Construction Specialties launches On-Product transparency label for core product Acrovyn® 4000

Manufacturer of high-performing architectural products, Construction Specialties (C/S) has released a transparency label for their acclaimed, Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Gold interior wall protection product, Acrovyn® 4000. This milestone marks the first time that a building product manufacturer is making publicly available a product's material make-up as well as a multi-attribute third-party certification. This level of disclosure by the company sets a new standard for environmental claims and supports the intent of USGBC's LEED® Pilot Credit 62, which requires manufacturers to disclose chemicals of concern used in building products. By allowing customers to make more informed decisions about the products they choose, C/S hopes other manufacturers will join their efforts to change the demand for products containing chemicals of concern.

The new Acrovyn 4000 product label expands C/S' original on-product transparency label program, launched in partnership with leading architectural design firm Perkins+Will. The program's launch last fall represented a groundbreaking moment in the building products industry that made available, for the first time, a product's material makeup, similar to ingredients on a food label. The label and accompanying online content highlight critical lifecycle information as well as potential human and environmental health impacts. It offers a level of transparency previously unavailable to consumers and specifiers who increasingly demand this level of information. C/S' Cradle to Cradle Certification takes the label one step further by serving as additional validation of the company's environmental consciousness.

"C/S is committed to transparency and to offering our customers the safest and best quality products we can," said Howard Williams, vice president and general manager of Construction Specialties. "Our hope is that it becomes standard course for building product manufacturers like us to fully disclose the material content of their products, leading to healthier built environments and a more informed market."

Acrovyn 4000 is the latest formulation of the company's high-performing wall protection and is used in many popular C/S interior products including handrails, crash rails, corner guards, protective sheet and the Acrovyn Door System. The PETG formula, which was Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Gold in late 2010, does not contain commonly used toxic chemicals such as PBTs (persistent bioaccumulative toxins), BPA (bisphenol A) and halogenated fire-retardants. Acrovyn 4000 is also completely recyclable and costs no more than the original Acrovyn. 

"We commend Construction Specialties in their commitment to transparency in manufacturing," said Jay Bolus, vice president of technical operations at McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC). "Cradle to Cradle Certification gives global manufacturers across industries a way to verify and market their products' sustainability attributes and demonstrate environmental leadership."

The product and certification information will be available on the C/S Transparency website.

C/S made this announcement at CleanMed 2012, the premier national environmental conference for leaders in health care sustainability, which started today in Denver and runs through May 2nd.