Understanding the Gap in Legacy Sustainable Finishes

Historically, many floor finishes utilize fluorinated chemistry to help improve performance characteristics such as:

• Improved leveling
• Better wetting
• Enhanced repellency
• Greater gloss uniformity
• Increased durability

For decades, PFAS additives were commonly viewed as performance enhancers in floor finish formulations. However, PFAS—often referred to as “forever chemicals”—have come under increasing scrutiny due to their persistence in the environment and potential long-term environmental impact.

Previous Green Seal standards, including GS-40 Edition 2.5, did not explicitly prohibit all PFAS. This meant products could legitimately carry Green Seal certification while still containing PFAS chemistry.

That distinction has become increasingly important for today’s purchasers.

Green Earth’s updated GS-40 Edition 2.6 standard establishes new requirements designed to eliminate intentionally added PFAS from certified floor care products. The revised criteria now:

• Prohibit intentionally added PFAS
• Restrict PFAS contamination from formula chemistry to 100 ppm
• Establish a new sustainability baseline for certified floor finishes

This is not simply a routine revision. It fundamentally changes the expectations surrounding sustainable floor finish chemistry. According to Green Seal, the updated criteria were developed to ensure certified products are “formulated without PFAS.”

Why the Transition Period Matters

Products certified under previous standards do not immediately lose their certification status. Manufacturers currently have until March 11, 2027, to comply with the updated Edition 2.6 requirements. As a result, the market is now operating in a transition period where two products may carry the same certification claim while only one meets the newest no intentionally added PFAS criteria.

For customers focused on sustainability, compliance, and long-term environmental stewardship, that distinction matters. This is especially relevant for:

• Schools and universities
• Healthcare facilities
• Government procurement programs
• LEED-focused projects
• ESG initiatives
• Institutions seeking to reduce long-term chemical liability

Today, simply asking whether a floor finish is Green Seal certified is no longer enough. The more important question is: Which edition?

Products certified under older standards may still contain intentionally added PFAS during the transition period ending March 11, 2027. For customers evaluating sustainable floor care products, understanding which version of the standard a product meets is becoming increasingly important.

How Betco is Responding

As sustainability standards continue to evolve, Betco has proactively reformulated affected floor care products to remove intentionally added PFAS while maintaining the performance expectations facilities depend on. Today, Betco floor care products comply with GS-40 Edition 2.6 requirements, including the newest Green Earth^® Multi-Surface Floor Finish (GEMS).

GEMS is a Green Seal certified, PFAS-free finish engineered to deliver long-lasting appearance and durability across multiple floor types, including VCT, LVT/LVP, concrete, and terrazzo. Designed to simplify floor care programs without sacrificing performance, GEMS supports organizations seeking sustainable solutions aligned with evolving regulatory and purchasing expectations.

A New Standard for Floor Finish Sustainability

For years, certification alone was viewed as the benchmark for sustainable floor care. Today, customers are looking beyond labels and asking deeper questions about formulation transparency, environmental persistence, and long-term sustainability.

The future of floor care belongs to products that combine verified certifications, high-performance durability, and formulations designed without intentionally added PFAS.

To learn more about Betco Floor Care, please click here.

Green Seal is a registered trademark of Green Seal, Inc.