Green Seal Announces Group of Experts for its Inaugural Standards Steering Committee

Global non-profit Green Seal announced the formation of its inaugural Standards Steering Committee, comprising industry leaders and subject matter experts charged with overseeing a sweeping transformation of Green Seal’s standards framework into a set of market-led health and environmental criteria poised for widespread marketplace adoption.

The formation of the Steering Committee is part of Green Seal’s commitment to taking bold action to align the consumer-packaged goods, retail, institutional and industrial products communities on the core elements of safer and more sustainable everyday products, including safer chemicals, responsible sourcing, low-impact manufacturing, sustainable packaging and verified performance and claims. Defining and driving consensus on criteria for these elements across the industry is a key step to reducing confusion in the marketplace that hinders consumers from putting their wallets where their values are.

The members of the Steering Committee are:

• Courtney Holm, Managing Director and Founder, The Holm Edit (Co-Chair)
• Roger McFadden, President and Chief Science Officer, McFadden and Associates (Co-Chair)
• Kira Austin, Sustainable Sourcing Manager, Aramark and Avendra International
• Chris Cassell, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability, Lowe’s
• Daniel Daggett, Vice President of Sustainability, Solenis
• Lisa Dreilinger, Global Head of Regulatory, Consumer Microbial Control, Arxada
• Art Esposito, Director, Product Stewardship and Sustainability, Church & Dwight
• Katherine Hoffman, Sustainability Strategic Initiatives Manager, Eastman
• Ryan Hood, Senior R&D Director, ECOS
• Gayatri Keskar, Global Packaging Material Science Leader, Kenvue Inc.
• James Kim, Senior VP of Science and Regulatory Affairs, The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)
• Teresa McGrath, Chief Research Officer, Habitable
• Cheri Peele, Director of Government and Market Policy, Toxic Free Future
• Nathan Sell, Sustainability and Certifications Leader, IFF
• John Salvador, Director of Stewardship/Sustainability, Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products
• Jake Swensen, Director of Sustainability, Staples

The Steering Committee will serve as the main governance body for Green Seal product standards, which are widely recognized for their credible, comprehensive leadership criteria that protect people and the planet. The volunteer experts on the committee will ensure Green Seal standards continue to be scientifically rigorous and consider both the lifecycle impacts of products and the potential for the uptake of the standard criteria across the marketplace.

“Consumer confusion caused by the sheer number of sustainability standards and claims they encounter is the single biggest barrier holding back the sustainable products movement,” said Doug Gatlin, CEO of Green Seal, who previously helped develop the successful market transformation programs Energy Star and LEED. “The Steering Committee will guide the development of market-led criteria that can finally harmonize meaningful product sustainability claims for retailers, brands and consumers. This is an exciting, ambitious, and urgent goal that the impressive leaders on our committee are uniquely qualified to help us achieve.”

“I’m honored to help lead the Standards Steering Committee as we unite the fast-moving consumer goods industry around clear, aligned product-level standards. Together, we’re creating powerful opportunities across the value chain to build trust, the foundation that empowers consumers to make more sustainable choices with confidence,” said Courtney Holm, co-chair of the Steering Committee and managing director and founder of The Holm Edit. “Certification standards play a vital role in turning ambition into action, and in shaping a future where transparency and integrity guide every decision.”

“I am inspired by our members’ expertise and dedication to create shared value for companies and communities while addressing consumer demand for safer, sustainable choices,” said Roger McFadden, co-chair of the Steering Committee and president and chief science officer of McFadden and Associates. “Together with Green Seal staff and stakeholders, our efforts will establish credible, science-based standards for high-performance products that are both safer and more sustainable.”