By Stephen Ashkin

As you well know, Green Seal is in the process of revising the GS37 standard to increase the protection of children and other vulnerable populations, as well as the environment.  Many of you have responded to my emails on this subject by submitting your names to become part of the stakeholder group to participate in this important process. Unfortunately, Green Seal has decided to drastically curtail the number of stakeholders directly participating in the revision. Instead of taking input from all 339 stakeholders, representing a wide range of industry, end-user, nonprofits, academics and other interests, Green Seal has chosen to boil it down to a mere 21. 

As a result, what should be an open, transparent, consensus-based process that allows direct participation by all interested parties has been replaced with a process that limits the opportunity for innovative solutions, especially those that are not mainstream, to find their way into the revision process.

Let me make if perfectly clear that I am not questioning the motives or integrity of Green Seal or their Executive Committee.  I have had the good fortune of knowing many of them for a number of years and can attest to their integrity, as well as their intelligence and ability to manage this process.

I can fully appreciate the challenges of working with a 339 member stakeholder group, especially under financial and time constraints. However, in attempting to streamline and simplify the process, Green Seal has eliminated the checks and balances that would ensure the new standard will be effective, fair and supported in the marketplace. And recognizing that funding might be the main barrier, I have even offered to help them search for additional funding.

So again to be clear --- my concern has nothing to do with their integrity or their desire to protect children’s health or the environment.  Rather my concern has everything to do with the process by which they are trying to achieve this.  If you agree with my concerns, PLEASE ACT NOW!   

I have included the names and emails addresses of the Executive Committee below.  If you feel as I do that the review process needs to change, please contact these individuals before it’s too late. And please copy me on your email at steveashkin@ashkingroup.com if you do share your comments.

Arthur Weisman -- AWeissman@greenseal.org
Bill Balek – bill@issa.com
Claire Barnett -- cbarnett@healthyschools.org
Scot Case – scase@terrachoice.com
Ed Horn -- egh01@health.state.ny.us
Kurt Larson -- Kurt.Larson@ogs.state.ny.us
Routt Reigart -- ReigartJ@musc.edu

 

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