Developing an Ecosystem John Friar Professor, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
How long does it take for a technology market to develop? • Solar panels
• 2009: market starts growing at 50% pa • • • • • • •
1839: photovoltaic effect discovered 1883: solar cell invented 1939: MIT solar house 1975: 5000 homes in US 1976: tax incentives 1980: 100,000 homes 2006: investment tax credit
2
Market Development Curves
3
Why does it take so long • Diffusion curve
4
Apple’s First Ads in 1976 Not Quite User Friendly
Ecosystem – Customers need complete systems • Enabling technologies
• Batteries in electric cars
• Complementary technologies
• iTunes – late to market but no broadband connectivity or music licensing
6
Competition with Cooperation Equals Coopetition • Smart phone industry: Thousands of companies • Standards: roaming, interconnection, billing, devices, fraud, security • Enablers: chip, operating systems, and component companies for handsets • Complementors: Handsets and service providers • Competitors: Over 100 handset companies worldwide
7
Upshot • You are not going to do it on your own (silos) • Open Innovation combines internal and external ideas into architectures and systems whose requirements are defined by a business model.
8
Open Innovation
9
Reshaping Material Health Practice With Science & Collaboration
Rolf Halden, PhD, PE Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University OneWaterOneHealth.org – ASU Foundation Nonprofit Project AquaVitas, LLC – ASU Startup Company November 17, 2020
1
Wall Covering 46/93 (49.46%)
Metal Casings and surfaces 32/36 (89%)
Wood, plastic and composites 46/73 (63%) Concrete surfaces 110/133 (83%)
Many everyday construction materials contain potentially harmful chemicals Finishes : 1008/1202 (84%)
Mondal et al., 2020
Furnishing 459/910 (50%)
Wastewater Based Epidemiology Wall Covering 46/93 (49.46%)
Story Map (How wastewater measurements are done): https://arcg.is/PKWuz Dashboard (Opioid consumption in Tempe at the neighborhood level): https://arcg.is/ey0Ha
Developed 2018; Launched 2019 4
Pre-Lockdown
Post-Lockdown June 19 => Masks Now Mandatory
Lockdown
Fall Semester 2020 Current Spike
Human Health Observatory (HHO) at Arizona State University Purposefully ... An Early Warning System Established in 2006
sculpturing healthy building • >12% of U.S. pop.; >40M people •environments >250M people worldwide • Largest archive in the U.S./world using a • Anonymity through size transdiscipinary virtuous cycle
• >500 WWTPs globally; >400 in U.S. Representative of 15,000+ U.S. plants Unbiased national estimates
HHO@ASU.EDU
Environ. Sci. Technol. 2014. 48, 3603−3611 Venkatesan & Halden, 2014. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 22 (3), 1577-1586
6
Acknowledgements HPDC Wendy Vittori, Indro Mondal, Nivedita Biyani, many others Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona Sate University Profs. Rolf Halden, Matthew Scotch, Arvind Varsani, Efrem Lim, Brenda Hogue Drs. Erin Driver, Simona Kraberger, Adam Gushgari; Devin Bowes, LaRinda Holland, Rafaela Fontenele, Nivedita Biyani, Joshua Steele, Varun Kelkar, Sangeet Adhikari, Kathleen Click, Alyssa Carlson, Allison Binsfeld, Sonja Savic, Jillian Wright, Bridger Johnston, Akhil Mahant, Melanie Newell, Dianne Price, AND MANY OTHERS City of Tempe Staff Rosa Inchausti: Director, Strategic Management & Diversity Wydale Holmes: Project Manager & Data Analyst Dr. Stephanie Deitrick: Enterprise GIS Manager William Manning: GIS Staff Richard Dalton: Environmental Compliance Supervisor Christopher Garcia: Environmental Compliance Specialist Andrea Glass: Fire Department Phillip Brown: Civil Engineer Hillary Cummings: Tempe Community Council Program Director AND MANY OTHERS
Contact:
rolf.halden@asu.edu
7
Material Health Open Innovation Symposium November 17, 2020 Rand Ekman, FAIA, LEED Fellow Chief Sustainability Officer HKS
Architecture & Design A Crucial Role In the Collaboration Ecosystem
CANON I
Members should uphold human rights in all their professional endeavors.
sustainable production, extraction, transportation and consumption practices; a built environment that equitably supports human health and wellbeing and is resistant to climate change; and restoring degraded or depleted natural resources.
