4.19.2004 ET

(CSRwire) LOS ANGELES - Identifying and purchasing environmentally responsible floorcoverings just got a little easier. Scientific Certification Systems, an independent, third-party certifier, has certified select Bentley Prince Street carpet lines as Environmentally Preferable Products. Certification was awarded after a rigorous evaluation process that examined each phase of the product’s life cycle, including resource consumption, product manufacturing, product use, and end of life. All Bentley Prince Street products made with either High Performance™ backing or Lifespan* backing are included in the EPP certification.

“Receiving this certification is another step in Bentley Prince Street’s journey towards sustainability,” said Anthony Minite, president of Bentley Prince Street. “An objective third-party evaluation with as much comprehensive criteria as the SCS certification allows our customers to make more confident choices in a more environmentally aware marketplace.”

Through Executive Order 13101, commonly referred to as the “greening of the government,” the Federal government defines ‘Environmentally Preferable’ as products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. Environmentally preferable is more comprehensive than single attribute claims, such as recycled content.

According to Kirsten Ritchie, director of environmental claims at SCS, third-party certification helps differentiate a company from its competitors: “While many companies are making self-declared environmental claims about their products, only industry leaders like Bentley Prince Street are willing to undergo third-party certification to substantiate their accomplishments. Environmentally preferable product certification demonstrates that Bentley Prince Street is truly committed to providing the marketplace with responsible carpet products.”

Based in Los Angeles County, California, Bentley Prince Street is a leading manufacturer of floorcoverings for commercial and residential interiors. The company continues to search for improvements to compete successfully in a more environmentally aware marketplace and offers a wide range of choices for specifying environmentally friendly products and programs, such as the industry’s first climate neutral carpet program, Cool Carpet™. Bentley Prince Street is also the first member of the California Climate Action Registry. Bentley Prince Street is a part of Interface, Inc., a global provider of floorcoverings and textiles for commercial and residential interiors.

For more information on Bentley Prince Street's environmental initiatives, visit www.bentleyprincestreet.com or www.interfacesustainability.com.
*Lifespan is a trademark of the Dow Chemical Company

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