SINGAPORE GREEN

LABELLING SCHEME
CERTIFICATION GUIDE
[Category: Paints & Coatings]





[The Green Label Category for Paints & Coatings establishes grading criteria on environmental and
health parameters for paints and coating products. It includes product specific environmental and health
prerequisites, such as reduced toxicity, recycled content and recyclability.]



The Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS) was launched in May 1992 by the Ministry of
the Environment. It was handed over to the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) on 5 June
1999 and is currently fully owned by the SEC.

The Green Label aims to help the public identify environment-friendly products that meet certain
eco-standards specified by the scheme and seeks to encourage the level of eco-consumerism in
Singapore as well as to identify the growing demand for greener products in the market. The
scheme hopes to create a backlash effect, encouraging manufacturers to design and manufacture
with the environment in mind.

Green Label offers certification of a range of products in conformance with its standards. For
additional information on the SGLS or any of the SECs programmes, contact:



Singapore Green Labelling Scheme
1E Cluny Road, #02-01
Singapore 259601
+65 6337 6062
greenlabel@sec.org.sg
www.sec.org.sg




TABLE OF CONTENTS


I. SCOPE .................................................................................................................................. 1
II. DEFINITIONS ..................................................................................................................... 2
III. GREEN LABEL CERTIFICATION CHECKLIST ............................................................. 4
A. Applicants Details ............................................................................................................ 4
B. Applicants Organisation ................................................................................................... 4
C. Assessment Information .................................................................................................... 5
D. Green Label and Product Information ............................................................................... 5
E. Health and Environment Criteria ...................................................................................... 7
F. Labelling Requirements .................................................................................................. 10
G. Quality Control / Assurance ............................................................................................ 11
IV. SGLS SECRETARIAT ASSESSMENT AND APPROVAL ............................................ 12
V. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 12




Page | 1

I. SCOPE
This category establishes criteria for paints and coatings, which include wall and floor paints,
external faade coatings, primers, undercoats, as well as anti-corrosive and energy saving or
reflective paints and coatings. The category does not cover clear finishes, specialty (industrial,
marine or automotive) paints or those packaged in aerosol cans.



Page | 2

II. DEFINITIONS

Anti-Corrosive
Coating
A coating formulated and recommended for use in preventing the corrosion of metal
substrates
Carcinogen Any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that is an agent directly involved in causing
cancer
Coating Liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition that is converted to a solid adherent film
after application to a substrate as a thin layer and is used for decorating, protecting,
identifying or to serve some functional purpose such as the filling or concealing of
surface irregularities or the modification of light and heat radiation characteristics and
is intended for on-site application to interior or exterior surfaces of residential,
commercial, institutional or industrial buildings. For the purposes of this standard, the
definition of paint or coating does not include stains, clear finishes, recycled latex
paint, specialty (industrial, marine or automotive) coatings or paint sold in aerosol
cans.

Colorant Concentrated colour (dyes or pigments) that can be added to finished paints or coatings
to make specific colours. Unless specified otherwise, it is the maximum amount of
colorant recommended for use by the manufacturer.

Flat Coating Paint or coating whose specular gloss registers less than 15 on an 85-degree meter or
less than 5 on a 60-degree meter according to ASTM Method D 52389, Standard Test
Method for Specular Gloss with a DFT of 17 dry mils or greater.

Floor Paint Opaque coatings that are formulated for or applied to flooring surfaces that have a
DFT of 10 mils (0.25mm) or less and are applied by roller or brush. For the purposes
of this standard, floor paints do not include epoxy or urethane flooring systems that
include coarse aggregates, colour chips or flakes as part of a multi-part flooring
system. Floor paints also do not include floor finishes which are defined as any
product that leaves a protective wax, polymer or resin coating that is designed to be
periodically removed and reapplied.

Hazardous Air
Pollutant (HAP)
Any compound listed by the U.S. EPA in the Clean Air Act Section 112(b) (1) as a
hazardous air pollutant.
Mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that changes the genetic material, usually DNA, of an
organism and thus increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background
level. As many mutations cause cancer, mutagens are typically also carcinogens.

