Claims
68Every sustainability claim Litmus recognises — including the marketing phrases that sound like claims but aren't. Open one to see what evidence backs it up and which programmes it counts toward.
Climate health
14Has Environmental Product Declaration
DeclarationThe source claims that an EPD exists for the product, product family, or declared product scope.
Medium riskHas Product-Specific EPD
DeclarationThe source claims a product-specific Environmental Product Declaration exists for the declared product scope.
Medium riskHas Life Cycle Assessment Report
Standard methodThe source claims an LCA report or study exists for the product, product family, or declared scope.
Medium riskHas Sustainability Action Plan
CommitmentThe source claims the manufacturer has a public sustainability plan, policy, target, or action commitment relevant to the product context.
High riskHas CMF Impact Category Classification
Rating hintThe source or reviewer classifies source-backed sustainability claims into CMF-style impact categories for navigation and review.
Medium riskLEED Contribution Hint
Rating hintThe source uses LEED-oriented language that may indicate relevant product source but does not support project credit achievement.
High riskHas Product Carbon Footprint
DeclarationThe source claims a quantified product carbon footprint study exists for the product or product family.
Medium riskClaims Low Embodied Carbon
Impact metricThe source claims the product's embodied carbon is low or reduced relative to some baseline — meaningful only when the baseline, scope, and GWP figure are stated.
High riskClaims Carbon Neutral Product
CertificationThe source claims the product is carbon neutral — its measured footprint offset through purchased credits under a stated protocol.
High riskClaims Carbon Negative
Impact metricThe source claims the product removes or stores more carbon than its production emits — typically bio-based products counting biogenic carbon storage.
High riskClaims Renewable Energy Manufacturing
CommitmentThe source claims the product was manufactured using renewable energy, in whole or part, directly or via purchased certificates.
Medium riskClaims Bio-Based Content
OriginThe source claims a stated share of the product derives from biological (plant or animal) rather than fossil feedstocks.
Medium riskClaims Regional Sourcing
OriginThe source claims materials were extracted, processed, or manufactured within a stated distance of the project or market.
Medium riskBREEAM Contribution Hint
Rating hintThe source uses BREEAM-oriented language suggesting the product contributes to BREEAM credits — a pointer to check, not evidence.
High risk
Human health
30Has Health Product Declaration
DeclarationThe source claims that an HPD exists for the product, product family, or declared product scope.
Medium riskHas Declare Red List Free Label
CertificationThe source claims a Declare programme label with Red List Free status for the declared product scope.
Medium riskHas FloorScore Certification
CertificationThe source claims a FloorScore or SCS FloorScore certification for the declared product scope.
Low riskHas CDPH Low-Emitting Material Test
Standard methodThe source claims low-emitting material testing under CDPH Standard Method or equivalent chamber-testing language.
Medium riskClaims Low VOC Emissions
Impact metricThe source claims low VOC emissions or low-emitting performance for the product under a stated or unstated basis.
Medium riskClaims PFAS Free
Chemical exclusionThe source claims the product, material, treatment, or formulation is free of PFAS under some stated or unstated scope.
High riskClaims Formaldehyde Free
Chemical exclusionThe source claims the product or formulation is free of formaldehyde under some stated or unstated scope.
High riskClaims PVC Free
Chemical exclusionThe source claims the product or formulation is free of PVC under some stated or unstated scope.
High riskClaims Phthalates Free
Chemical exclusionThe source claims the product or formulation is free of phthalates under some stated or unstated scope.
High riskClaims PFOS Free
Chemical exclusionThe source claims the product, material, treatment, or formulation is free of PFOS under some stated or unstated scope.
High riskClaims CARB Compliant
ProgrammeThe source claims compliance with a CARB regulatory pathway for the declared product or material scope.
Medium riskClaims Ingredient Disclosure Threshold Met
DeclarationThe source claims that at least a declared threshold of product ingredients has been disclosed for the stated product scope.
Medium riskClaims Halogenated Flame Retardant Free
Chemical exclusionThe source claims the product contains no halogenated flame retardant chemicals under some stated or unstated scope.
High riskClaims Heavy Metal Free
Chemical exclusionThe source claims the product is free of one or more heavy metals (commonly lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium) under some stated or unstated scope.
Medium riskClaims Bisphenol Free
Chemical exclusionThe source claims the product contains no bisphenol A (and sometimes other bisphenols) under some stated or unstated scope.
High riskClaims No Added Antimicrobials
Chemical exclusionThe source claims no antimicrobial chemicals were intentionally added to the product — a health-positive claim, since added antimicrobials carry hazard concerns and limited proven benefit in buildings.
Low riskClaims No Added Urea Formaldehyde
Chemical exclusionThe source claims the composite wood product was manufactured without added urea-formaldehyde resins (NAUF) or without any added formaldehyde (NAF).
Medium riskClaims Water-Based / Solvent Free
DeclarationThe source claims the product (typically a coating or adhesive) uses a water-based carrier rather than organic solvents.
Medium riskClaims Low VOC Content
Impact metricThe source claims the product's VOC *content* (grams per litre, typically for wet-applied products) is below a stated regulatory limit — distinct from chamber-tested VOC *emissions*.
Medium riskHas Cradle to Cradle Certification
CertificationThe source claims the product holds Cradle to Cradle certification at some level (Bronze through Platinum).
