UL Environment, a subsidiary of the product safety certification organization Underwriters Laboratories (UL), has acquired Air Quality Sciences (AQS) and its certifying body, the Greenguard Environmental Institute. Under the acquisition, Greenguard will retain its name, and its certification program names will remain unchanged as well.
AQS aims to help product manufacturers identify the chemicals emitted from their products through the use of testing laboratories, while Greenguard certification aims to help manufacturers communicate their sustainability message to the marketplace regarding low chemical emissions. Its marketing efforts include the Greenguard certification mark and Greenguard product guide.
“This acquisition combines AQS’ world-class technology and expertise, as well as Greenguard’s brand recognition and scientific rigor, with UL’s trusted history of standards development, testing, and compliance to create a more comprehensive solution for testing and certification,” says Steve Wenc, president of UL Environment. “Together, we’ll help consumers, regulators, and other interested parties make informed product purchases by providing clarity around indoor air quality claims.”
UL entered the environmental realm in 2009 with the launch of UL Environment, which aims to help establish new definitions of safety and aid manufacturers in differentiating environmentally superior products. Its testing efforts also address product emissions and indoor air quality certification.