CICGPC - 200611 - Wall - Covering - Ver 1.0a

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COUNCIL
CIC GREEN PRODUCT CERTIFICATION
WALL COVERING
Assessment Standard
(Version 1.0a)
Copyright © 2020 Construction Industry Council

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Last updated: 11 June 2020

CIC Green Product Certification
Assessment Standard – Wall Covering Version 1.0a
WALL COVERING
Summary of Assessment Criteria
CORE CRITERIA
Criteria Requirements Verification Points

Index
Basic
Durability o Provide information to demonstrate the Laboratory test report(s) and 10 4.1.2
product’s properties including: relevant documentation (page 4)
 Water resistant showing the compliance to
 Oil resistant EU, US standards on wall
covering products.
Product o Provide the following product Documentation related to the 5 4.1.3
Information information: label and relevant (page 4)
 Instructions for use information
 Possible toxicity or health hazards
imposed by the chemical components
 Methods of cleaning the application
equipment
Volatile Limits for VOC & Formaldehyde Content Laboratory test report(s), 10 4.3.1
Organic and Emission MSDS and production (page 6)
Compound o Formaldehyde: < 0.05 ppm or < 8 documentation
(VOC) & mg/100g
Formaldehyde o Total Volatile Organic Compounds:
< 0.5 mg/m3
Phthalates The concentration of phthalate (DEHP, Laboratory test report(s), 5 4.3.2
DBP, BBP; DINP; DIDP and DNOP) in MSDS and production (page 7)
the product shall be less than 0.1% by documentation
weight of the product.
Heavy metals o The heavy metals in the products shall Laboratory test report(s), 10 4.3.3
be less than the limits in Table 5. MSDS and production (page 7)
documentation
Printing Ink o Printing ink used for producing Laboratory test report(s), 10 4.4.2
wallpaper shall be water soluble. MSDS and production (page 9)
documentation
Subtotal: 50
NON-CORE CRITERIA
Criteria Requirements Verification Points

Index
+Bonus
ii
Environmental O Valid certification of ISO14001, the EU ISO14001, EMAS, +5 4.1.1

