level is the multi-attribute, sustainability standard and third-party certification program for the furniture industry. It has been created to deliver the most open and transparent means of evaluating and communicating the environmental and social impacts of furniture products in the built environment.
Taking into account a company’s social actions, energy usage, material selection and human and ecosystem health impacts, level addresses how a product is sustainable from multiple perspectives.
With level, customers can make informed choices about commercial furniture that exceed single attribute eco-certifications. The level brand identifies that a product has been vetted by an independent third party certifier and its numeric marking 1, 2, or 3 indicates what threshold of certification it has achieved.
Manufacturers – big and small – now have a methodology to present the environmental characteristics in a clear, easily understood manner with a vernacular that gives end users the ability to make an “apples to apples” comparison.
Developed with ANSI oversight in mind, level has to function in ways proprietary standards do not. The ANSI process requires full transparency, open and balanced participation in the standard’s creation, and a consensus based approach to dealing with all issues related to the standard. Additionally, level certification assures that an accredited third-party has verified a specific product’s conformance to the standard.
Inherent in the standard is an understanding that it is in a state of continual maintenance and review. This means that as part of the standard’s evolution, any emerging issues will be reviewed on an ongoing basis through the ANSI process as opposed to issues being addressed through a “batched” approach. As a result, the level sustainability standard will be undergoing constant improvements that will be fully open to public input and discourse. In the standards world, this concentration on “real time”, continuous improvement for sustainability is necessary due to the growing body of scientific knowledge on these issues as well as the urgent need for actions to benefit the planet.
The world of environmentally responsible products and manufacturing is now more clear. Commercial furniture that meets the demands of environmentally focused purchasing is now level.