Non-Flat Coating Paint or coating whose specular gloss registers 15 or greater on an 85-degree meter or
5 or greater on a 60-degree meter according to ASTM Method D 52389, Standard
Test Method for Specular Gloss Paint.

Ozone-Depleting
Compounds
A compound with an ozone-depletion potential greater than 0.01 (CFC 11=1).
Paint A pigmented coating. See definition for Coating.
Primer or Undercoat Coating that is formulated and recommended for one or more of the following
purposes: to provide a firm bond between the substrate and a subsequent coating; to
prevent a subsequent coating from being absorbed into the substrate; to prevent harm
to a subsequent coating from materials in the substrate or to provide a smooth surface
for application of a subsequent coating.


Page | 3


Reflective Roof
Coating
A non-bituminous coating labelled and formulated for application to roofs for the
primary purpose of reflecting ultraviolet light or reflecting solar radiation.

Reproductive Toxin Harmful substances such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB), that damages
reproductive organs and can cause sterility or birth defects
Topcoat The outermost layer of paint or coating system.
Volatile Aromatic
Compound
Any hydrocarbon compound containing one or more 6-carbon benzene rings in the
molecular structure with an initial boiling point lower than or equal to 280C measured
at standard conditions of temperature and pressure.

Volatile Organic
Compound (VOC)
Any organic compound which participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions and
has an initial boiling point lower than or equal to 280C measured at standard
conditions of temperature and pressure.






Page | 4

III. GREEN LABEL CERTIFICATION CHECKLIST

A. Applicants Details
Applicant Company:
________________________________________
Address:
________________________________________
Province/State:
________________________________________
Postal Code/Zip:
________________________________________
Country:
________________________________________
Contact Person:
________________________________________
Designation:
________________________________________
Tel:
________________________________________
Email:
________________________________________


Manufacturing Facilitys Name:
________________________________________
Address:
________________________________________
Province/State:
________________________________________
Postal Code/Zip:
________________________________________
Country:
________________________________________


B. Applicants Organisation
Applicants Organisational Chart: Pending Documents / Documents Provided
Description of the manufacturing
facilities: Pending Documents / Documents Provided





Page | 5

C. Assessment Information
Application Status Assessment 1: Pending Documents / Approved / Rejected
Application Status Assessment 2: Verified / Rejected
Primary Assessor:
________________________________________
Secondary Assessor:
________________________________________



D. Green Label and Product Information
SGLS License #: 032-____________________________________
1. ________________________ 4. ________________________
2. ________________________ 5. ________________________
3. ________________________ 6. ________________________
Product Information (for more than one product, please use the table on page 7)
Brand name:
________________________________________
Product name/ code:
________________________________________
Product description:
________________________________________
Grade:
________________________________________
Colour:
________________________________________
Dimensions and weight: ________________________________________
Supply chain of raw materials: Pending Documents / Documents Provided
Detailed production flow chart: Pending Documents / Documents Provided




Page | 6

Product Information
Product Nomenclature Product Description
No Brand Name Product Name Model No. Grade Colour Dimensions Weight
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.





Page | 7

E. Health and Environment Criteria
CRITERIA SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
a) Compound prohibited:
Carcinogens
Mutagens
Reproductive Toxins
Hazardous Air Pollutants or Ozone-depleting
Chemicals
A statement to this effect signed by
the CEO of the applicant company

b) Specific Compounds prohibited:
1,2-dichlorobenzene
Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates (APEs)
Formaldehyde-donors
Heavy metals
o Lead (Pb)
o Mercury (Hg)
o Cadmium (Cd)
o Hexavalent Chromium (Cr
6+
)
Phthalates
Organotin compounds
Third party laboratory testing reports;
Material safety data sheets
c) Volatile Aromatic Compounds content limit
The manufacturer shall provide evidence that the
product contains no more than 0.5% aromatic
compounds of the total weight.
d) VOCs: According to ASTM D6886 at 280C or ISO
11890-Part 2 at 280C, VOC concentrations excluding water
and tinting added at the point-of-sale as shall not exceed the
following:
Flat 50 g/L
Non-flat 100 g/L