Low riskHas GREENGUARD Gold Certification
CertificationThe source claims the product holds GREENGUARD or GREENGUARD Gold certification for low chemical emissions.
Low riskHas OEKO-TEX Standard 100
CertificationThe source claims the textile article holds OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification for harmful-substance testing.
Low riskHas BIFMA LEVEL Certification
CertificationThe source claims the furniture product holds LEVEL certification under ANSI/BIFMA e3.
Low riskHas Type I Ecolabel
CertificationThe source claims the product holds a third-party multi-criteria ecolabel (ISO 14024 Type I) such as EU Ecolabel, Blue Angel, Nordic Swan, Green Seal, or UL ECOLOGO.
Low riskHas Living Product Challenge Label
CertificationThe source claims the product is certified under ILFI's Living Product Challenge.
Low riskWELL Contribution Hint
Rating hintThe source uses WELL-oriented language suggesting the product helps satisfy WELL features — useful as a pointer, never as proof.
High riskClaims Non-Toxic
DeclarationThe source describes the product as non-toxic — a phrase with no standard definition, test method, or threshold in building products.
High riskClaims Chemical-Free
DeclarationThe source claims the product is chemical-free — literally impossible, since all matter is chemicals. A signal the marketing is not chemistry-literate.
High riskClaims Natural Materials
OriginThe source claims the product is natural or made from natural materials — an origin adjective, not a safety or sustainability attribute.
High riskClaims Red List Free (Unverified)
Chemical exclusionThe source states the product is Red List free without a Declare label — a self-declared version of a claim that has a proper verification route.
High risk
Ecosystem health
9Has Responsible Forestry Certification
CertificationThe source claims wood content or a product scope is covered by FSC or equivalent responsible forestry certification.
Medium riskClaims Biodegradable
CircularityThe source claims the product biodegrades — without a standard, timeframe, and environment, this is one of the weakest environmental claims.
High riskClaims Rapidly Renewable Material
OriginThe source claims the product is made from materials harvested on a short rotation (classically under 10 years — bamboo, cork, wool, linoleum inputs).
Low riskClaims Organic Fibre Content
OriginThe source claims the textile contains organically grown fibres, ideally verified through GOTS or equivalent chain of custody.
Medium riskHas ISO 14001 Certification
CommitmentThe source claims the manufacturer holds ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management system.
Medium riskClaims Water Stewardship
CommitmentThe source claims responsible water management in manufacturing — reduced intensity, recycling, or watershed-level commitments.
Medium riskClaims Eco-Friendly
DeclarationThe source describes the product as eco-friendly, green, or sustainable without naming a specific attribute — the archetypal unverifiable claim.
High riskClaims Plastic-Free
Chemical exclusionThe source claims the product contains no plastics — verifiable in principle, but the scope (binders, coatings, backings, packaging) is usually unstated.
Medium riskClaims Ocean Plastic Content
OriginThe source claims recycled content recovered from oceans or 'ocean-bound' sources — emotive provenance that needs chain-of-custody to mean anything.
High risk
Social equity
5Claims Made in USA
OriginThe source claims the product or declared scope is made or manufactured in the United States.
Medium riskHas JUST Label
CertificationThe source claims the manufacturer holds a JUST label — ILFI's social-equity transparency disclosure.
Low riskClaims Fair Labour Practices
CommitmentThe source claims fair working conditions in the product's manufacture — credible only with audit evidence or recognised certification.
High riskClaims Conflict Mineral Due Diligence
CommitmentThe source claims due diligence on conflict minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold) in the supply chain.
Medium riskClaims Vegan Materials
OriginThe source claims the product contains no animal-derived materials. An ethics claim — frequently paired with synthetic substitutes that carry their own footprint.
Medium risk
Circular economy
10Claims Recycled Content
CircularityThe source claims the product contains recycled material under a stated recycled-content type, percentage, scope, and calculation basis.
Medium riskClaims Recyclable
CircularityThe source claims the product can be recycled at end of life — meaningful only where collection and processing actually exist.
High riskClaims Take-Back Programme
CircularityThe source claims the manufacturer will reclaim the product at end of life under a published programme.
Medium riskClaims Design for Disassembly
CircularityThe source claims the product is designed so components can be separated for reuse or recycling — mechanical fixings over adhesives, separable material layers.
Medium riskClaims Compostable
CircularityThe source claims the product breaks down in composting conditions — industrial and home composting are very different standards.
High riskClaims Closed-Loop Recycled Content
CircularityThe source claims recycled content sourced from the manufacturer's own reclaimed products — the strongest form of recycled-content claim.
Medium riskClaims Extended Durability
DeclarationThe source claims unusually long product life, typically evidenced by warranty length — a legitimate sustainability lever, since longevity displaces replacement impacts.
Low riskClaims Mass Balance Content
OriginThe source claims recycled or bio-based content allocated via mass balance bookkeeping — credits assigned across production rather than physically present in each unit.
High riskHas Global Recycled Standard Certification
CertificationThe source claims recycled content verified under the Global Recycled Standard with chain of custody.
Low riskClaims Zero Waste to Landfill
CommitmentThe source claims the manufacturing facility diverts all (or nearly all) waste from landfill — a facility claim, certifiable under TRUE.
Medium risk