Management Eco-Management and Audit Scheme NSF or Cradle-to- (page 3)
System (EMAS), NSF or Cradle-to-Cradle Cradle certificate
issued by accredited
certification body
Packaging o Product packaging shall not contain Documentation on the +5 4.1.4
Requirements halogenated plastics packaging materials (page 4)
o All packaging materials shall be either used
comprised of 100% recycled material or
readily recyclable
Raw Materials For paper, fabric and plastic parts contributing Detailed report(s) / +5/ +10/ 4.2.1
to more than 10 % of the total weight of the production +15 (page 5)
product, the material shall meet the following documentation of the
minimum requirements: raw materials
o Paper
Recycled content Bonus Points
≥ 20% +5
≥ 25% +10
≥ 30% +15
OR
 Virgin raw material originated from
sustainable sources, e.g. with FSC or
cradle-to-cradle certification
Sustainable Bonus Points
sources content
≥ 50% +5
≥ 60% +10
≥ 70% +15
o Fabric / Plastic
Recycled content Bonus Points
≥ 10% +5
≥ 20% +10
≥ 30% +15
Carcinogenic o Substances listed in IARC Group 1, 2A and Laboratory test +10 4.3.4
Substances 2B shall be < 0.1% by weight of the report(s), MSDS, self- (page 8)
product declaration letter and
production
documentation
Hazardous o The limits of hazardous substances are Laboratory test +5 4.3.5
Substances stated in Section 4.3.5. report(s), MSDS, self- (page 8)
declaration letter and
production
documentation
iii
Halogenated o The finished product shall not contain Laboratory test +5 4.3.6
Plastics halogenated plastics report(s) and any (page 8)
production
documentation
Water o Manufacturer shall prepare a water Documentation +5 4.4.1
Management management plan for the manufacturing management plan (page 9)
process
Subtotal: +50
iv
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
1.1 PURPOSE .................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................... 1
2. SCOPE ............................................................................................................................... 1
3. DEFINITIONS.................................................................................................................. 2
4. EVALUATION CRITERIA ............................................................................................ 3
4.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................... 3
4.1.1 Environmental Management System ............................................................... 3
4.1.2 Durability ......................................................................................................... 4
4.1.3 Product Information ......................................................................................... 4
4.1.4 Packaging Requirements .................................................................................. 4
4.2 RESOURCE CONSUMPTION ............................................................................... 5
4.2.1 Raw Materials .................................................................................................. 5
4.3 HUMAN TOXICITY ................................................................................................ 6
4.3.1 Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) & Formaldehyde .................................. 6
4.3.2 Phthalate ........................................................................................................... 7
4.3.3 Heavy metals .................................................................................................... 7
4.3.4 Carcinogenic Substances .................................................................................. 8
4.3.5 Hazardous Substances ...................................................................................... 8
4.3.6 Halogenated Plastics ........................................................................................ 8
4.4 ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS ........................................................................................ 9
4.4.1 Water Management .......................................................................................... 9
4.4.2 Printing Ink ....................................................................................................... 9
5. SCORING AND GRADING ......................................................................................... 10
v
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 PURPOSE
The CIC Green Product Certification (formerly known as HKGBC Green Product Accreditation
and Standards [HK G-PASS]) (herein after referred as the “Scheme”) is an environmental
labelling scheme owned by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and implemented by the
Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) which aims to help consumers, building
professionals and policy makers identify environmentally preferable building materials and
products. This Assessment Standard (hereafter referred as the “Standard”) sets out the
assessment criteria and their benchmarks for wall coverings to govern the application and
award of a label under the Scheme. The Standard also defines the verification methods to
determine which labelling grade should be awarded to the product according to the assessment
criteria.
This Standard neither modifies nor supersedes laws and regulations. Compliance with this
Standard is not a substitute for, and does not assure, compliance with any applicable laws or
regulations. Compliance with all applicable laws and regulations is a prerequisite for the
manufacturing and marketing of the product.
1.2 BACKGROUND
Wall coverings are commonly used for decorating the internal wall of buildings. The
production process of wall covering materials emits pollutants, as well as generating adverse
impacts to the environment and human health. Wall covering materials such as wallpaper may
also cause indoor air pollution by emitting hazardous substances including formaldehyde and
aldehydes.
The purposes of this Standard for wall covering are, therefore, to minimise the use and
subsequent release of harmful substances to the environment and human throughout the
product’s life cycle; to conserve resources and energy, to reduce the amount of waste disposed
in landfills. The development of the criteria in this Standard has made references to worldwide
relevant eco-labelling schemes and some existing life cycle assessment (LCA) studies.
2. SCOPE
This Standard applies to finish wall covering used in the interiors of building that are aligned
not less than 30 degrees from the ceiling and floor. The scope does not include the adhesive or
support structure / system of the wall covering. Paint and coating are also excluded from this
Standard.
1
The raw materials for the coating and substrate of the wall covering shall be specified clearly
in each application. E.g. Vinyl Coating – Fabric Substrate is regarded as one application.
Raw materials for coating and substrate include:

Coating & Vinyl Fabric Paper
Substrate Acrylic Textile Natural Materials
Subsequent application is also available for similar products with the same raw materials of a
labelled product series, which is only eligible for applying within the validity period of the
label. Maximum 5 (FIVE) subsequent applications are allowed for each first application.
3. DEFINITIONS
Applicant: Organisations which apply for the label of the CIC Green Product Certification
of the Construction Industry Council
CIC: Construction Industry Council
CNAS: China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment
HKAS: Hong Kong Accreditation Service
HKGBC: The Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited
HOKLAS: The Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme
IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer
ISO: International Organisation for Standardisation
NSF: National Sanitation Foundation
MSDS: Material safety data sheet. To qualify as suitable, MSDS and information therein
must not be more than 5-years old
Recycled fibres: Fibres collected from the conversion and consumer stages. Purchased
broke and broke from own production is defined as new fibre (if the raw material is new fibre)
and as recycled fibre (if the raw material is recycled).
Third-party: An entity without any financial interest or stake in the sales of the product or
service being evaluated or other conflict of interest
2
VOC: Volatile organic compounds refer to any organic compound (compound which
contains carbon) with either a boiling point below 250°C measured at 101.3 kPa or a vapour
pressure of more than 0.1 mm Hg measured at 25°C.
Wallpaper: Finishing materials using paper as base material and being pasted on walls or
ceilings, excluding wall blanket and other similar wall hanging.
Water soluble ink: Printing ink that uses water as solvent, and its volatile organic contents
do not exceed 5% of the total mass of the ink.
4. EVALUATION CRITERIA
A product to be assessed should meet all the minimum requirements of the “Core Criteria” in
order to be awarded a “Green” (i.e. a “pass” grade) Label under the Scheme. Extra points may
be awarded if the product meets the “Non-core Criteria” and a “Bronze”, “Silver”, “Gold” or
“Platinum” Label will be awarded according to the total points accumulated (see Section 5 for
details). All submission and documentation shall be endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer
or other authorised persons of the Applicant to demonstrate conformance to the assessment
criteria. The chemical tests should be conducted by either a third party or the manufacturer who
has received the ISO17025 certification or relevant national accreditation systems, e.g.
HOKLAS, CNAS, etc.
4.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
4.1.1 Environmental Management System
5 Points (Non-core Criterion)

