The building industry has evolved significantly in recent years, placing a greater emphasis on sustainability, environmental responsibility, and occupant health. One critical aspect of this shift is health-focused material selection, ensuring that the materials used in construction do not pose risks to human health. A key tool in this effort is the Health Product Declaration (HPD), which provides transparency about material ingredients and their potential health impacts. In this blog post, we will explore HPD, its importance, and how it plays a vital role in health-conscious material selection.
What is HPD?
A Health Product Declaration (HPD) is a standardized format that discloses the ingredients of building products and their associated health hazards. Developed by the Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC), the HPD framework provides a comprehensive report on product content, chemical hazards, and compliance with green building certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), WELL, and Living Building Challenge (LBC).
HPDs are voluntary disclosures that manufacturers provide to help architects, designers, and builders make informed decisions about material safety. They work similarly to nutrition labels on food products, offering transparency about chemical composition and any known health risks.
Why is Health-Focused Material Selection Important?
Selecting materials based on health criteria is crucial for multiple reasons:
- Protecting Occupant Health
- Many conventional building materials contain toxic chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates, and formaldehyde, which can contribute to indoor air pollution and pose serious health risks, including respiratory issues, allergies, and even long-term diseases like cancer.
- HPDs help identify these harmful substances, allowing designers to choose safer alternatives that promote better indoor air quality.
- Supporting Sustainability Goals
- Sustainable and health-conscious materials reduce environmental impact, minimize resource depletion, and align with circular economy principles.
- Many green certifications, such as LEED v4, prioritize the use of HPDs and low-emission materials, promoting transparency and sustainability in construction projects.
- Enhancing Productivity and Well-Being
- Research shows that healthier indoor environments improve cognitive function, boost productivity, and reduce absenteeism in workplaces and schools.
- Choosing non-toxic materials contributes to better thermal comfort, lighting conditions, and indoor air quality, creating healthier spaces for building occupants.
- Regulatory Compliance and Market Demand
- With increasing awareness of toxic chemicals in building materials, regulatory bodies and clients are demanding safer, chemically transparent products.
- Adopting HPD-compliant materials ensures compliance with stringent environmental standards, such as the EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) and California Proposition 65.
How to Integrate HPD into Material Selection?
To incorporate HPD-based material selection into building projects, consider the following steps:
- Identify High-Impact Materials
- Prioritize materials that directly affect indoor air quality, such as paints, adhesives, flooring, insulation, furniture, and finishes.
- Look for HPD-compliant products that disclose all chemical ingredients and potential health hazards.
- Evaluate Chemical Composition
- Use HPDs to assess the presence of harmful chemicals, such as VOCs, heavy metals, flame retardants, and formaldehyde.
- Avoid materials containing Red List Chemicals, which are identified as the most harmful substances under the Living Building Challenge (LBC).
- Prioritize Third-Party Certifications
- In addition to HPDs, look for materials with certifications such as:
- Cradle to Cradle (C2C) – Ensures material safety and circularity.
- GREENGUARD – Verifies low chemical emissions for indoor air quality.
- Declare Label – Provides ingredient transparency and alignment with LBC.
- Align with Green Building Standards
- HPDs can contribute to LEED Material Ingredient Reporting (MRc4) credits and WELL Building Standard Feature 97 (Material Transparency).
- Specify low-emission materials in project design documents and procurement strategies.
- Engage with Manufacturers and Suppliers
- Request HPDs from manufacturers and suppliers when selecting materials.
- Prefer suppliers who actively disclose product ingredients and commit to healthier materials.
The Future of Health-Focused Material Selection
The construction industry is increasingly shifting toward healthier, more sustainable materials. Innovations such as biodegradable materials, low-VOC paints, and non-toxic adhesives are gaining traction, driven by regulatory frameworks and consumer demand for healthier spaces. HPDs will continue to play a critical role in advancing material transparency, ensuring that product manufacturers disclose the full composition of their products. As awareness grows, more architects, designers, and builders will integrate health-based material selection into standard building practices. By prioritizing HPD-compliant materials, we can create greener, healthier, and more sustainable buildings that support human well-being and environmental responsibility.
Conclusion
Health-focused material selection is a fundamental aspect of sustainable building design. By utilizing HPDs, industry professionals can make informed decisions, choosing materials that promote occupant health, improve indoor air quality, and align with green building certifications.As the demand for toxic-free buildings grows, embracing HPD-based transparency will become an essential practice in achieving healthier, more sustainable environments. Whether you’re an architect, contractor, or sustainability consultant, incorporating HPD into your projects is a step toward a healthier future for all.