First Sustainability Standard for Household Clothes Washers Developed to Identify Environmentally Responsible Products

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), CSA Group, and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) today announced the release of AHAM 7003-2013/CSA SPE-7003-13/UL 7003, Sustainability Standard for Household Clothes Washers, the first voluntary sustainability standard for home laundry appliances.  This new standard is the second in a family of product sustainability standards under development by AHAM, CSA Group, and UL intended for use by manufacturers, governments, retailers, and others to identify environmentally preferable products. The standard is based on a lifecycle approach for identifying the environmental impacts of household clothes washers in six key areas: materials, manufacturing and operations, energy and water consumption during use, end-of-life, consumables, and innovation. 

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This standard will serve as an objective and practical measurement tool to assist clothes washer manufacturers in evaluating the environmental sustainability of home appliances. The three organizations will now form consensus committees to move the standard through the U.S. and Canadian accredited standards process, following the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), respectively. Other major appliance standards are under development and are expected to be published in 2013 and 2014.

"As with the previously published refrigeration standard, this residential clothes washer standard is a concrete example of the appliance industry's commitment to sustainability. It provides a uniform measurement for retailers and consumers to compare product sustainability," explained AHAM President Joseph M. McGuire.

"Throughout the supply chain, demand by consumers is growing for manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and importers to offer products with better environmental performance," said Bonnie Rose, president, Standards, CSA Group. "CSA Group is committed to developing standards for sustainability that help consumer product manufacturers enhance their ongoing environmental initiatives and help consumers make informed decisions about environmental products."

"Consumers are concerned about the lifecycle-based environmental impacts of the products they buy and use in their living spaces. They want to know that their home appliances are not only safe for their families, but more sustainable," said Sara Greenstein, president of UL Environment, a business unit of UL. "We commend the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers for leading the initiative to develop this important standard. It will help differentiate greener home appliances in the marketplace and accommodate the demands of environmentally conscious consumers."

Throughout the standards development process, a cross-section of stakeholders, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environment Canada, The Sustainability Consortium, Consumer's Union, and retailers such as Sears, Best Buy, and Lowe's, and environmental groups including the Carbon Disclosure Project were engaged to ensure that the standard is credible and compatible with existing government and retailer initiatives. PE INTERNATIONAL and Five Winds Strategic Consulting also assisted with this project. 

About AHAM
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is the trade association representing manufacturers of major, portable and floor care home appliances and suppliers to the industry. AHAM is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and maintains an office in Ottawa. AHAM is the single voice providing the home appliance industry and its customers leadership, advocacy and a forum for action — developing and implementing credible solutions for public policy, standards and business decisions.  AHAM is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards development organization, and has authored numerous appliance performance testing standards used by manufacturers, consumer organizations and governmental bodies to rate and compare appliances. You can visit the AHAM web sites at www.aham.org or www.ahamcanada.ca.

About CSA Group
CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit membership association dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability. Its knowledge and expertise encompass standards development; training and advisory solutions; global testing and certification services across key business areas including hazardous locations and industrial, plumbing and construction, medical, safety and technology, appliances and gas, alternative energy, lighting and sustainability; as well as consumer product evaluation services. The CSA certification mark appears on billions of products worldwide. For more information about CSA Group visit www.csagroup.org  

About UL Environment
UL Environment works to advance global sustainability, environmental health, and safety by supporting the growth and development of environmentally preferable products, services, and organizations. We help companies achieve their sustainability goals—and help purchasers, specifiers, retailers, governments, and consumers find products they can trust. UL Environment offers environmental claim validations, multi-attribute product certifications, environmental product declarations, indoor air quality certification, product emissions testing, organizational sustainability certification, and consulting. For more information, visit www.ul.com/environment

SOURCE Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers