Northbrook, Ill.-based Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is restructuring for global and green growth. The 114-year-old product-safety testing organization says it is creating five new operating units: product safety, UL University, environmental services, life and health sciences and verification services.
Critical to the growing green market is UL’s new environmental claims validation service and its sustainable-products certification service. “Both are brand new services that are part of a new company that is wholly owned by UL called UL Environment Inc., Geneva, Switzerland,” says Christopher R. Nelson, director of corporate development. “There is a rising demand for products that are environmentally sustainable, and there is a proliferation of eco-compatible products. We think there is a need for third-party validation services for these products in order to make sure manufacturer claims are truthful. Also, organizations such as retailers need to know the products they sell are eco-friendly, as do manufacturers. They all need an independent source to ensure accuracy and truthfulness.”