Manufacturer of the products shall possess valid certificate of ISO14001, the EU Eco-
Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) or
Cradle-to-Cradle. Targets shall be set to reduce the environmental impacts during the
manufacturing process which include but not limited to the reduction of hazardous
substance emissions, energy consumption, CO2 emissions, secondary environmental
load, waste management, water management, etc.
Verification
A valid EMS Certificate, including ISO14001, EMAS, NSF or Cradle-to-Cradle, issued
by local or overseas accredited certification bodies.
3
4.1.2 Durability
10 Points (Core Criterion)

The properties of the wall covering to enhance its durability including water resistance
and oil resistance should be demonstrated.
Verification
The Applicant shall assess the durability in accordance with relevant ISO, ASTM test
methods including but not limited to ISO 18935, ASTM D779 and ASTM D6686-01,
other related testing methods are also acceptable with justifications provided by the
applicant. Relevant documentation or laboratory test report(s) on durability or
demonstrate the wall covering products comply with European Standards or Federal
Specification in United States shall be submitted.
4.1.3 Product Information

The following information shall be supplied with the product or made available to the
public to help users using the products in a sustainable manner:
o Possible toxicity or health hazards imposed by the chemical components;
o Instructions for use; and
o Methods of cleaning application equipment.
Verification
Documentation related to the product labels, care instructions and other information
provided with the product, material safety data sheets (MSDS), web pages and any other
information shall be freely available to customers or the public.
4.1.4 Packaging Requirements
The packaging requirements are relevant to all primary packaging materials, i.e. those
being used to envelop the product and hold it. The primary packaging materials are
usually in direct contact with the contents and shall be in the minimal amount of
distribution and/or use as they may eventually be disposed by the consumers.

The packaging materials shall:
o Not contain halogenated plastics; and
o Be comprised of 100% recycled material or be readily recyclable, decomposable,
or contain no coatings, impregnated chemicals or other materials that would prevent
recycling or decomposition.
4
Verification
Documentation describing the packaging materials used as well as their chemical
composition and recyclability shall be submitted.
4.2 RESOURCE CONSUMPTION
4.2.1 Raw Materials

5 / 10 / 15 Points (Non-core Criterion)
For paper, fabric and plastic parts contributing to more than 10 % of the total weight of
the product, the material shall meet the following minimum requirements, unless
otherwise specified.
Paper
Either one of the requirements (recycled content or sustainable sources) shall be
fulfilled:
i) The finished product shall be made of recycled paper with recycled content equal
to or more than 20%. Up to 15 bonus points will be awarded if the recycled content
of the paper wall covering is equal to or more than 30% (Table 1).
Table 1: Requirements of recycled content of paper used for different types of

wall covering and associated points
Recycled content of paper Points
≥ 20% +5 (bonus)
≥ 25% +10 (bonus)
≥ 30% +15 (bonus)
OR
ii) Any virgin raw materials used shall be with content equal to or more than 50%
originated from sustainable source with certification, e.g. Chain of Custody
Certification of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC); cradle-to-cradle certification,
etc.
Table 2: Requirements of raw materials from sustainable sources used for

