CRI Signature Programs

CRI has it covered

CRI applies science to make carpet better and last longer. CRI works with its member companies, allies in the field, independent testing laboratories and government agencies to continually improve its best practices in product improvement, environmental responsibility and customer care. The result of this pursuit of excellence means that CRI exceeds industry standards and meets customer expectations.

Green Label and Green Label Plus: higher standards for indoor air quality

The Green Label and Green Label Plus testing programs, overseen by independent labs, are designed for architects, builders, specifiers and facility managers who want assurances that carpet and adhesive products meet the most stringent criteria for low chemical emissions and help improve indoor air quality. Currently, carpet, cushion and adhesives as well as vacuum cleaners are tested in these programs. 

Working in cooperation with California’s Sustainable Building Task Force and the Department of Health Services, Indoor Air Quality section, the carpet industry voluntarily enhanced its Green Label program for carpet and adhesives to meeting the testing protocol used by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS). CRI has exceeded the CHPS criteria in several respects, including testing annually for specific chemicals, testing for six additional chemicals, maintaining a chain of custody process and performing an annual audit of the testing facility.

Seal of Approval: only the best cleaning products pass the test

Proper carpet cleaning is critical to extending the life of carpet, keeping it looking beautiful and maintaining a healthy indoor air environment within your home or facility.

Carpet cleaning products, methods and equipment improve all the time, but not all cleaning products clean equally well. The Seal of Approval testing program, overseen by independent labs, is designed to ease concerns about the perceived difficulty of cleaning carpets. This Seal helps homeowners, facility managers, janitorial staff and professional carpet cleaners identify superior cleaning products, including spot removers, pre-spray/in-tank solutions deep cleaning extractors/systems and vacuums.

CRI uses NASA-enhanced x-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology to measure the precise amount of soil removed from carpet by deep cleaning extractors and residential and commercial vacuums cleaners. Soil removal efficiency is rated on three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Manufactures receiving these ratings can also apply to use the seal of the Space Foundation, signifying use of space technology for earthly applications.

As a Seal of Approval green product, carpet cleaning solutions also ensure they are environmentally friendly by providing documentation from one of CRI's nationally recognized green product certifiers.

Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE): reduce, reuse and recycle

CARE is a ground-breaking industry-government initiative that develops market-based solutions for recycling and reusing post-consumer carpet.  CARE’s mission is to foster market-based solutions for recovering value from discarded carpet to meet the goals of the negotiated outcomes.  To accomplish its mission, CARE facilitates, advises, provides resources and serves as a forum for the many different stakeholders. CARE is funded and administered by the carpet industry, which agrees to use CARE to:

• Enhance the collection infrastructure for post-consumer carpet.
• Serve as a resource for technical, economic and market development opportunities for recovered carpet.
• Develop and perform quantitative measurement and reporting on progress toward the national goals for carpet recovery.
• Work collectively to seek and provide funding opportunities for activities to support the national goals for carpet recovery.

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