UL Environment Validates First Landfill Waste Diversion Claim; GAF Demonstrates Role as Sustainability Leader

MARIETTA, Ga., Feb. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- UL Environment, a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories), announced today that leading North American roofing manufacturer GAF is the first company to achieve its new Landfill Waste Diversion validation, per UL ECVP 2799.

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Launched in June of 2012, UL Environment's Zero Waste to Landfill, Virtually Zero Waste to Landfill, and Landfill Waste Diversion claim validations recognize companies that handle waste in innovative and environmentally responsible ways.

"We congratulate GAF on being the first to validate their waste diversion efforts with UL Environment. Their commitment to third-party substantiation is exemplary and shows true industry leadership," says Sara Greenstein, president of UL Environment. "Waste reduction is an important sustainability goal, and UL's Environmental Claim Validation is a way for organizations to differentiate themselves for their reduction achievements."

UL Environment's accepted landfill waste diversion strategies include a variety of methods such as reuse, recycling, and composting. Companies that achieve a landfill diversion rate of 100 percent qualify for the Zero Waste to Landfill validation. Companies that achieve a diversion rate of 98 percent or greater qualify for the Virtually Zero Waste to Landfill validation. Those that achieve a diversion rate of 80 percent or greater qualify for a Landfill Waste Diversion validation.

"GAF has been committed to reducing manufacturing waste to zero for several years now, and we were actually internally certifying zero waste plants.  However, third-party validation of environmental claims is increasingly important, and I can appreciate that.  We needed a standard protocol we could certify to.  We have a long-standing relationship with UL, and when I presented this challenge to them, they took it on.  Through the entire process, from the desktop audit to the site visits, I feel it has been a collaborative and constructive process.  There's nothing like the journey to Zero Waste.  I would be happy to discuss the process with other companies in case I can help," says Martin Grohman, director of sustainability at GAF.

GAF's Everguard TPO Manufacturing facilities have produced more than one billion square feet of roofing.  The Mt. Vernon Indiana facility, which spans 55,000ft² and employs 40 people, was awarded the following specific claim validated by UL Environment:

• GAF's Everguard TPO Manufacturing facility, located in Mt. Vernon, IN, has achieved a landfill diversion rate of 90%.

To earn a Zero Waste to Landfill claim validation mark, a Virtually Zero Waste to Landfill claim validation mark, or a Landfill Waste Diversion claim validation mark, companies must undergo an extensive, two-part, UL-led audit, which includes document evaluation and onsite visits. Each claim validation mark clearly indicates the facility's specific rate of landfill diversion. Facilities whose landfill waste diversion claims have been validated by UL Environment are audited annually and featured in UL Environment's Sustainable Product Database.

To learn more about UL Environment's Zero Waste to Landfill, Virtually Zero Waste to Landfill, and Landfill Waste Diversion claim validations, visit www.ul.com/environment.

About UL Environment
UL Environment works to advance global sustainability, environmental health, and safety by supporting the growth and development of environmentally preferable products, services, and organizations. We help companies achieve their sustainability goals—and help purchasers, specifiers, retailers, governments, and consumers find products they can trust. UL Environment offers environmental claim validations, multi-attribute product certifications, environmental product declarations, indoor air quality certification, product emissions testing, organizational sustainability certification, and consulting. For more information, visit www.ul.com/environment.

About UL
UL is a premier global independent safety science company with more than 118 years of history. Employing more than 10,000 professionals with customers in over 100 countries, UL has five distinct business units – Product Safety, Environment, Life & Health, Knowledge Services, and Verification Services – to meet the expanding needs of our customers and to deliver on our public safety mission. For more information on UL's family of companies and network of 95 laboratory, testing, and certification facilities, go to UL.com.

SOURCE UL Environment