ÀgreenÌ Drywall Producer Seals First Ul Environment Validation

Underwriters Laboratories subsidiary UL Environment Inc. (ULE) has validated environmental claims for new drywall product, EcoRock, from Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Serious Materials

Source: UL Environment Inc., Northbrook, Ill.

Underwriters Laboratories subsidiary UL Environment Inc. (ULE) has validated environmental claims for new drywall product, EcoRock, from Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Serious Materials. An audit, coupled with environmental chamber, energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence and microbial tests, revealed that EcoRock comprises 80 percent recycled content, has low volatile organic compound emissions, and is mercury free, as well as highly mold resistant. Serious Materials cites a reengineered process in formulating and fabricating EcoRock, whose production–absent heaters, dryers, calcining and fossil fuel combustion–requires 80 percent less energy than standard gypsum drywall.

Launched in January 2009, ULE offers a) Environmental Claims Validation, a service testing and verifying manufacturer declarations; and, b) Sustainable Products Certification, a service testing and certifying products to accepted industry standards for environmental sustainability. “As sustainable products become more available, third-party validation of claims by credible organizations will be crucial to eliminating exaggerated green marketing claims,” notes ULE President Steve Wenc. —http://www.ulenvironment.com