Wood Toys Covered in UL Environment Standard CCD 172
Wood Toys Covered in UL Environment Standard CCD 172

Wood Toys Covered in UL Environment Standard CCD 172MARIETTA, GA - Toys in UL's revised toy standard, developed with input from the Toy Industry Association, uses a points system along the line of LEED, including a Platinum level certification.

CCD 172 voluntary Standard for Sustainability for Toys covers toys designed for children under 14 that are made from wood, plastic, rubber, textiles, metal and bio-based materials, from balls to action figures and dolls.

UL Environment, the sustainability certification business of Underwriters Laboratories, says it worked in conjunction with the Toy Industry Association, to establish a points-based model for the evaluation of performance of toys being assessed. A Platinum level certification for the highest achievement in performance and innovation was established.

The standard was originally released in 2012, and is a third-party, lifecycle-based, environmental performance standard weighing a toy's impact on environmental and human health by specifying criteria for: chemicals, recycled and recyclable materials, sustainably sourced materials, reduced energy use, and minimized pollution generated by the production, use, and disposal of toy products and their packaging.

Products that achieve certification to this standard will earn the right to carry UL Environment's EcoLogo certification mark.

"Our participation in the revision of UL Environment's Toys Standard helped the UL standards committee to find ways to recognize sustainability achievements that vary from manufacturer to manufacturer," says Al Kaufman, TIA senior VP technical affairs.

Products can earn up to 100 points for the established indicators, and up to ten additional points, if products demonstrate sustainability leadership that is truly innovative. Manufacturers must earn at least 50 points to be eligible for certification, and those earning 65 points or more receive UL Environment's EcoLogo Platinum certification.

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