Behind the Label: A Breakdown of Today’s Most Important Material Certifications

In the evolving landscape of sustainable construction, transparency in material selection has become paramount. As stakeholders demand healthier, more environmentally responsible buildings, understanding and leveraging material certifications are essential. These certifications not only provide insights into product composition and environmental impact but also play a pivotal role in achieving green building standards like LEED and the Living Building Challenge.

Declare Label: The Building Product ‘Nutrition Label’

Developed by the International Living Future Institute, the Declare label offers a clear, concise disclosure of a product’s ingredients, sourcing, and end-of-life options. Often likened to a nutrition label for building products, it helps specifiers quickly identify materials that align with project sustainability goals.

• Key Features:
  • Discloses all intentionally added ingredients and residuals above 100 ppm.
  • Indicates compliance with the Living Building Challenge Red List.
  • Provides information on product lifespan and recyclability.

Source: International Living Future Institute – Declare

Cradle to Cradle Certified®: A Holistic Approach to Sustainability

The Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard evaluates products across multiple sustainability criteria, ensuring they are safe, circular, and responsibly made. This certification encourages continuous improvement and innovation in product design and manufacturing.

• Assessment Categories:
  • Material Health
  • Product Circularity
  • Clean Air & Climate Protection
  • Water & Soil Stewardship
  • Social Fairness

Source: Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute

Health Product Declaration (HPD): Detailed Material Transparency

The HPD Open Standard provides a standardized format for reporting the contents and associated health information of building products. It enables manufacturers to disclose potential health hazards, facilitating informed decision-making for specifiers and project teams.

• Benefits:
  • Promotes transparency in material health.
  • Supports compliance with green building standards like LEED and WELL.
  • Encourages manufacturers to assess and improve product formulations.

Source: HPD Collaborative

LEED v4.1 Material Ingredients Credit: Encouraging Product Transparency

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED v4.1 includes credits that reward project teams for selecting products with disclosed material ingredients. By encouraging the use of products with HPDs, Declare labels, or Cradle to Cradle certifications, LEED promotes transparency and healthier building materials.

• Credit Options:
  • Use at least 20 products from different manufacturers with publicly available reports.
  • Demonstrate the use of products that have undergone material ingredient optimization.

Source: U.S. Green Building Council – LEED Credit Library

AMBI’s Perspective: Navigating Material Transparency with Confidence

At AMBI, we understand that navigating the myriad of material certifications can be daunting. Our expertise lies in demystifying these certifications, providing our clients with clear, actionable insights to make informed material selections. By integrating certified materials into your projects, you not only meet regulatory requirements but also contribute to healthier, more sustainable built environments.

Whether you’re aiming for LEED certification, striving to meet the Living Building Challenge, or simply seeking to enhance the sustainability of your projects, AMBI is here to guide you every step of the way.