC, headquartered in Washing-
ton D.C., finances its activities by
conducting educational programs for
builders, designers, suppliers and
operators, selling publications, ac-
cepting donations and sponsoring
Data Points
Direct Feed
www.insid
Direct Feed
OutdoorTextile
GreenGlossary
RetailReport
OutdoorTextile
GreenGlossary
RetailReport
Inside Outdoor | Spring 2017 42