CANON II
CANON VI
Obligations to the Public
Obligations to the Environment
E.S. 2.4 Environmental Equity and Justice
E.S. 6.3 Building Materials
Members should promote fairness and safety in providing professional services and make reasonable efforts to advise their clients and employers of their obligations to the environment, including: access to clean air, water, sunlight and energy for all;
Members should select and use building materials to minimize exposure to toxins and pollutants in the environment to promote environmental and human health and to reduce waste and pollution.
General Obligations E.S. 1.4 Human Rights
request ingredient disclosure
build knowledge and awareness
spur action
collaborate & share
a holistic focus on health
use purpose and vision in material selection & specifications
Words Inspire Yet … What We Do Creates The Impact
The AIA Materials Pledge Take Action …
With Purpose and Deliberation …
• Continue asking for transparency and better products.
• Support Human Health
• Select and specify products with intention
• Support Ecosystem Health
• Continuously improve and update our specifications and procurement processes to require transparent and optimized products. • Collaborate and share best practices, tools, and education.
• Support Climate Health • Support Social Health + Equity • Support a Circular Economy
Build Knowledge & Awareness
Material Selection & Specification Product Guides Carpet Countertops Flooring Non-Public Flooring Public Healthcare Flooring: Clinical Spaces High Performance Coatings Interior Insulation Paints: Interior Coatings Rigid/Semi-Rigid Insulation Wall Coverings
Material Selection & Specification
The AIA Framework for Design Excellence Design for Resources Good design depends on informed material selection, balancing priorities to achieve durable, safe, and healthy projects with an equitable, sustainable supply chain to minimize possible negative impacts to the planet. • What factors (priorities) will be considered in making material selection decisions? • How are materials and products selected and designed to reduce embodied carbon and environmental impacts while enhancing building performance? • How can material selection reduce hazards and support equitable labor practices in the supply chain? • How does the project promote zero waste throughout its life cycle? • How does the project celebrate local materials and craft? • How long will the project last, and how does that affect your material?
The UN Sustainable Development Goals
The UN Sustainable Development Goals + AIA Design Excellence A Global Framework for Innovation? 9 Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure 10 Reduced Inequalities 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities 12 Responsible Production and Consumption 13 Climate Action 17 Partnerships for the Goals
User-Led, Collaborative, Open Innovation … the ecosystem needs each of our voices
Kachumbala Maternity Unit Kachumbala, Uganda, Africa
Using an Internal Materials Library Supports Transparency, Proprietary Protections and Innovation Melea Wade - Product Sustainability Manager, Shaw Industries Evelyn Ritter - Director of Customer Success, Toxnot
2
Market Demand Shift from solely focused on environmental sustainability to also include human sustainability ○ Safe ingredients ○ Sustainable manufacturing ○ Transparency, including in the supply chain
Define the Ask ○ Shaw’s supply chain plays a critical role in achieving our sustainability goals and meeting our customer’s expectations. ○ Increased demand for product transparency! ■ What are the chemicals in your product? ■ What are the hazards of these chemicals?
○ Once we get the data, how do we manage it?
Data Management ○ CHALLENGES:
○ SOLUTIONS:
■ Manual uploads = time intensive
■ Bulk SDS’ uploads in Toxnot speeds up the process
■ Proprietary information disclosures
■ Toxnot supplier surveys & 3rd party consultant access
■ Thousands of SKUs by product platform
■ Build product BOMs with shared materials
■ Branding
■ Link BOMS
Material Library creates efficiency
SDS as a Data Source
Proprietary Supplier View Data Protections for Suppliers
Manufacturer View
ProprietaryView Manufacturer Data Protections for Suppliers
HPD Builder View The chemicals can now have the screening results from Toxnot passed to the HPD Builder without passing the CAS number
Customer Inquiries ○ How do we respond to diverse asks? ■ External RFPs, Internal customer service groups, Sustainability email box, etc.
○ Toxnot Report Outs ■ HPDs, Declare labels, Custom reports for ingredient disclosures and hazard screenings reports
Reporting Options ○ Use one set of data to: ■ Create compliance letters ■ Create custom reports ■ Report to HPDC Builder, Declare
○ Data flow between systems supports transparency and optimization
How Material Health Impacts Innovation
○ Data Management in Toxnot ○ Chemical Screening in Toxnot
Improves Efficiency Improves Optimization Efforts
Collaboration Fuels INNOVATION
TCNA & the Largest Crowdfunded GreenScreen® Assessment Project To-Date Bill Griese, Director of Standards Development & Sustainability, TCNA William Paddock, Managing Director, WAP Sustainability
Key Points 1
TCNA, its members, and WAP Sustainability collaborated on a Material Ingredient Guide that will include Certified GreenScreen® Assessments for 34 commonly used ingredients in manufacturing of ceramic tile, mortar, and grout products.
