Why another rating system? What’s wrong with the current ratings and labels?
A plethora of standards, labels, and ratings are now available addressing the environmental characteristics of building materials. The challenge is sorting out the green from the green wash, and putting into context this bewildering array of eco-labels. Some are good, reliable sources of information, but address only one aspect of a materials’ impact, such as indoor air quality or recycled content. Some represent the consensus of stakeholders and have a process for update and change, while others are developed and managed solely by industry trade associations and are protected from change. Many are based on meeting a “good-enough” standard and don’t differentiate between the products that are squeaking past and those that are going the extra mile to become best practice. Some issues aren’t addressed at all by any standard. Pharos is not seeking to replace current standards. Rather it is designed to work with current standards, labels, and rating systems to help place them into context,
