UL Acquires Greenguard
NORTHBROOK, Ill. – Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Inc. acquired Air Quality Sciences (AQS) and its GREENGUARD Environmental Institute in a deal announced yesterday. Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed.
Marietta, Ga.-based AQS and GREENGUARD will operate under UL Environment, a business unit created by UL in 2009.
AQS, established in 1989, the company, helped pioneer indoor air-quality testing. To day, the company’s roster includes more than 70,000 products tested for chemical emissions, and cataloging more than 12,000 airborne product-specific chemicals.
GREENGUARD, established in 2001, certifies building products and materials for low chemical emissions, with air-quality and children/school safety certifications. More than 350 manufacturers worldwide currently participate in the certification programs, representing 19 unique industries and more than 10,000 products.
“By joining forces with such a recognized and reputable brand as UL, we are confident that we will boost consumer confidence in the green product marketplace,” said Dr. Marilyn Black, GREENGUARD founder and AQS chair. “Additionally, this strategic partnership will allow us to enhance our position as the North American indoor air quality market leader and help us expand our reach into the global market.”
The acquisition will expand UL Environment’s product emissions testing and indoor air-quality certification capabilities.
“This acquisition combines AQS’s world-class technology and expertise, as well as GREENGUARD’s brand recognition and scientific rigor, with UL’s trusted history of standards development, testing, and compliance to create a more-comprehensive solution for testing and certification,” said Steve Wenc, president of UL Environment in Northbrook. “Together, we’ll help consumers, regulators, and other interested parties make informed product purchases by providing clarity around indoor air-quality claims.”
Original publication ©2011 Western Business Media Inc. Use licensed to the author, Emerson Schwartzkopf.
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