POLLUTION & CHEMICAL  REDUCTION

Air and water pollution are major issues facing our society. In this section, the GRA provides restaurants with tools to decrease their contribution to climate change, indoor air pollution, the polluting of our waterways, and soil degradation. In addition, these changes will also benefit human health.

 

Unless otherwise noted, points listed below are based on 100% of the items in the restaurant meeting the criteria. Points will be assigned based on the % of items in the restaurant the meet the criteria.

 

 

Points

TRANSPORTATION

 

Building located 1/2 mile from subway, light rail

0.5

Building located 1/4 mile from bus line

0.5

Provide secure bicycle storage with shower facilities

0.5

Alternative fuel refueling station for 3% of total vehicle parking capacity

0.5

Provide preferred parking for customers and employees with alternative fuel vehicles or hybrid vehicles

0.5

Preferred parking for employee carpools

0.5

No idling policy  - Signs posted where delivery trucks and take-out customers would park

0.5

Offer 50% or more subsidy to each employee for public transportation

0.5

 

 

BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT

25

 

 

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

 

Mitigate % of annual stormwater that falls on the site, using bioretention cells, permeable pavement, rain barrels, etc.

7.75

 

 

TRANSPORTATION, PETROLEUM REDUCTION

 

Alt Fuel Vehicles (hybrid, biodiesel, electric

7

Waste Vegetable Oil fueled vehicles

10.5

All deliveries made by foot or bicycle

13

 

 

Electric powered lawn mower

2

Manual mower

2.5

 

 

CHEMICAL REDUCTION

 

No HCFC-based refrigerants

3

 

 

Unbleached parchment paper

1.25

Unbleached deli sheets

1.25

Unbleached pastry bags

1.25

 

 

Low VOC flooring

2.5

Low VOC wallcovering

2.5

 

 

Paint and coatings meet GreenSeal standards (GS11 or GS43)

2

 

 

Zero VOC paints

2.5

Natural paints

3

 

 

Adhesives and sealants with VOC emissions < S. Coast Air Quality Mgmt District Rule 1168

2.5

Adhesives and sealants with NO VOC emissions

3

 

 

Carpet and carpet cushion meets CRI Green Label requirements

2.5

 

 

Composite panels and agrifiber products contain no added urea-formaldehyde resins

2.5

 

 

Mercury content of all linear fluorescent bulbs < 80 picograms per lumen hour

1.25

Mercury content of all compact fluorescent bulbs < 80 picograms per lumen hour

1.25

 

 

Sustainable Clothing - organic, hemp, recycled materials

 

     Chef Coats

3

     Staff Uniforms

3

     Merchandise

3

 

 

Ethanol-based warming gel that contains no methanol

2.5

Non-toxic candle alternative, such as LED, beeswax, soy

2.5

Soy- or other vegetable-based inks - paper printing

1.25

Soy- or other vegetable-based inks - clothing

1.25

 

 

PEST MANAGEMENT

 

Green Shield or Green Pro Certified pest control company

7.75

 

 

LIGHT POLLUTION

 

All outdoor lights > 50W must be covered fixtures so light is not directly emitted into the night sky

0.75

Directional lighting in parking areas

0.75

 

 

CHEMICALS

 

Solid block warewashing products

3

 

 

Cleaning products meet GreenSeal's standards, GS-37

5.25

Cleaning products meet GRA's Standards (see below)

7.75

 

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GRA Standards for Non-Toxic Cleaning Products

Note: These standards apply to general cleaning products, such as glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner, degreaser, hand soap, sanitizer, etc.

They do not apply to mechanical warewashing products. 

