Green Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval

Evaluation Tool

Green Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval

Tool Category

Standards, Certifications & Labels

At a Glance

The Green Good Housekeeping Seal is a multi-attribute consumer-focused certification program. It was developed to help consumers choose safer products and live a greener lifestyle, and to encourage manufacturers to incorporate more green practices into their production and distribution. The Green Good Housekeeping Seal requires products to first earn the Good Housekeeping seal for performance and then meet additional environmental requirements.

Tool Website(s)

www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/about-the-institute/a31651/introducing-green-good-housekeeping-seal/

Tool Owner/Sponsor

Hearst Communications, Inc.

Product Stage of Life Evaluated

Manufacturing, transportation, consumer use, end of life

Tool Description

To qualify for the Green Good Housekeeping Seal a product must first earn the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval which is based on product performance and confers a 2-year limited warranty on products. The Good Housekeeping Research Institute will then evaluate a product for its environmental impact as well as the overall company environmental and social performance. Each product category evaluated under the Green Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval identifies a list of harmful ingredients and ozone depleting compounds that are excluded above a certain threshold. The product is awarded a certain number of points for its environmental attributes. Out of a total of 100, products must score at least 65 points to be considered for the Green Good Housekeeping Seal. 

Product Categories

Cleaning & Janitorial Products; Food & Beverage; Health & Beauty, Cosmetics, Pharmacy; Paints & Coatings

Tool Requirements

Manufacturers must provide MSDSs, lab testing results, proof of reduction in energy use, water use and waste produced, and proof of sources of materials used including a packaging review. For more information about the review criteria for different product categories, see:

• Criteria for Beauty Products
• Criteria for Food and Beverages
• Criteria for Paper Goods/Textiles
• Criteria for Appliances and Electronics
• Criteria for Paint and Coatings
• Criteria for Cleaning Products 

Cost of Tool

In order to receive the Green Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, companies are required to pay for advertising in the Good Housekeeping magazine. There are no separate testing fees.

Evaluation Frequency

Review of the seal of approval is required annually.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths: There is no cost to have a product evaluated. The Green Housekeeping Seal of Approval has strong public acceptance and offers consumers a limited two-year warranty. The Green Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval will offer the same warranty.

Weaknesses: A very small number of products have been reviewed so far, so it is not yet a well known and recognized seal of approval. Its current usefulness to retailers may therefore be limited.

Examples of Retailers That Use It

JC Penney, Target

For More Information

Sara Rad: 212-649-2550 or srad@hearst.com