How recycled binders can help with ongoing LEED credits

LEED continuing certification is obtained by meeting standards in a number of categories. If you have a LEED Building, you are well aware of the various things you have to track to do this.

Naked Binder can help. We create products which are FSC certified, verifiable 100% recycled and 97-100% post consumer waste on top of being stronger and better looking (those last two don't count toward LEED).

There are two categories where using a recycled and recyclable binder can help you (up to 10 points worth!).

Sustainable Purchasing Policy and Solid Waste Management Policy. 

If you are a LEED certified building, you have to have a Sustainable Purchasing Policy put in place to "To reduce the environmental and air quality impacts of the materials acquired for use in the operations and maintenance of buildings."and  "To facilitate the reduction of ongoing waste and toxins generated by building occupants and building operations that are hauled to and disposed of in landfills or incineration facilities."

Sustainable Purchasing Policy for ongoing consumables guidelines

• Purchases contain at least 10% post consumer and/or 20% postindustrial material.

• Purchases contain at least 50% rapidly renewable materials.

• Purchases contain at least 50% materials harvested and processed or extracted and processed within 500 miles of the project. (map)

• Purchases consist of at least 50% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)–certified paper products.

• Batteries are rechargeable.

Solid Waste Management policy has to cover ongoing consumables.

• Reuse, recycle or compost 50% of the ongoing consumables waste stream (by weight or volume).

Naked Binders meets the LEED ongoing consumables guidelines on these points:

• FSC Certified
• 97-100% post consumer waste
• 65-100% renewable materials (by weight)
• manufactured in Des Moines, IA
• Easily recyclable 

So how this helps you

Each purchase can receive credit for each sustainable criterion met, so if are in Chicago and you buy $1000 of Naked Binders you get credit for 

• $1000     FSC certified
• $1000     97-100% Post consumer waste
• $1000     renewable materials
• $1000     with in 500 miles of plant  (we have a map)
• $1000     100% recyclable

         =    $5000 of total credit toward your Sustainable Purchasing Policy and Solid Waste Management Points.

If you are using vinyl binders, they do not count toward these credits and you are jeopardizing the air quality of your building.