CASE STUDY CONTENT
All manufacturers must provide detailed case study information for each Imperative being pursued. At the time of certification, the case study information for each Petal and Imperative achieved will be uploaded to the Institute’s website. These case studies are a means to celebrate Living Product Challenge (LPC) Certified projects and to educate other manufacturers and the public about the successful implementation of the Living Product Challenge framework.
INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE
To satisfy this requirement, it is necessary to have permanent, on-site signage that educates occupants and visitors about both the facility’s operation and the product’s manufacturing, as it relates to achieving the Living Product Challenge. Ideally, the signage should tell a story that helps visitors to understand, as they move through the building, how each Imperative is addressed.
Digital tools, such as a video display or a website accessible via smartphone, can enhance the education offered by interpretive signage, thereby contributing to the project’s compliance with this requirement. However, a single display or mobile digital tools cannot entirely replace permanent, non-digital signage.
EDUCATION FOR CONTRACT MANUFACTURING
Manufacturers who do not own the manufacturing facility, and are unable to influence the facility owner to install signage on site and/or conduct a public open house may submit to the LPC Dialogue with a request to install signage or hold tours at another location relevant to the product such as a main showroom or company headquarters.
OPEN HOUSE (PUBLIC TOUR)
The intent of the open day is to ensure that all buildings, even secure facilities, host visitors at least once annually so the public may learn about the process of manufacturing a Living Product. The required open day must be publicized to the community at large.
Regular Public Tour
As an alternate compliance path, manufacturers may host regular tours, open and advertised to the public, at least quarterly, in lieu of one annual open day. Tour staff may charge a nominal fee for this service, provided that the fee does not represent a barrier to entry for those wishing to view the facility.
Secure Spaces and Facilities
Secure facilities are not exempt from the open day requirement, though project owners may restrict access to certain spaces at their discretion.
It is not necessary to allow open access to every area of a building. Manufacturers may restrict access to spaces as they see fit for security purposes, provided that the building tour still imparts a comprehensive understanding of the strategies used to comply with Living Product Challenge requirements.
WEBSITE
The educational website requirement is to allow those that are not able to visit the facility in person to access information and photographs, so that they can still learn about the design, performance, and manufacturing of the product, as well as the process that went into achieving the certification.
ONGOING TRAINING PROGRAM
Manufacturers should train their employees regularly on the Living Product Challenge in order to engage the company in sustainability initiatives and to inspire conversations between those employees and the public, customers, and the supply chain. Manufacturers should document the existence of at least one annual training for employees at the facility and demonstrate the integration of sustainability education and Living Product Challenge achievements into that training. This training may also be an opportunity to solicit or implement feedback and ideas for continuous improvement.
