Sustainability is not just a word! Some facts behind the market drivers for more sustainable products. Contact environment@ul.com for more information.

2. 71% of retailers surveyed report that they use sustainability activities to enhance brand and
mitigate risk.

3. Forty percent (40%) of consumers in six markets (Brazil, China, Germany, India, United Kingdom
and United States) believe that certification labels on product packaging are the most trusted
indicators about whether a product is environmentally or socially responsible.

4. Three out of four purchasers surveyed have some form of a responsible purchasing policy and
75% of the rest expect to adopt one.

5. US EPA study cites $60B loss in productivity due to chemical cleaners

6. An estimated 2.8 million professional janitors as well as millions of occupants are exposed to
volatile components of cleaning products.

7. Asthma rates in children under the age of 5 have increased 160% over a 14 year period.

8. 100% new GSA construction projects/substantial renovations must be certified projects
encouraged to exceed basic LEED® green building certification and achieve the LEED® Silver level.

9. Sales of environmentally friendly products in the US exceeded $40 billion last year, according to
data from various market tracking services and Advertising Age estimates.

10. Sixty-five percent (65%) of consumers globally agree or strongly agree that they would purchase
more environmentally responsible products if the companies’ health and environmental claims
were more believable.

11. In an EcoPulse survey, 14.9% of those surveyed said they were seeking greener furniture solutions.

12. The Federal government spends over $350 billion each year on a wide variety of products and
service, under executive order 13423, these dollars are to be spent on Environmentally Preferable
Products (EPP).

13. Air pollutants indoors are 2-5 times higher than outdoors.

14. Citations
Asthma rates in children under the age of 5 have increased 160% over a 14 year period.
National Institutes of Health
Air pollutants indoors are 2 – 5 times higher than outdoors.
US EPA
The Federal government spends over $350 billion each year on a wide variety of products and service, under executive order 13423, these dollars are to be
spent on Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP).
http://www.eur.army.mil/g4/green_procurement/FAQs.aspx Responsible Purchasing Trends 2010, NASPO and RPN, 2010
Three out of four purchasers surveyed have some form of a responsible purchasing policy and
75% of the rest expect to adopt one.
Purchasing Trends, RPN, 2010 http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/publications/trends_2010.pdf
US EPA study shows $60B loss in productivity due to chemical cleaners.
An estimated 2.8 million professional janitors as well as millions of occupants are exposed to volatile components of cleaning products.
Green Seal Standard and Environmental Evaluation for General-Purpose, Bathroom, and Glass Cleaners Used for Industrial and Institutional Purposes,
October 2000; Greening the Janitorial Business- How to Select and Use Safe Janitorial Chemicals, Workshop for NISH, US Dept. of Interior, November 2001)
71% of retailers surveyed report that they use sustainability activities to enhance brand and mitigate risk.
RILA 2013 Retail Sustainability Report http://www.rila.org/sustainability/sustreport/sustainability-report-landing-page/Documents/
RetailSustainabilityReport.pdf
Sixty-five percent (65%) of consumers globally agree or strongly agree that they would purchase more environmentally responsible products if the
companies’ health and environmental claims were more believable.
EcoPulse 2011: Bridging the Gap Between Purchase Intent & Action, Shelton Group, 2011.
All new GSA construction projects/substantial renovations must be certified Projects encouraged to exceed basic LEED® green building certification and
achieve the LEED® Silver level.
Federal Acquisition Service, October 2009.
Sales of environmentally friendly products in the U.S. exceeded $40 billion last year, according to data from various market tracking services and Advertising
Age estimates.
AdAge, “As more marketers go green, fewer consumers willing to pay for it,” Jack Neff, September 24, 2012. http://adage.com/article/news/marketers-greenfewer-consumers-pay/237377/
Sixty-five percent (65%) of consumers globally agree or strongly agree that they would purchase more environmentally responsible products if the
companies’ health and environmental claims were more believable.
EcoPulse 2011: Bridging the Gap Between Purchase Intent & Action, Shelton Group, 2011.
In an EcoPulse survey, 14.9% of those surveyed said they were seeking greener furniture solutions.
EcoPulse 2011: Bridging the Gap Between Purchase Intent & Action, Shelton Group, 2011.

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