Green Seal, founded in 1989, is an independent body and non-profit organization that relies on scientific standards and market power to build a more sustainable world. The standards that govern Green Seal Certification are transparent, credible and indispensable in a more knowledgeable and increasingly competitive market–driven environment. One of the objectives is to help the user make responsible choices that set guidelines for business ethics and improves the quality of life.

Green Seal's initial environmental standards were released in 1991-92. Hundreds of companies have since had their products certified to meet Green Seal standards in over 40 major product categories.

Green Seal coordinates with government, manufacturers, sectors of industry and purchasing groups to "green" the production and purchasing cycle. Green Seal evaluates a product such as floor or service from the raw material extraction stage, follows it through the manufacturing process and ends with post–consumer disposal and recycling. Products, such as flooring are awarded with a certification only after meeting rigorous testing and evaluation standards.

Relating to flooring, Green Seal has established health and environmental standards for floor strippers, cleaning procedures and products. Broadly speaking, these are as follows:

• Must be free of carcinogens or reproductive toxins
• Must have a low level of aquatic and human toxicity
• Must be harmless to skin or eyes
• Must have a flash point over 150°F
• VOC levels should be less than 7% for floor finishes, 3% for floor strippers and 1% for general floor cleaners
• Should contain less than 0.5% phosphorous
• Must be biodegradable
• Should be free from zinc, phthalates or other heavy metals, APEs or alkylphenol ethoxylates, ozone–depleting compounds and optical brighteners.