New Tool from UL Environment's SQ® Program Helps Manufacturers Gauge Sustainability Efforts

NORTHBROOK, Illinois, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- UL Environment, a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories), announced today the launch of a free web-based tool that will help manufacturers assess their corporate sustainability efforts. Part of UL Environment's Sustainability Quotient (SQ) Program, this tool provides manufacturers with a preliminary analysis of their sustainability initiatives relative to the requirements of the UL 880 standard. The tool also aggregates responses from all survey respondents and provides an overall benchmark of sustainability progress to date.

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"Manufacturers are making great strides when it comes to their own sustainability programs, and this assessment tool will help them identify gaps in standards they are currently using. By using this tool, companies will be able to get a sense of their organization's environmental, social, and governance performance, ideally acting as incentive for further innovation," says Gary Savin, vice president of UL Environment.

Based on the criteria in UL 880: Sustainability for Manufacturing Organizations (developed in conjunction with GreenBiz), the SQ Program's assessment tool helps a manufacturer evaluate its sustainability profile based on key indicators, such as environmental purchasing policies, greenhouse gas reduction targets, and sustainable supply chain code of conduct.

"The online assessment tool takes no more than 15 or 20 minutes to complete, and it generates an insightful, valuable, and actionable report for companies looking to get started on—or continue on—their sustainability journey," says Savin.

UL Environment's SQ Program is a comprehensive system of assessing, rating, and certifying the sustainability initiatives of corporations at an enterprise level. The program addresses enterprise sustainability through five domains:

• Environment
• Governance for sustainability
• Work force
• Customers and suppliers
• Community engagement and human rights

Companies that participate in the SQ Program may pursue certification to an entire enterprise-level standard ("full certification") or certification to select domains within the standard ("focus area certification"). For more information, visit www.sustainabilityquotient.com.

To take the complimentary SQ Program readiness assessment tool, visit www.sustainabilityquotient.questionpro.com.

About UL Environment

UL Environment's mission is to advance global sustainability, environmental health, and safety by supporting the growth and development of environmentally-preferable products, services, and organizations. We help companies achieve their sustainability goals and help consumers find products they can trust. UL Environment offers environmental claims validation, multi-attribute product certification, environmental product declarations, indoor air quality certification, product emissions testing, organizational sustainability certification, and consulting. For more information, visit www.ul.com/environment.

About UL

UL is a premier global safety science company with more than 100 years of proven history. Employing nearly 9,000 professionals in 46 countries, UL is evolving the future of safety with five distinct business units – Product Safety, Environment, Life & Health, Verification and Knowledge Services – to meet the expanding needs of customers and the global public. For more information on UL's family of companies and network of 95 laboratory, testing and certification facilities, go to UL.com.