Key Takeaways:
The Greenguard Environmental Institute, or GEI, is the non-profit behind GREENGUARD certification.
GEI develops stringent chemical emission standards for commercial furniture.
GREENGUARD Certified furniture contributes to healthier indoor air.
Who or what handles GREENGUARD certification?
The Greenguard Environmental Institute, or GEI, was the industry-independent, non-profit organization that originally created the GREENGUARD certification program. Founded in 2001, GEI's mission was to improve indoor air quality by reducing people's exposure to airborne chemicals and pollutants commonly found in building materials, furniture, electronic equipment, cleaning products, and more. The safety science company UL Environment acquired GEI in 2011, and today UL Solutions (formerly UL Environment) is the sole owner, operator, and issuer of the UL GREENGUARD Certification and Marks. The program is recognized by building programs, safety standards, and specifications worldwide, and UL Solutions offers two tiers of rigorous certification: GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold.
What does GREENGUARD Certified mean?
Products that are GREENGUARD Certified meet UL Solutions' stringent standards for low chemical emissions, and therefore help reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of exposure to harmful chemicals. According to UL Solutions, GREENGUARD certified products are screened for more than 15,000 chemicals, with emission limits set for 360+ individual VOCs and total VOC (TVOC) levels. To maintain a GREENGUARD credential, products must undergo regular monitoring and complete an annual re-certification.
What are VOCs?
VOCs are a group of chemicals used to manufacture indoor furnishings, building materials, cleaning products, cosmetics, and more. For example: upholstery, foam, paint, carpet, and vinyl are common sources of VOCs.
Once indoors, these chemicals "off-gas" into the air we breathe. According to the EPA, concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors, up to ten times higher than outdoors. Short-term exposure to VOCs can cause headaches, irritation of the ear, nose, and throat, dizziness, and asthma symptoms. Long-term exposure to certain VOCs can lead to liver or kidney damage, central nervous system damage, and cancer, as noted by the World Health Organization.
According to UL Solutions, there may be "anywhere from 50 to hundreds of individual VOCs in the indoor air at any one time." By purchasing furniture that's GREENGUARD or GREENGUARD Gold certified for your school or office, you contribute to a healthier indoor environment and help reduce the chemical load that students, teachers, and staff breathe every day.
How are products tested?
Products are tested by sitting in dynamic, environmentally controlled chambers for a period of time to determine how many VOCs "gas off." Testing can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. After the testing period is over, the levels of VOCs in the stainless-steel chambers are measured. If the emission levels are low enough to meet the criteria set under UL 2818, then a GREENGUARD or GREENGUARD Gold certification is awarded.
What is the GREENGUARD Gold Certification?
The GREENGUARD Gold certification, UL Solutions' elevated second tier, was developed in 2005 to meet the indoor air quality needs of sensitive environments like schools, daycares, and health care facilities. Products that are GREENGUARD Gold Certified meet even lower chemical emission levels, plus health-based criteria for additional chemicals, including compliance with California's CDPH Section 01350 standard.
The research behind why this matters is compelling. A 2025 study from American University and UNC Chapel Hill found that installing air purification systems in North Carolina public schools led to measurable improvements in test scores and grades, and a meaningful reduction in absences and chronic absenteeism. A separate 2024 study published in Environmental and Resource Economics found that a single additional bad air quality day can increase the number of chronically absent K-12 students nationwide by up to 54,000. Cleaner indoor air is not just about comfort. It directly supports student attendance and learning outcomes.
That's why we're proud to carry a wide range of GREENGUARD Gold Certified early learning products. You'll find everything from preschool tables and chairs to cots and mats with the GREENGUARD Gold certification in our catalog.
What our customers say
School administrators and facility managers across the country turn to School Outfitters specifically because they can trust the products they put in front of students. When districts are navigating procurement decisions, knowing that a furniture line carries GREENGUARD Gold certification helps simplify the conversation, especially when parents and school boards ask hard questions about health and safety. If you've had a great experience with GREENGUARD certified products from School Outfitters, we'd love to hear your story. Contact our team.
Have questions or need help finding GREENGUARD certified furniture for your space? Give us a call at 1.800.260.2776 or email [email protected]. We're ready to help.