2
The 34 GreenScreen® Assessments represent the largest Crowdfunded GreenScreen® Assessment Project for non-licensed GreenScreen Assessments to date.
3
Each GreenScreen® Assessment will be available for companies for incorporation in Transparency Reports to accelerate LEED BPDO MIR Option 2 contributions.
4
First of its kind by any building product industry!
A scalable solution for industries who share common ingredients! a. b. c. d.
Builds on existing crowdfunding functionality in ToxNot and Pharos Allows for in-industry or crossindustry collaboration. (Furniture & Carpet as potential example). Meets LEED Optimization Criteria at a low cost per LEED credit. Requires a Licensed GreenScreen Profiler willing to share GreenScreen’s without licensing restrictions.
Major Driver: LEED v4.1 Product Ingredient Reporting Criteria • “Points” for optimal material ingredient transparency •
Criteria: • Use products with reported ingredients that have undergone full GreenScreen® assessments • Target 75% and/or 95% of Content Inventory • Reports must be Third Party Verified
• Major Simplification for Tile Industry • • •
Significant contribution to tile, mortar, and grout product families with substance level ingredient reporting incorporating information made available by TCNA Third party Verification included for all participating manufacturers by WAP Sustainability Creating Advantage to Tile over other building products via this industry-wide program.
Material Ingredients: Key Project Deliverable • GreenScreen® Assessments for 34+ substances • To be used by manufacturers toward development of individual product ingredient reports which satisfying green building health “optimization” criteria • Special Thanks to the following participating companies: Ardex Engineered Cements ARTO Brick Bostik Crest S.A. de C.V. Crossville Custom Building Products Dal-Tile Florida Tile Florim
Interceramic Ironrock Laticrete Porcelanite Lamosa Portobello America Schluter StonePeak Ceramics Wonder Porcelain Group
Coming Soon: Material Ingredient Guide •
Broad perspective to designers and the general public regarding types of ingredients common to tile industry
•
Guidance to suppliers and specifiers regarding green building material ingredient criteria and how to comply
•
“How to” regarding specification of GreenScreen® and manufacturer usage of TCNA’s GreenScreen® Assessments
•
Large numbers of disclosures from Tile, Mortar and Grout Manufacturers with 3PV that meet LEED v4.1 Optimization Criteria
Tile Industry Changing the Game 1. Tile Industry material ingredient information, all in one place 2. Emerging as the market leader in providing third party-verified material ingredient reports to meet LEED v4.1 Optimization Credit! 3. Scalable model for other industries to follow to grow publicly available GreenScreen Assessments® in the market!
Systematic Approach to Healthier Materials November 2020
Goals of Presentation
Understand how we define roles to provide task clarity.
Explain the need for teams to understand the underlying reasons for using healthier materials
Explore concept of internal and external tools to enable the whole team to find healthier materials more easily
Reveal the benefits of establishing a balance between clearly defining roles and unifying a team.
2
Basic Concepts for Interior Design Projects
materials 3
Healthier Materials Project Team Organization Who we are and what we do to create projects with healthier materials?
Sustainability Group
Mat - Tech
Designers
4
Sustainability Group
• Directly connects with client to understand their healthier material goals • Communicates client’s and firm’s healthier material goals to entire project team • Us their expertise participates in project healthier materials education and goal setting • Manags total achievement of healthier materials goals
5
Mat-Tech
SECTION 07 16 16 CRYSTALLINE WATERPROOFING PART 1 - GENERAL 1.01
SUMMARY A. Section Includes: Crystalline waterproofing for application at bottom of air shaft.
• Holds responsibility for healthier materials/products that have no aesthetic requirements.
B. Related Requirements: 1. Division 03 Section "Cast-in-Place Concrete" for formwork, and finishing concrete walls and slabs to receive waterproofing. 2. Division 04 Concrete Masonry 3. Division 07 Section "Joint Sealants" for elastomeric and preformed sealants in concrete and concrete unit masonry walls and floors.