Page | 8

Floor 100 g/L
Reflective wall 50 g/L
Reflective roof 100 g/L
Anti-corrosive 250 g/L
e) VOC concentrations of colorant added at the point-of-sale
shall not exceed the following:
Flat 100 g/L
Non-flat 150 g/L
Floor 150 g/L
Reflective wall 100 g/L
Reflective roof 150 g/L
Anti-corrosive 300 g/L
f) Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health
management guidelines
The company is required to have ISO (or equivalent)
environmental, occupational safety and health, and
quality management systems in place.
ISO 14001, ISO 18000 and ISO 9001
(or equivalent) management
certifications, or
Environmental management
guidelines and a declaration that the
company is in the process of
obtaining the relevant certifications
within 2 years
g) Reflective Wall Coatings
i. Physical properties
Comply with ASTM D6083
ii. Solar Reflectance
Low-slope roofs (slope angle 0-25) >0.75,
Medium-slope (slope angle 26-70) roofs > 0.65,
walls (slope angle 71-90)
>0.55 (light color), or
>0.25(dark color)
A statement to this effect signed by
the CEO of the applicant company;
Third party laboratory testing reports;
Material safety data sheets


Page | 9

(ASTM C1549-04) or (ASTM E1918-06)
iii. Solar Reflectance Relative Change
20% after 1000 hours under Xenon Arc
Accelerated weathering
iv. Thermal Emittance
80% (ASTM C1371-04a)



F. Labelling Requirements
CRITERIA REMARKS
a) Product Labelling
The manufacturing firm is to supply SEC with samples of the
products labels.



b) Instructions for Proper Use of Product
The products label must include detailed instructions on its
proper usage, to get the most out of the products performance
and minimize any wastage.

c) Logo
Singapore Green Labels logo may appear on the product's
packaging.

d) Misuse of Label
Singapore Green Labels logo shall not be juxtaposed to or
combined in any way with modifying terms, phrases, or graphic
images that could be misleading on the extent or nature of the
certification.

e) Descriptive Text of Label
The packaging of the product, or the product itself, must show a
description of the grounds for its Green Label certification.
The description shall be legible and easily seen.
Any promotion of the endorsed product must carry the Green
Label logo in addition to the certifications number, and a
statement Environment Friendly Paint/ Coating where
applicable, unless otherwise approved in writing by SEC.





G. Quality Control / Assurance
CRITERIA REMARKS
In lieu of the conditions below, all applying organisations must provide
a copy of their valid ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 Environmental
Management System Certification or equivalent, issued by an
accredited certification body, for the facility(s) that produce the
product(s) seeking endorsement under the Singapore Green Labelling
Scheme.



a) Purchasing and receiving
New sources of materials or parts are evaluated to comply with
specifications or purchasing documents.
The manufacturer shall have a documented method to ensure
that sources of materials or parts continue to comply with
specifications.

b) Manufacturing
Documentation that describes production methods and
materials used shall be provided.
Records shall be maintained to show that products are made in
accordance with documented methods and materials.

c) Final product testing
All products shall be identified by lot or batch number.
All products shall be inspected, tested, or otherwise evaluated
to ensure proper performance. The measuring, inspection, and
test equipment (equipment used in the evaluation of products
submitted for certification only) are ensured calibrated.
The method of evaluation shall be documented.

d) QA/QC Manual
The manufacturer is to provide a copy (or relevant sections) of
its quality assurance/control manual.


IV. SGLS SECRETARIAT ASSESSMENT AND APPROVAL


Signature: ________________________________________________
Primary Assessor: ________________________________________________
Company & Title: ________________________________________________
Date of Audit: ________________________________________________


Signature: ________________________________________________
Secondary Assessor: ________________________________________________
Company & Title: ________________________________________________
Date of Audit: ________________________________________________



V. REFERENCES
Clean Air Act, U.S. EPA
(http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/)

Green Seal-Standard
(http://www.greenseal.org/)

SGBC Evaluation Criteria for Green Building Product Certification- Facade and Roof
System: Paints and Coatings, February 2011
(http://www.sgbc.sg/images/uploads/adverts/Criteria_for_paints_and_coatings.pdf)