different types of wall covering and associated points
Raw materials from sustainable sources Points
≥ 50% +5 (bonus)
≥ 60% +10 (bonus)
≥ 70% +15 (bonus)
5
Fabric / Plastic
The finished product shall contain recycled fabric / plastic with equal to or more than
10% to reach the minimum requirement. Up to 15 bonus points will be awarded if the
recycled content of fabric or plastic wall covering is equal to or more than 30% (Table
3).
Table 3: Requirements of recycled content of fabric / plastic used for different types
of wall covering and associated points
Recycled content of fabric / plastic Points
≥ 10% +5 (bonus)
≥ 20% +10 (bonus)
≥ 30% +15 (bonus)
Note:
In case the product is made of more than one material, the ultimate score for this
criterion shall be based on the score of the lowest scoring material
Verification
Detailed report(s) of the raw materials of wall covering products with substantiations
and any relevant production documentation; certification documents of raw materials.
4.3 HUMAN TOXICITY
4.3.1 Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) & Formaldehyde

10 points (Core Criterion)
The finished wall covering products shall not exceed the following air emission or
content limits. Products should be tested in accordance with either ASTM D 5116-10:
Standard Guide for Small-Scale Environmental Chamber Determinations of Organic
Emissions from Indoor Materials / Products or the California Department of Public
Health (CDPH) standard method.
Table 4: Limits for VOC & Formaldehyde Content and Emission

VOC & Formaldehyde Emission limits or content
limits
Formaldehyde < 0.05 ppm or < 8 mg/100g
Total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) < 0.5 mg/m3
Parameters for the emission testing: temperature: 23oC ± 2oC; relative humidity: 50%
± 5%; air exchange rate: n=1; chamber loading ratio: 0.4 – 1.0 m2/m3; air velocity:
0.1 m/s – 0.3 m/s.
6
Verification
The Applicant shall submit relevant laboratory test report(s) on formaldehyde and
VOCs emission and/ or documentations (including relevant laboratory test report(s),
MSDS and any production documentation) of formaldehyde and VOCs in the final
product.
4.3.2 Phthalates
5 points (Core Criterion)
The concentration of phthalates in the product shall be less than 0.1% by weight of the
product.
The limited phthalates including the following types:

 bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP),
 dibutyl phthalate (DBP),
 benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP);
 Diisononyl phthalate (DINP);
 Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP),
 Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP),
Verification
Laboratory test report(s), MSDS and any relevant production documentation shall be
provided. The phthalate content shall be analysed according to National or International
standards such as CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3.
4.3.3 Heavy metals

The heavy metals in the products shall be less than the following limits.
Table 5: The limits for heavy metals

Heavy metals (Symbol) Limits (mg/kg)
Arsenic (As) 25
Barium (Ba) 500
Cadmium (Cd) 25
Chromium (Cr) 60
Lead (Pb) 90
Mercury (Hg) 20
Verification
7
Laboratory test report(s), MSDS and any relevant production documentation shall be
provided.
4.3.4 Carcinogenic Substances

Hazardous substances listed in the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s
(IARC) Groups 1, 2A and 2B Classifications (details can be found in website:
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/) shall be avoided during the production
process or present in the final product. Any such carcinogens which are known to be
present as contaminants shall be less than 0.1% by weight of the product.
Verification
Laboratory test report(s), MSDS, self-declaration letter and production documentation
shall be provided.
4.3.5 Hazardous Substances

The following substances in the products shall be less than the below limits (% by
weight of the product):
i) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): 0.1%;
ii) Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
and short-chained chlorinated paraffin (SCCP): 0.1%;
iii) Chlorophenols: 20 µg/kg of fibre in textile materials;
iv) Extractable organic halogens (EOX): 3 mg/kg fibre in textile materials; and
v) Release of vinyl chloride monomer: 1 mg/kg.
The following substances shall not be added in the manufacturing process:

i) Sodium hexafluorosilicate;
ii) N-(a-(1-nitroethyl)benzyl)-ethylene diamine
iii) Mixture of tris-(hydroxymethyl)-nitromethane, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-
Isothiazoline-3-on and 2-methyl-4-isothiazoline-3-on
iv) Tetramethylthiuram disulphide
v) Chemicals for bleaching including chlorine, halogenated chemicals or hardly
biodegradable complexing agents, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
(EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)
Verification
Laboratory test report(s), MSDS, self-declaration letter and production documentation
to demonstrate the compliance with the criteria mentioned above.
4.3.6 Halogenated Plastics
8