• Uses their expertise participates in project healthier materials education and goal setting • Manages performance requirements of project materials • Writes specifications for required products
1.02 SUBMITTALS A. Product Data: For each type of product indicated. Include construction details, material descriptions and installation instructions for crystalline waterproofing. B. Informational Submittals: 1. Qualification Data: For Applicator. 2. Product Certificates: For waterproofing, patching, and plugging materials, from manufacturer. 3. Product Test Reports: Based on evaluation of comprehensive tests performed by manufacturer and witnessed by a qualified testing agency, for crystalline waterproofing. 4. Field quality-control reports.
6
Designers
• Directly connects with client to understand their aesthetic and functionals requirements • Participates in project healthier materials education and goal setting • Chooses materials to fulfill client’s aesthetic and functional needs.
7
Early in design phase
8
Education of Team Ensure that each member of the team not only knows what is required but understands the underlying health motivations for the requirements. Sustainability Group and Mat-tech will lead project meeting discuss of requirements Projects vary so that there may be basic information but there are also project specifics that must be addressed 9
Education of Team Ensure that each member of the team not only knows what is required but understands the underlying health motivations for the requirements. Sustainability Group and Mat-Tech will lead project meeting discussion of motivations. Projects vary so that there may be basic information but there are also project specifics that must be addressed 10
Early Design: Goal Setting Designers, Sustainability Group, and MatTech set overall project healthier materials and product design goals together Meeting or series of meeting including Sustainability Group, Mat-Tech and Designers
11
Goal Setting: Designers Designers present the aesthetics and program of a project to the Sustainability Group and Mat-Tech
12
Goal Setting: Sustainability Group Sustainability Group outlines specific client and firm sustainability goals to Designers and Mat-Tech
WELL v2 Furniture, millwork and fixtures At least 50% by cost of newly installed furniture, millwork and fixtures (minimum 10 distinct products), as defined in Appendix X1, meet one of the following requirements: a.Textiles (i.e., fabrics including upholstery) and plastics in products contain 100 ppm (0.01%) by weight or less of the below compounds and chemical classes, unless higher amounts are mandated by local codes. For assessing compliance of a product, all pieces of each of the two material categories (textiles, plastics) are grouped together and each material category is assessed independently against the 100 ppm threshold: b.Halogenated flame retardants (HFR). c.Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). d.Lead. e.Cadmium. f.Mercury.
13
Goal Setting: Mat-Tech Mat-Tech relates the basic performance needs based on the function and conditions of the specific project to Designers and Sustainability Group.
14
Throughout the Project
15
Designers are enabled by availability of:
Specific in-house tools such as firm databases and library
Specific on-line tools recommended Sustainability group and Mat-tech
Team agreed upon scripted language for talking to manufacturers to gain needed information.
16
Mat-Tech: Down to earth
Checks all products to ensure that healthier materials also meet performance requirements
Employs their special relations with manufacturers to elicit needed information not found elsewhere
Properly documents each chosen healthier product to ensure procurement
17
Achieving Goals: Sustainability Group
Checks products for sustainability requirements
Ensures products are fulfilling sustainability goals for clients and certifications.
Documents products to ensure certifications and client goals
18
Key Results Setting goals from the beginning that include the entire team creates a more unified perspective. Separately and consistently managing compliant products that have no aesthetic function allows for an easier percentage of compliance. 19
Engagement Ensuring the whole team understands the underlying reasons for the requirements creates a more informed empathetic team. Choosing healthier materials becomes more like mission than a tedious task. The project specific approach focuses team on the most appropriate choices.
20
Efficiency Having each member of team use their specific expertise while understanding where their piece fits precisely into the whole healthier materials effort prevents confusion and redundant choices.
21
Accuracy The Sustainability Group and the Mat-Tech Group can support the Design team with their expert knowledge of healthier materials. However, when the Designers are familiar with specific project sustainability needs and healthier material tools then they are enabled to initially choose project appropriate compliant materials more accurately.
