Projects
Standards and Programs in Development
Revisions in progress
As a Type I ecolabel, we develop and maintain standards within an open and transparent process, aligned with best practices in standard development. We welcome comments from stakeholders and members of the public. Instructions for submitting comments are included within the proposal documents, available for download below.
- GS-1 Sanitary Paper Products – Standard Revision
Summary: Sanitary paper products are single-use products that can carry a hefty environmental footprint when made from virgin tree fiber.
We’re proposing to revise ourleadership standard for sanitary paper products and ensure they contain no virgin tree fiber and meet meaningful manufacturing and packaging sustainability requirements.
Proposed revisions to our standard include:- Adjusting the PCR requirements to align with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Comprehensive Procurement GuidelinesAdding a pathway for sustainably sourced bamboo productsCreating a designation for 100% recycled productsAdjusting the chlorine-free bleaching requirements for alternative fibers (e.g., agricultural residue and bamboo)Prohibiting intentional added PFAS as a functional papermaking additiveAdding Environmental Management System (EMS) requirementsRemoving basis weight requirementsUpdating the test methods referenced in the performance requirement
View the proposed standard here.
Status: The public comment period closed on April 28, 2025. Green Seal is now reviewing stakeholder input.
Recently Completed Revisions and New Standards
2025
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (April 2025) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-34, GS-40, GS-41, GS-44, GS-48, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
- PFAS Prohibition in Building Restoration Products (March 2025)
- New criteria were issued on March 11
- See all revision documents in the Standards Documents Library
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (January 2025) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-11, GS-33, GS-37, and GS-50.
2024
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (October 2024) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-8, GS-37, GS-48, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, GS-53, and GS-60.
- Trash Bags and Can Liners – Standard Revision (August 2024)
- Revised standard was issued on August 20
- See all revision documents in the Standards Documents Library
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (January 2024) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-36, GS-40, and GS-60.
2023
- Standard Withdrawal: Paper Products Used for Food Preparation (GS-18), Food Service Packaging (GS-35), Recycled Latex Paint (GS-43) (December 2023)
- Standards were withdrawn on December 11, 2023
- Green Seal Response to Comments
- Withdrawal Proposal
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (October 2023) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-11, GS-34, GS-37, GS-40, GS-44, GS-48, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (July 2023) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-1, GS-7, GS-8, GS-11, GS-20, GS-33, GS-34, GS-36, GS-37, GS-40, GS-41, GS-42, GS-44, GS-48, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, GS-53, and GS-60.
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (April 2023) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-8, GS-20, GS-37, GS-41, GS-42, GS-48, GS-52, and GS-53.
- Trash Bags and Can Liners – New Standard (April 2023)
- New standard was issued on April 6
- See all revision documents in the Standards Documents Library
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (January 2023) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-11, GS-41, and GS-52.
2022
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (October 2022) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-11, GS-41, GS-44, and GS-53.
- Healthy Green Schools & Colleges (September 2022)
- New criteria were issued on September 29
- See all revision documents in the Standards Documents Library
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (July 2022) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-37, GS-40, GS-48, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
- PFAS Prohibition in Cleaning and Personal Care Products (June 2022)
- New criteria were issued on June 23
- See all revision documents in the Standards Documents Library
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (April 2022) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-11, GS-20, GS-52, and GS-53.
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (January 2022) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-8, GS-37, GS-48, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
2021
- Standard Withdrawal: Restaurants and Food Services (GS-55) (December 2021)
- Microbial-Based Cleaning Products – Criteria Revision (November 2021)
- New Criteria were issued on November 11
- See all revision documents in the Standards Documents Library
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (October 2021) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-8, GS-37, GS-44, GS-48, GS-50, and GS-52.
- Paints, Coatings, Stains, and Sealers, GS-11, Edition 4.0 (September 2021)
- Standards Withdrawal: Coated Printing Paper (GS-10) (August 2021)
- Sanitary Paper Products, GS-1, Edition 6.4 (August 2021)
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (July 2021) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-8, GS-11, GS-37, GS-41, GS-42, GS-44, GS-48, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
- Environmental Innovation, GS-20, Edition 2.1 (April 2021)
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (April 2021) Non-substantiative changes were made to GS-1, GS-8, GS-11, GS-37, GS-41, GS-42, GS-50, and GS-53. Additionally, all standards underwent non-substantiative changes to reference Green Seal’s updated Trademark Use Guidelines.
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (January 2021) Non-substantive changes were made to GS-11, GS-41, GS-42, GS-44, GS-50, GS-51, GS-52, and GS-53.
2020
- Corrections and Clarifications Report (October 2020) Non-substantive changes were made to GS-8, GS-37, GS-41, GS-42, GS-44, GS-48, and GS-51.
- Hand Sanitizer Criteria Standard Criteria (September 2020)
Please visit our Library of Standards Documents for more information on these and other standard revisions.