 

To achieve full points for chemicals, they must meet the GRAÕs standards, which are as follows:

 

-   Non-irritating, mild, reddening (Health rating of 0 or 1)

-   Contain natural, bio-based surfactants

-   Does not result in any hazardous decomposition products

-   Contains no ingredients on the GRAÕs list of excluded ingredients (below):

 

1,1,1-TCE

1,4-dioxane

2-(4-1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenoxy) ethanol

2-butoxyethanol

4-Nonylphenoxy ethanol

Acetone

Alkylphenol Ethoxylates

Ammonia

Benzalkonium chloride

Benzyl Alcohol

Bisphenol A

C8 Branched alkylephenol ethoxylate

C9 Branched alkylphenol ethoxylate

Chlorine

Coconut oil diethanolamine

Dibutyl phthalate

Diethanolamine

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether

Dodecylphenol ethoxylates

Ethanolamine

Ethylene diaminetetracetic acid (EDTA)

Ethylene glycol

Fragrances (specifically synthetic fragrances including musks)

Glycol Ethers

HCFC 141

Heavy metals (lead, selenium, mercury, zinc)

Hydrochloric Acid

Hydroxyacetic Acid

Isopropanol

Lauric Acxid Diethanolamine

Methyl Ethyl Ketone

Monoethanolamine

Naphthalene

Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)

Nonoxynol-9

Nonylphenol monoethoxylate

Nonylphenol polyethylene oxide

Octylphenoxypoly (ethoxyethanol)

Optical brighteners

Para dichloro benzene

Perchloroethylene (PERC)

Phenolic compounds

Phosphoric Acid

Phthalates

p-Octylphenol diethoxylate

p-Octylphenol ethoxylate

Potassium Hydroxide

p-tert-octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol

Quaternary ammonium chloride (concentrate)

Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium Hypochlorite

Sodium Metasilicate

Tetrachloroethylene

Toluene

Tributyl tin

Triclocarban

Triclosan

Triethanolamine

Xylene

 

 

-   Meet performance requirements*

-   Undiluted product shall have the following characteristics: *

o   Not toxic to humans

o   Not corrosive to skin or cause serious eye damage (pH between 2 and 11.5)

o   Not contain carcinogens

o   Not contain asthmagens

o   Not a skin sensitizer

o   Not easily absorbed by the skin

o   Prohibited ingredients:

¤  Heavy metals

¤  2-butoxyethanol

¤  Alkylphenol ethoxylates

¤  Phthalates

o   Zero ozone depleting potential (ODP) *

o   Not combustible (flashpoint greater than 150 degrees F) *

o   Not contain ingredients that are optical brighteners*

 

-   The product as used shall have the following characteristics: *

o   VOC levels less than 0.1% for dilutable carpet cleaner and less that 1% for general-purpose, restroom, glass, and                                       

ready-to use carpet cleaners

o   Not contain ingredients that cause chronic inhalation toxicity

o   Not toxic to aquatic life

o   Not contain ingredients or degradation products that bioaccumulate

o   Individual organic ingredients are readily biodegradable

o   Contain less than 0.5% phosphorus

o   Color components are FDA certified or natural

 

-   Other requirements: *

o   Fragrances follow the Code of Practice of the International Fragrance Association

o   Concentrated to 1:32 for general purpose cleaners and 1:16 for glass, restroom, and carpet cleaners

o   Discourage animal testing

o   Meet closed dilution-control concentrate labeling requirements

 

-   Packaging requirements: *

o   Plastic packaging must be recyclable, refillable, or container 25% post-consumer recycled content

o   Primary packaging shall contain 25% post-consumer recycled content

o   Prohibited packaging:

¤  Ready-to-use packaging for concentrated products

¤  Aerosol cans

¤  Heavy metals, phthalates, and chlorinated packaging materials can not be intentionally introduced

-   Training & Labeling Requirements: *

o   Training or training materials must be available

o   Labels shall be in English and also include other languages or visual representations to aid non-English speaking or                                    

illiterate users

o   Label to include:   

¤  Dilution instructions

¤  Use and disposal instructions

¤  Whether or not a fragrance has been added

¤  ProductÕs pH

 

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* The items with an asterisk mark are derived from Green SealÕs Standards