BIFMA Launches Green Furniture Certification

BIFMA Standard is NOT in concert with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

It proposes new definitions that are contrary to The FTC. Marketing products according to the BIFMA standard, could mean that a manufacture''''s claims are deceptive.

It is quite clear that this "standard" is self serving to the members. A Classic abuse of 2nd party standards.

These are representative of only some of the problems in this document.

Specific Comments

3.3 Biodegradable - Your definition does not appear to be in harmony with the FTC, and Presidential Executive Orders . Under you definition, anyone can define what is a “natural condition” allowing the person making the statement wide latitude.

§ 260.7 Environmental marketing claims - ( Federal Trade Commission)


• It is deceptive to misrepresent, directly or by implication, that a product or package is degradable, biodegradable or photodegradable.

• The claim should be substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence that the entire product or package will completely break down and return to nature, i.e., decompose into elements found in nature within a reasonably short period of time after customary disposal.

• Claims of degradability, biodegradability or photo degradability should be qualified to the extent necessary to avoid consumer deception about: (1) the product or package''''s ability to degrade in the environment where it is customarily disposed