BIFMA e3 LEVEL® Certification

The BIFMA LEVEL® is a certification based on the ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard, which is a multi-attribute, multi-faceted approach to sustainable manufacturing for the furniture industry. LEVEL® is a third-party certification program that provides manufacturers with valuable feedback for evaluating the environmental, human, and social impacts of their furniture products for manufacturing, facility, and organization. For more information or to comment on the standard, visit bifma.org.

Under the LEVEL® certification program, Intertek will evaluate products and processes based on four performance criteria:

• Materials
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Ecosystem Health
• Social Responsibility

Participation in the LEVEL® certification program provides a pathway for furniture manufacturers to receive recognition for sustainability achievements, not only for individual products, but throughout the entire supply chain. Manufacturers who receive the LEVEL® certification mark are verifying that facility policies, furniture manufacturing processes, and suppliers are meeting the stringent requirements for LEVEL® certification by BIFMA e3 standard conformance.

Gain a Competitive Edge in the Market

• Showcase Sustainability Leadership by demonstrating a verified commitment to responsible materials, ethical practices, and environmental stewardship.
• Meet Buyer and Specifier Expectations by aligning your products with the sustainability criteria required for green building projects like LEED, WELL, and government procurement programs.
• Stand Out from the Competition by demonstrating advanced sustainability performance and a commitment to innovation under the updated 2024 BIFMA e3 standard.
• Streamline Compliance and Transparency by aligning your product documentation with industry standards for emissions, material health, and responsible manufacturing.

Most buyers demand that goods be manufactured to meet requirements for quality. Today, many are also insisting that manufacturing processes are Safe, Clean and Environmentally friendly (“Sustainable”). Intertek is a global leader in sustainability services and certifications. We offer environmental testing, inspection and certification in nearly all industries and countries around the globe.

There are four different degrees of achievement: BIFMA LEVEL® One, Two, Three  or Four certification. Similar to the U.S. Green Building Councils LEED program, LEVEL® certification requires specific prerequisites for compliance and a minimum number of points based upon the certification LEVEL® attempting. The independent third-party certification from Intertek can demonstrate LEVEL® certification, with compliance with the ANSI/BIFMA e3 standard and allow manufacturers to achieve the LEVEL® mark.

As a third-party certifier of BIFMA LEVEL® certification, you can work with our Intertek team through the whole process, which includes a combination of documentation review, onsite audits and product testing.  Please see our BIFMA LEVEL® Certification Overview for more information.

It gives manufacturers a methodology to present the environmental characteristics of their products in a clear, easily understood manner and allows customers to make informed choices about commercial furniture that exceed single environmental attribute certifications.

The standard has been developed by working with stakeholders and experts from inside and outside the industry. Using the ANSI process, over 125 participants contributed to committees and sub-committees to develop the ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard.

Find your LEVEL® certificate on Intertek's Sustainability Certification Directory.

For more information or to comment on the standard, visit BIFMA.org