22
5 Penn Plaza, L5 New York, NY 10001 www.hlw.design +1 (212) 353-4600
23
Closing the Transparency Loop Collaboration to promote healthy materials action HPDC Material Health Symposium 17 November 2020 1
Presenters
Annie Bevan Global Head of Sustainability
Lona Rerick, AIA Associate Principal
Superior Essex Communications Atlanta, GA
ZGF Architects Portland, OR
Melissa Wackerle Senior Director, Sustainable Practice & Knowledge American Institute of Architects Washington, DC
annie.bevan@spsx.com
lona.rerick@zgf.com
melissawackerle@aia.org
2
Agenda • Introductions • Collaborating for success • A&D Materials Pledge • Motion
33
May 5, 2020
Closing the Transparency Loop
4
35+ A&D LETTERS SENT 2012 & 2013
May 5, 2020
Closing the Transparency Loop
5
…..2012-2018 A LOT of hard work & A LOT of struggle
May 5, 2020
Closing the Transparency Loop
6
2018: 6 Years Later, Manufacturers Respond to A&D
May 5, 2020
Closing the Transparency Loop
7
MANUFACTURER MATERIALS PLEDGE 2018
May 5, 2020
Closing the Transparency Loop
8
Introducing the A&D Materials Pledge
It’s time to demand products that make the world a better place. 10
We responded with a pledge to support holistically responsible materials that enhance
Human Health, Climate Health, Ecosystem Health, and Social Health and Equity in a Circular Economy 11
A&D Materials Pledge
90 firms & have signed onto the A&D Materials Pledge responding to the
2019
2018
2012
LP50 LETTER.
12
May 5, 2020
Closing the Transparency Loop
13
Each of us Pledge to...
14
A&D Materials Pledge Human Health
Support Human Health by preferring products which support and foster life throughout their lifecycles and seek to eliminate the use of substances that are hazardous.
1515
A&D Materials Pledge Social Health & Equity
May 5, 2020
Support Social Health and Equity by preferring products from manufacturers who secure human rights in their own operations and in their supply chains, and which provide positive impacts for their workers and the communities where they operate.
1616
A&D Materials Pledge Ecosystem Health
Support Ecosystem Health by preferring products which support and regenerate the natural air, water, and biological cycles of life through thoughtful supply chain management and restorative company practices. May 5, 2020
17
17
A&D Materials Pledge Climate Health
Support Climate Health by preferring products which reduce carbon emissions and ultimately sequester more carbon than emitted. 18
A&D Materials Pledge Climate Health
Support a Circular Economy by reusing buildings and materials; and by designing for material efficiency, long life and reuse. 1919
Contractor’s Commitment
May 5, 2020
Closing the Transparency Loop
20
2020 AIA sustainability trends - People • 80% of architects want to specify more sustainable materials •
Only 1
in 3 architects feel they are meeting their responsibility today
•
77% already plan to implement the A&D Materials Pledge.
•
83% believe the A&D Materials Pledge is headed in the right direction or needs course correction with another 10% indicating the Pledge aligns with current direction of the market
21 21
Words can inspire, but it’s ACTION that creates change. 22
GOAL
what are we trying to accomplish and why?
ACTION
where are we starting and what will it take to achieve our goals?
METRIC how do we know if we are getting there, and how do we tell and engage others?
Impact •
Develop resources building on 2030 Commitment program
•
Establish benchmarking metrics for DDx
•
Enhance partnership with manufacturers to align goals for holistically sustainable materials
•
Long-term potential for revenue generation through business insights
24
Manufacture A
Ceiling Product A
Manufacture A
Ceiling Product B
Manufacture A
Ceiling Product C
Manufacture B
Ceiling Product A
Manufacture B
Ceiling Product B
Manufacture B
Ceiling Product C
Manufacture B
Improvement Option 1
Manufacture B
Improvement Option 2
Manufacture B
Improvement Option 3
Manufacture B
Improvement Option 4
Manufacture X
Carpet Product AA
Manufacture Y
Carpet Product BB
Manufacture Z
Carpet Product CC
Carpet Manuf B
Product w/ LPC
Brightside Survey 2.0
Product Tab Company Tab
Email clarifications and responses
Health Inventory and Disclosure Format Basic Nested (multi)
Reporting Threshold 100ppm 1000ppm + 95% level 100% level
Public Disclosure CASRN/Chemical Name None Public Private
Screening & Assessment Third-Part Verification Multiplier
Emissions
Screening
Assessment
RSL Compliance
None <95% 95% 100%
75% assessed 95% assessed 100% assessed
Annex B BM-1 C2C BL GSPI ILFI Red List P+W P-List REACH SvHC
Emissions Testing Result Emissions Testing Result
Health Inventory and Disclosure INVTPV Yes/No
