Announcement from GECA Concerning GECA, GBCA & Green Star

Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) has recently made important announcements to its Licensees which we believe you will also find helpful for your work with product certification schemes, GBCA and Green Star projects.

GECA, GBCA and Green Star:

Building fitout products such as flooring, panel boards, carpets, loose furniture and fittings that are GECA certified are rewarded in the Green Building Council of Australia's (GBCA) Green Star Material Calculators v1 and v2 credits. This means that products certified by GECA against the range of standards recognised by the GBCA at different times can earn Green Star points for Green Star projects.

Since 1 July 2010, the allocation of Green Star points is determined according to when Green Star projects were registered with the GBCA: a) prior to 1 July 2010, or b) on or after 1 July 2010.

In the case of three versions of the GECA 28 Furniture and Fittings standard released since 2007 (one in 2007 and two updates in 2010), this has created opportunities for GECA licensees.

To read GECA's communication to Furniture and Fittings Licensees, please click here.

For further information on Green Star Accreditation for GECA's GBCA-Recognised Standards, please click here.

EPDs and Licenses

GECA has historically provided licensees with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) as a summary product and environmental performance report designed for public distribution.

Under the new Certification Scheme Rules (effective from 1 April 2011) GECA will now feature licences for GECA certified products and services, rather than EPDs, on our website. Newly appointed JAZ-ANZ accredited auditors will no longer provide EPDs as part of the audit program, but may provide a publishable environmental performance summary report direct to applicants for GECA certification if they seek it.

This move has been in response to recent discussions and surveys held with the market, specifiers, licensees, consultants and member organisations, who wish to simplify certification documentation.

To read more, click here.

If you require further information, please contact GECA on 02 6287 3100 or via management@geca.org.au