GREENGUARD Opens European Office in Cologne, Germany; Launches Ancillary German Web Site

European office to facilitate GREENGUARD Certification of products manufactured in European Union member nations and neighboring countries

COLOGNE, Germany, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following the successful debut of its Asia-Pacific headquarters, the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is pleased to announce today the opening of its European presence in Cologne, Germany, along with the launch of its official German Web site. The European office will work closely with product manufacturers across all of Europe and its environs to facilitate GREENGUARD Certification and provide associated sales, marketing, and technical support.

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"The opening of our European office is key to raising global awareness about indoor air quality and low-emitting products—and pivotal to our global expansion," says Henning Bloech, executive director of GEI. "By operating out of three offices around the world—one in North America, one in Asia, and now one in Europe—we are poised to help create healthier indoor environments for everyone, everywhere. It's a very exciting time for GREENGUARD."

To further support its local customers, GEI has launched a German version of its popular Web site, which provides information about the GREENGUARD Certification Program, source control, and indoor air quality.  Just like the U.S. and Chinese versions of the GREENGUARD Web site, the German version offers free access to the world's most comprehensive database of low-emitting products and materials.

Among those products is the U-Com Dealing Desk by Erich Keller, a Swiss manufacturer that specializes in commercial desks for trade floors, control rooms, operations centers, and studios. Erich Keller is the first European manufacturer of trading desks to achieve GREENGUARD Certification and the first manufacturer working directly with the European office; its U-Com Dealing Desk is now GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® for low chemical emissions.

"We are proud to partner with the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute to help advance our goal of manufacturing high-performance, more sustainable products," says Eckart Scheunemann, director of sales and marketing and partner of Erich Keller AG. "GREENGUARD Certification not only assures our customers that Erich Keller products are low-emitting, but it also differentiates our products in a marketplace awash in unverified green product claims. GREENGUARD's strong focus on international market requirements in regards to sustainability is very valuable and, therefore, we decided to work with GREENGUARD. It is a very good deal."

"Our customers and supporters seek a stringent certification program that has strong global brand preference.  They also want it to create value for them.  GREENGUARD Certification does that.  It is referenced in or endorsed by over 300 building standards, codes, and specifications around the world, including the LEED building rating system," Bloech says.  "Moreover, our recently established local offices and the localized Web sites enable us to deliver that value and outstanding customer service on a local level.  I look forward to reaching other progressive companies that want to pursue GREENGUARD Certification for their products."

About GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI)

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute aims to protect human health and improve quality of life by enhancing indoor air quality and reducing people's exposure to chemicals and other pollutants. As an ISO-IEC Guide 65:1996 accredited, third-party organization, the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute certifies products and materials for low chemical emissions and provides a resource for choosing healthier products and materials for indoor environments. All certified products must meet stringent chemical emissions standards based on established criteria from key public health agencies. GREENGUARD Certification is broadly recognized and accepted by sustainable building programs and building codes worldwide. For more information and a complete listing of certified products, visit www.greenguard.org.

SOURCE GREENGUARD Environmental Institute