Parents go to great lengths to protect their children as can be witnessed with car seats, baby monitors, baby gates as well as watching what they eat.  However, no one really stops to think about the quality of air their baby is breathing and yet it can impact their health.  Life is fragile – protect it.

With children spending on average 85% of their time indoors and indoor air quality typically 2-5 times more polluted than the outdoor air, one of the most important steps for protecting children is to make sure the air they breathe indoors is clean and free of hazardous pollutants.  Children are especially at risk, particularly those with asthma, allergies and respiratory diseases.  The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI), offers a solution to parents concerned about indoor air quality.  Indoor furnishings, finishes and cleaning products emit thousands of different pollutants into the air.  By using products that are certified by GREENGUARD, parents can rest easy knowing the products have met stringent chemical emissions standards backed by the most stringent third-party certification program in the industry.

“Indoor air quality is a growing concern for families,” said Henning Bloech, Executive Director of the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute.  Parents are increasingly aware that the air they breathe in their homes can be filled with more hazardous chemicals than they would face outside, even on a bad air quality day.”

GREENGUARD Environmental Institute recently unveiled a special nursery at the annual juvenile products trade show to help create awareness that good indoor air quality is critical to providing healthy environments for children.  Certified products from AkzoNobel, Anderson Hardwood Flooring, BonaKemi, Eclipse Shutters, Fleetwood, Georgia-Pacific Gypsum, Herman Miller, Knoll Textiles, National Gypsum, Naturepedic, Owens Corning, Q Collection Junior, Rubbermaid, Sherwin-Williams, Stanley Furniture – Young America and Teknion were included in the nursery. 

The GREENGUARD Children & School standard is one of the most stringent in the world and takes into account the special sensitivities of children. The standard requires that all products be tested for thousands of chemicals and that they meet rigorous health-based criteria for all volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including formaldehyde and phthalates.  More than 200,000 products produced by over 225 manufacturers contain the GREENGUARD Certification marks.

Unlike traditional exhibits, the GREENGUARD booth is built entirely with GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified^® low-emitting products, including furniture, flooring, walls, paint, textiles and furnishings. The exhibit reflects a nursery seen in many homes complete with crib, changing table and children’s play furniture. While most nurseries are furnished and decorated with products that off-gas a multitude of pollutants, the GREENGUARD nursery only features indoor air quality certified products that can minimize children’s exposure to harmful chemicals.

“The ABC Expo gives us a great opportunity to do more than just tell people that indoor air quality is critical to providing healthy environments for children. Now, we can demonstrate that a beautiful nursery designed with low-emitting products can easily be accomplished,” said Marilyn Black, Founder of GEI. “Our homes are filled with products and materials that emit thousands of different pollutants into the air we breathe. One of the most important steps towards protecting our children is to make sure the air they breathe in homes and schools, where they spend most of their day, is clean and free of hazardous chemicals,” explained Black.

Products featured in the GREENGUARD nursery carry the prestigious GREENGUARD Children & Schools^SM Certification mark. The GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification is among the most stringent in the world and takes into account the special sensitivities of children. It requires that all products be tested annually for more than 10,000 different chemicals and meet rigorous health-based criteria for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). GREENGUARD is excited to have products from industry leaders AkzoNobel, Anderson Hardwood Flooring, BonaKemi, Bernhardt Design, Eclipse Shutters, Fleetwood, Georgia-Pacific Gypsum, Herman Miller, Knoll Textiles, National Gypsum, Naturepedic, Owens Corning, Q Collection Junior, Rubbermaid, Sherwin-Williams, Stanley Furniture – Young America and Teknion included in this nursery.