Wallcoverings Industry Adopts First-Ever Sustainability Standard

Rick Hickman of Tri-Kes gears up for the launch of NSF/ANSI 342.

Last week during NeoCon, the Wallcoverings Association (WA) revealed NSF/ANSI 342: Sustainability Assessment for Wallcovering Products, the industry’s first third-party validated sustainability standard. NSF certifies manufacturers by evaluating them on a point system in six key areas: product design; product manufacturing; longterm value; end of life management; corporate governance; and innovation. Based on this evaluation, products are certified as compliant, silver, gold, or platinum (the highest certification).

“I am excited not only about the presentation today, but standard NSF/ANSI 342 as a whole, “ says Tri-Kes VP of sales Rick Hickman. “It’s a unique standard in that it brings manufacturers and distributors together to really drive sustainability.” Tri-Kes, along with LSI and a few others in the industry, were instrumental in driving NSF 342. In fact, Tri-Kes was the first in the industry to qualify for the standard.

The U.S. Government Services Administration has not implemented NSF/ANSI 342 as an industry requirement, but WA hopes it will in the future. For a list of certified products, go here.

Ken Salyer, CEO and president of Tri-Kes; Amber Dzikowicz, business unit manager of NSF International; and Keith Highfill, technical director for LSI.