What is Green Shield Certified?
Green Shield is a non-profit certification program
operated by the IPM Institute of North America.
Green Shield promotes practitioners of effective,
prevention-based pest control, or Integrated Pest
Management (IPM).
Green Shield certifies PMPs (individual services or
entire companies), facilities and programs.
Benefits of being Green Shield Certified
Earn new accounts from customers who will only accept
bids from companies offering IPM services.
"Our Green Shield Certified service has already earned us multiple new accounts and many inquiries from customers interested in prevention-based, least-toxic pest control.” - Corey Arnold, CEO/President,
Peachtree Pest Control, Norcross, Georgia
Gain a better understanding of IPM and pest management
in general.
“Green Certification made us aware of areas in our green approach which required more attention. We became more aware, more enthusiastic, more focused, and more committed to green overall.” - Lynn Frank, B.C.E. & Technical Director, Suburban / Magic Exterminating, Smithtown & Flushing, New York
Make your company’s IPM service(s) more efficient.
“The certification process helped us improve our IPM services and organization, and we are now more efficient and consistent in our approach to providing effective, prevention-based pest control. We're also better able to communicate that approach to our customers.” - Rita Bonamo, President, Black Widow Termite & Pest Control, Valley Stream, New York
Benefits of being Green Shield Certified (cont.)
Gain credible third-party recognition for exceptional green
services.
“Customers are choosing Peachtree Green because it is the only independently certified Integrated Pest Management service available in this area.” - Corey Arnold, CEO/President, Peachtree Pest Control, Norcross, Georgia
Proof for customers that your company can meet the
highest standards.
"Green Shield Certified gives my customers third-party assurance that what we say is what we do. It tells them we're a cutting-edge pest control service provider.” - Luis Agurto, President, PESTEC, Antioch & San
Francisco, California
Defense against ‘greenwashing’ claims.
“Customers need an easy way to cut through the ‘greenwashing’ and find [PMPs] that truly embrace an integrated pest management philosophy. Credible, rigorous, independent certification programs - like Green Shield - fill a critical need.” - Chris Geiger, Ph.D., IPM Program Manager, City & County of San Francisco, California
Benefits of being Green Shield Certified (cont.)
Comprehensive, third-party assurance for quality control of
your green services and IPM practices.
Company exposure on the Green Shield website.
Professional Green Shield marketing materials.
Basic requirements for certification
Green Shield Certified professionals use their knowledge of pest lifecycles, habits and the conditions that affect different pest populations. Non-chemical approaches to limit pest entry ways, attractants,
harborage and food will provide the most effective, longest lasting pest control. Green Shield Certified standards require:
Non-chemical approaches first to prevent pest problems.
Expertise in IPM principles and practices.
Monitoring and inspection to spot problems early, and identify and correct conditions that encourage pests.
Pesticides are used only when necessary.
Non-chemical approaches are the primary tool to control pests; spray-by-the-calendar pesticide applications are not permitted.
Approved pesticide application methods limit how and when pesticides can be used.
Any pesticides used are screened and approved. Only pesticides approved by Green Shield Certified may be used in a certified service.
Record keeping is required to document performance and explain why any pesticide application may have been necessary.
To offer a GREEN SHIELD CERTIFIED Service, you must:
Step 1.
Contact the IPM Institute to schedule an evaluation. The evaluation will be
conducted on-site at your office using this evaluation form.
Step 2.
Undergo the on-site evaluation by an IPM Institute-approved professional.
After the evaluation, the IPM Institute will generate and submit for your review a set
of detailed, confidential interim evaluation reports. These reports will summarize
the results of your evaluation and identify any improvements that need to be made
prior to certification. Pay the evaluation fee plus travel expenses, which covers the
cost of the evaluation and report generation.
Step 3.
Address the required improvements by submitting the appropriate
documentation to the IPM Institute for review. Once all required improvements
have been verified as complete, the Institute will certify your service and send a final
report that details the improvements you made during the process for your records.
Step 4.
Pay the annual certification fee. Renew your certification each year by
completing an annual renewal form. An on-site re-evaluation is required every three
years.
IPM Practice Scorecard
Section
Page Number
All Requirements Passed? (Y/N) Requirements Per Section II. Definition of Service Page 8 5
III. Minimum Requirements (Page 9-17) (44)
1.0 Legal Requirements Page 9 8
2.0 First Steps Page 10 6
3.0 Less-toxic pesticides Page 11-15 14
4.0 Pesticide safety Page 16 9
5.0 Business Practices & Stability Page 17 7
Total Requirements 49
All Requirements Passed? (Circle one) YES / NO
V. Scored Practices Points Scored Total Points
2.0 Primary Strategies Page 18 35 points
3.0 Records Page 19 25 points
4.0 Posting & Notification Page 20 35 points
Sub-Total (Scored Practices): A. B. 95* points
Percent score*
(divide sub-total A by B): %
* Subtract five points from B for each scored practice designated as
not applicable (NA), prior to calculating percent score.
Scoring Key
Minimum Requirements
Scored
Practices Result
Passing score on all
minimum requirements 80-100%
GREEN SHIELD CERTIFIED Service or Service Provider Pending final approval by the IPM Institute, organization may promote and offer its program as GREEN SHIELD CERTIFIED as per logo guidance provided by the IPM Institute.
Failing score on any
minimum requirement <80%
IPM in Progress.
To become GREEN SHIELD CERTIFIED, candidate program must correct all failed requirements and implement additional IPM practices listed in the scored practices section to raise their score above 79%. Required and optional improvements will be outlined in the interim reports provided by the IPM Institute.
For more information…
For more information about becoming Green Shield
Certified visit
www.greenshieldcertified.org
Or email Green Shield at:
