ECC
Our commitment to environmental stewardship applies to indoor environments as well as to the great outdoors.
The Eco-Certified Composite (ECC) sustainability standard is a voluntary industry certification developed and administered by the Composite Panel Association (CPA) for manufacturers of composite wood or agrifiber-based panels, including particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), hardboard, engineered wood siding, and engineered wood trim.
ECC Certification is available to individual manufacturing plants and is based on life cycle inventory and other verifiable environmentally responsible practices. The certification process includes an on-site evaluation and subsequent yearly audits. CPA’s proprietary Carbon Calculator, developed by a third-party expert, is used to assess the life cycle and carbon footprint of composite panels made at a particular manufacturing plant.
ECC certified plants must comply with CARB and EPA formaldehyde emissions requirements for 100% of their panels 100% of the time, and also meet at least three of the additional requirements below:
Carbon Footprint
Using CPA’s proprietary Carbon Calculator, the plant must demonstrate that the panels they produce act as carbon sinks—that is, that they store enough carbon to offset their cradle-to-gate carbon footprint, as determined in kg-CO2 equivalents of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Use of Local and Renewable Resources
At least 85 percent of the total wood fiber used annually must be sourced within 250 miles (402 km) of the manufacturing plant.
Made from Recycled/Recovered Materials
Products must contain either:
- A minimum of 75 percent recycled or recovered fiber; OR
- At least 50 percent recycled or recovered fiber AND a minimum of 5 percent post-consumer fiber.
Percentages shall be calculated by weight, as measured in bone dry tons (bdt).
Sustainability
The plant must have documentation to show that more than 97 percent of fiber furnish brought on-site is either converted into composite panels or other non-waste products.
Wood Sourcing
The plant shall hold a valid certificate from a certifying agency recognized by CPA such as the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC—Controlled Wood Standard or Chain of Custody Standard) or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI—Fiber Sourcing Standard).
Architects, specifiers, and designers looking for products that demonstrate a high level of sustainability and help qualify for green building credits should choose Eco-Certified Composites. ECC certification makes it simple to specify earth-friendly building materials in your projects.
For more information about the ECC Sustainability Standard contact CPA.
Get credit. ECC Products may help achieve:
- MR credit: Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction (BD+C, ID+C)
- MR credit: Environmentally Preferable Products (Homes)
- MR credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations (BD+C, ID+C)
- MR credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials (BD+C, ID+C)
- MR credit: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Material Ingredients (BD+C, ID+C)
- MR credit: Furniture and Medical Furnishings (BD+C)
- MR credit: Purchasing – Ongoing (OM)
- MR credit: Purchasing – Facility Maintenance and Renovation (OM)
- EQ credit: Low-Emitting Materials (BD+C, ID+C, Homes)
- MR prerequisite: Certified Tropical Wood: Homes
- BD+C (Building Design and Construction)
- ID+C (Interior Design and Construction)
- OM (Building Operations and Maintenance)
- 5.2 Climate Neutral Materials (CPA’s EPDs indicate carbon sequestering in wood exceeds the amount of GHG associated with the boundary and scope of the assessments more than 2:1 times)
- 5.4.1 Efficient Use of Materials, 60%
- 5.4.2 Efficient Use of Materials, 70%
- 5.6.1 Bio-based Renewable Materials – Sustainable Wood, Basic (materials certified to Eco-Certified Composite (ECC) or other programs)
- 5.6.2 Bio-based Renewable Materials – Sustainable Wood, Advances (materials certified to Eco-Certified Composite (ECC) or other programs)
- 5.7.1 Recycled Content, 30%
- 5.7.2 Recycled Content, 50%
- 5.8 Recyclable and Biodegradable Materials
- 5.10.2 Solid Waste Management, achieving 100% diversion (demonstrating scraps do not go to the landfill)
- 6.9.1 On-site Renewable Energy, 1% (all wood scraps are burned for fuel)
- 6.9.2 On-site Renewable Energy, 2% (all wood scraps are burned for fuel)
- 6.9.3 On-site Renewable Energy, 3% (all wood scraps are burned for fuel))
- 6.9.4 On-site Renewable Energy, 4% (all wood scraps are burned for fuel)
ECC Credibility
ECC certified mills are required to meet CARB and EPA formaldehyde emissions requirements for 100% of their panels 100% of the time. The standard specifies carbon footprint, life-cycle inventory, and other verifiable environmental practices and emphasizes the responsible use of wood fiber by composite panel manufacturers.
Look for the ECC-certified logo and/or other identifying mark on packaging, panel unit bundles, commercial documents, or other informational materials when purchasing composite panels.
