The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, together with the Healthy Building Network, Health Product Declaration Collaborative, and Clean Production Action, have announced a collaborative effort to further transparency and optimization of building product ingredients.
Supported by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Harmonization Task Group will offer marketplace benefits, including consistent messaging, simplification, elimination of redundancies, and creation of more accurate, faster and, less costly assessments.
The cross-program platform will allow for a variety of pathways for improvement depending on a manufacturer’s goals and readiness, while increasing the rigor of product ingredient information, improving the knowledge of product ingredients in support of optimization, accelerating manufacturer participation by simplifying the ability to get started on the material health path, automating health hazard assessments, and providing a clear progressive path toward optimization.
“This is an opportunity to align efforts and share knowledge to accelerate material health and product innovation,” said Scot Horst, Sr. Vice President of LEED. “The Institute is an important part of this ecosystem, bringing the visionary Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Program to scale over the last several years. We are convinced we can get further faster by supporting product innovation and material health with a unified community.”
The Harmonization Task Group builds on the conclusions and recommendations from the Material Health Evaluation Programs Harmonization Opportunities Report published by the USGBC on August 30, 2013. The report found substantial overlap in the methodology and best practices used by leaders in the material health ecosystem. The Task Group plans to coordinate efforts by synchronizing the inventory, screening, and hazard assessment protocols to streamline the process for manufacturers.
“The USGBC is unique in its ability to pull together the leading voices in safer materials and products,” said Bridgett Luther, President of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. “We are very excited to be included in this ‘dream team.’ Working together will make it easier for manufacturers to improve their products, remove chemical hazards, and chart a path towards positive materials.”
The Health Product Declaration (HPD), GreenScreen, and Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Program are currently undergoing multi-stakeholder revisions processes, which provide an opportunity for further alignment. The Harmonization Task Group supports each organization in facilitating its own revision process and enables cross-organizational participation in each other’s revisions processes.
Related Stories
Wood | Apr 13, 2022
Mass timber: Multifamily’s next big building system
Mass timber construction experts offer advice on how to use prefabricated wood systems to help you reach for the heights with your next apartment or condominium project.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Apr 10, 2022
Designing with commercial and industrial insulated metal wall panels
Discover the characteristics, benefits and design options for commercial/industrial buildings using insulated metal panels (IMPs). Recognize the factors affecting panel spans and the relationship of these to structural supports. Gain knowledge of IMP code compliance.
Building Materials | Feb 17, 2022
3D-printed megapanels, unitized window-wall assemblies now available from Sto Corp.
Panel manufacturer is collaborating with Branch Technology and Kawneer North America on prefabrication solutions for building facades.
3D Printing | Jan 12, 2022
Using 3D-printed molds to create unitized window forms
COOKFOX designer Pam Campbell and Gate Precast's Mo Wright discuss the use of 3D-printed molds from Oak Ridge National Lab to create unitized window panels for One South First, a residential-commercial high-rise in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Building Materials | Nov 29, 2021
Daltile expands its Unity Collection of porcelain tiles with a new color
Addition of "Taupe" gives Daltile's Unity Collection three warm and three cool colors.
Urban Planning | Nov 11, 2021
Reimagining the concrete and steel jungle, SOM sees buildings that absorb more carbon than they emit
The firm presented its case for a cleaner built environment during the Climate Change conference in Scotland.
Sustainability | Oct 28, 2021
Reducing embodied carbon in construction, with sustainability leader Sarah King
Sustainability leader Sarah King explains how developers and contractors can use the new EC3 software tool to reduce embodied carbon in their buildings.
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Oct 1, 2021
Specifying Responsibly to Save Birds’ Lives
Realizing sustainable, bird-friendly glass design
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Oct 1, 2021
Seizing the Daylight with BIPV Glass
Glass has always been an idea generator. Now, it’s also a clean energy generator.