CRI/White House Green Label Plus Certified Oval Office Rug

The CRI/White House Connection - Breathing Easy with the New White House Oval Office Green Label Plus Certified Rug

Carpet and Rug Institute President Werner Braun’s column in the September 17 Dalton Daily Citizen,  titled, “If Only Carpet Had Ears," talks about the new rug that was recently installed in President Obama’s Oval Office. Besides humorously suggesting that he would like to be able to listen in to the conversations that will occur in the Oval Office, Braun’s article also points out that the new 20’ x 30’ wool rug is certified under CRI’s Green Label Plus (GLP) standard for Indoor Air Quality.

Established in 1992, the GLP program tests carpet, cushions and adhesives to help specifiers and end-users identify products with very low emissions of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

“According to the Air Quality Sciences Resource Center, VOCs are chemicals used to manufacture and prepare many building materials, interior furnishings, textiles, office equipment, cleaners, personal care supplies and pesticide,” the article states.

"'Volatile' is a term meaning that these chemicals evaporate, or get into the air easily at room temperature...

To receive initial certification for Green Label Plus, carpet products undergo a 14-day testing process…that measures emissions for a range of possible chemicals…There are 13 chemicals total. Check out www.carpet-rug.org/commercial-customers and click the ‘Green Building and the Environment’ tab for the full list...

Green Label Plus represents the fourth time the carpet industry has voluntarily enhanced the IAQ standard for its products and is an example of CRI’s leadership in the best practices of environmental responsibility. Green Label Plus ensures that customers are purchasing among the lowest-emitting carpet, adhesive and cushion products on the market.”

Thank you, Werner

~Bethany