The finished product shall not contain halogenated plastics.
Verification
Laboratory test report(s) and any relevant production documentation shall be submitted
to demonstrate the composition of the product.
4.4 ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS
4.4.1 Water Management

Manufacturer shall prepare a water management plan for the manufacturing process.
The followings shall be submitted as support:
o Initiatives taken to reduce water use and improve water efficiency;

o Initiatives or requirements for suppliers or contract manufacturers.
Verification
Detailed water management plan.
4.4.2 Printing Ink

Printing ink used for producing wallpaper shall be water soluble.
Verification
Laboratory test report(s), MSDS and any relevant production documentation
9
5. SCORING AND GRADING
The points for meeting each criterion stated in Section 4 are summarised in Table 6.
Table 6: Points to be awarded under the assessment criteria of this Standard

Points
Evaluation criteria
Basic +Bonus
4.1.1 Environmental Management System +5
4.1.2 Durability [CORE] 10
4.1.3 Product Information [CORE] 5
4.1.4 Packaging Requirements +5
4.2.1 Raw Materials +5/+10/+15
4.3.1 Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) & Formaldehyde
10
[CORE]
4.3.2 Phthalates [CORE] 5
4.3.3 Heavy Metals [CORE] 10
4.3.4 Carcinogenic Substances +10
4.3.5 Hazardous Substances +5
4.3.6 Halogenated Plastics +5
4.4.1 Water Management +5
4.4.2 Printing Ink [CORE] 10
50 +50
Total: 100
The minimum requirement to be awarded a “Green” Label under this product category is to
obtain 50 points by meeting all minimum requirements laid down in the “Core Criteria”.
Table 7: Benchmarks for grading wall covering

Grade to be awarded Points required
Platinum 90 or above
Gold 80 - 89
Silver 70 - 79
Bronze 60 - 69
Green 50 - 59
No Label Below 50
10

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CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COUNCIL

CIC GREEN PRODUCT CERTIFICATION

Copyright © 2020 Construction Industry Council

Last updated: 11 June 2020

Summary of Assessment Criteria

Criteria Requirements Verification Points

Criteria Requirements Verification Points

Environmental O Valid certification of ISO14001, the EU ISO14001, EMAS, +5 4.1.1

Raw materials for coating and substrate include:

CIC: Construction Industry Council

CNAS: China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment

HKAS: Hong Kong Accreditation Service

HKGBC: The Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited

HOKLAS: The Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme

IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer

ISO: International Organisation for Standardisation

NSF: National Sanitation Foundation

4.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

4.1.1 Environmental Management System

5 Points (Non-core Criterion)

10 Points (Core Criterion)

4.1.3 Product Information

5 Points (Core Criterion)

4.1.4 Packaging Requirements

5 Points (Non-core Criterion)

4.2 RESOURCE CONSUMPTION

4.2.1 Raw Materials

Table 1: Requirements of recycled content of paper used for different types of

Table 2: Requirements of raw materials from sustainable sources used for

4.3 HUMAN TOXICITY

4.3.1 Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) & Formaldehyde

Table 4: Limits for VOC & Formaldehyde Content and Emission

The limited phthalates including the following types:

4.3.3 Heavy metals

Table 5: The limits for heavy metals

4.3.4 Carcinogenic Substances

10 Points (Non-core Criterion)

4.3.5 Hazardous Substances

5 Points (Non-core Criterion)

The following substances shall not be added in the manufacturing process:

4.3.6 Halogenated Plastics

5 Points (Non-core Criterion)

4.4 ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS

4.4.1 Water Management

5 Points (Non-core Criterion)

o Initiatives taken to reduce water use and improve water efficiency;

4.4.2 Printing Ink

10 Points (Core Criterion)

5. SCORING AND GRADING

Table 6: Points to be awarded under the assessment criteria of this Standard

Table 7: Benchmarks for grading wall covering

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