Green Shield Certified Standards and Experts

Green Shield Certified’s standards offer the assurance of proven, effective pest control methods conducted by knowledgeable professionals.

Reduction in health and environmental hazard is the bottom line, and high priority hazards are identified and targeted for reduction. Green Shield Certified standards are science-based and industry-tested, and our principles are at the heart of our standards:

• Knowledge – of pest lifecycles, habits and the conditions that affect different pest populations to apply IPM principles and practices.
• Monitoring and inspection – to spot problems early, and identify and correct conditions that encourage pests.
• Non-chemical approaches – as the primary tool to control pests; routine pesticide applications are not permitted.
• Documented performance – of monitoring and inspection results, and justification of pesticide applications.
• Least-toxic options – use non-chemical approaches as the first line of defense against pests.
• Effective pest management – to solve pest problems with effective, long-term strategies.
• Communicate – IPM approaches and benefits to others.

Find our Green Shield Certified Standards:

For pest management service providers (pdf)

For facilities (pdf)

For structural pest management programs (pdf)

Annual renewal forms are here.

Looking for information on the scope, duration and fees for Green Shield Certified? Please visit our resources page.

Green Shield Certified standards are developed and maintained by the IPM Institute of North America, in collaboration with the Green Shield Certified Technical Advisory Committee, comprised of scientists, environmental experts, and pest control industry leaders.

Green Shield Certified standards are approved by the IPM Institute’s Board of Directors. Our standards have been refined through field testing with professionals in companies and facilities across the nation.

Green Shield Certified Technical Advisory Committee Members:

Mr. Luis Agurto, Jr. is CEO of Pestec, a family-owned pest control business serving the greater San Francisco Bay Area since 1986. Mr. Agurto has used his innovated prevention-based practices to provide effect pest control while reducing pesticide use and risk. Pestec, with its award-winning and nationally recognized IPM program, was the first pest management provider to become Green Shield Certified, a national certification with stringent IPM performance standards as well as the first to receive EcoWise certification, an IPM certification operated by the Association of Bay Area Governments.

Dr. Thomas A. Green is President of the IPM Institute of North America, a non-profit organization that promotes Integrated Pest Management (IPM), practices that reduce pesticide use and exposure in both agriculture and community settings. Tom is also President of IPM Works in Madison, WI , which provides consulting services to businesses and non-profit organizations on broadening adoption of IPM and other conservation-enhancing practices. He holds a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Massachusetts and is a Certified Crop Advisor and Technical Service Provider and chief scientist for the Eco Apple eco-label program.

Dr. Dawn H. Gouge is an Associate Professor and Associate Specialist in the Department of Urban Entomologist at the University of Arizona, teaching courses on Urban IPM, Arthropod Pest Diagnosis and Forensic Entomology. Dawn directs the Arizona Children’s Environmental Health Coalition efforts which includes implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in schools and child care facilities, and coordinates the Western Regional IPM in Schools Working Group. She has won a number of awards for her work with schools and the IPM Institute’s IPM STAR program. She holds a Ph.D. in entomology and nematology from the University Reading in Berkshire, UK.

Mr. Jonathan Kaplan is Director of the Food & Agriculture Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) where he oversees NRDC’s efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and alternatives to pesticide use. Mr. Kaplan advocates for state and federal policy reforms to promote Integrated Pest Management and coordinates market-based initiatives to reward environmentally friendly pest control services and products in commerce. Prior to joining NRDC, Jonathan was the Program Director for WaterKeepers Northern California and the Director of the Toxics Program for the California Public Interest Research Group, where he helped win state legislation to reduce pesticide use in schools. He is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a master’s degree in environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Mr. Jack Marlowe is CEO of Eden Advanced Pest Technologies, a pest management company located in Olympia, WA. Eden has been involved with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) work for the past 18 years, participating in many IPM committees, including the IPM in Schools Working Group in Washington State, as well as the Western Region and National Strategic IPM working groups. Mr. Marlowe has served as an IPM consultant for many municipalities, school districts, and commercial properties, and has been an active proponent of IPM within the pest control industry.