Screening & Assessment
Inventory Reporting Threshold
Public Disclosure CASRN/Chemical Name
100ppm 1000ppm + 95% level 100% level + Product & Material Level
None <95% 95% 99% 100%
SCRTPV
Product/ Material Level
Yes/No
Multiplier
Optimization
Screening Type
% Screened
Not SCR Internal RSL GSLT
None <95% 95% 99% 100%
Product/ Material Level Multiplier
Assessment Type % Assessed Not SCR Internal Third-Party
None 75% 95% 99% 99.9%
Product/ Material Level Multiplier
Optimizati on Level Optim-Plan Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 + 95% 99% >99.9%
RSL Complia nce Annex B BM-1 C2C v4 RSL GSPI ILFI Red List P+W P-List REACH SvHC SIN List HHv2
Mock-up
•
Origin
•
mindful MATERIALS
• MATTER •
RESET
Real-time Metrics for Buildings
Brightside Filter (Scoring)
•
Real-time Building Metrics
MATERIAL HEALTH OPEN INNOVATION SYMPOSIUM
Peter Templeton 17 November 2020
Safe materials
Products optimized for human & environmental health
Healthy buildings & spaces
SAFE MATERIALS DESIGNED FOR CIRCULARITY
RESPONSIBLY MADE
UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
SCIENCE-BASED TARGETS CORPORATE IMPACT REPORTING
CRADLE TO CRADLE CERTIFIEDTM
demonstrating leadership and driving systems change A globally recognised framework for advancing and verifying product innovation, circularity and the global sustainable development goals by: •
Ensuring materials are safe for humans and the environment
•
Enabling a circular economy through product and process design
•
Generating clean energy and protecting the climate
•
Safeguarding air, water and soil resources
•
Embracing safe, fair and equitable labour practices that advance human rights and strong communities
CRADLE TO CRADLE CERTIFIED™ Ensure materials are safe for humans and the environment
MATERIAL HEALTH FOCUS AREAS HOW CAN I MAKE IT SAFE(R)?
WHAT’S NOT IN IT?
WHAT’S IN IT?
IS IT COMPATIBLE WITH HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT?
MATERIAL HEALTH OPTIMIZATION: 1) Screen - Go beyond chemical regulations. • Comply with and stay ahead of leading international chemical regulations.
2)
Inventory & Assess – Understand the chemistry of your product. • Fully define the chemical composition of each material. • Comprehensively assess the toxicological properties of each substance in the material/product context.
3) Optimize product and process chemistry without making regrettable substitutions. • Identify & eliminate chemicals of concern, while verifying that alternatives are compatible with human and environmental health. • Develop an actionable strategy to address toxic emissions in the supply chain.
A PATHWAY TO MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS AND INNOVATION
MATERIAL HEALTH OPTIMIZATION
BRONZE • •
RSL compliance No PFASs, HFRs, or highly halogenated C-based materials
SILVER •
• •
No risks from CMRs, PBTs/vPvBs, or equivalent ≤ 1% C-bound halogen Low VOC content & emissions
GOLD •
•
Fully compatible with human & environmental health Very low VOC emissions
PLATINUM • •
•
Expand to process chemistry Striving towards inherently safer chemistry Addressing toxicity in the supply chain
MATERIAL HEALTH OPEN INNOVATION SYMPOSIUM
Peter Templeton 17 November 2020
Emerging Material Health Landscape and GreenScreen S H AR I F R A NJ EVI C GREENSCREEN PROGRAM MANAGER, CLEAN PRODUCTION ACTION M AT E R I A H E A LT H O P E N I N N O VAT I O N S Y M P O S I U M S E S S I O N 4 - M A K I N G M AT E R I A L H E A LT H P R A C T I C E T H E N O R M BY 2 0 2 5 : T H E V I E W F R O M M AT E R I A L H E A LT H P R O G R A M S NOVEMBER 17, 2020
Clean Production Action – solutions for a safer & healthier tomorrow
2
Leadership in Chemical Hazard Assessment 2007
GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals — assess, and identify CoHCs and safer chemicals
GreenScreen List Translator— 2012
quickly identify known chemicals of high concern (CoHCs)
GreenScreen Certified— 2017
certified products, e.g. firefighting foam, textile formulations www.greenscreenchemicals.org
3
GreenScreen in the Building Sector See: https://www.greenscreenchemicals.org/learn/gs-in-sustainability-standards
4
In Partnership with HPDC from the Start
5
Advances in List Translator
6
The Next Frontier: Actionable Data 1. Reporting hazard data for polymeric materials 2. From list screening to public assessments
7
Closing the Gap - Unknowns in Hazard Screening > 4200 HPDs have been published Examined 3268 HPDs
Contained 1774 unique chemicals 62% with a score of NoGS or LT-Unk
Identified 40 most frequently used CASRN with scores of NoGS or LT-Unk
8
GreenScreen List Translator Scores Is this a known chemical of high concern? Benchmark 1
POSSIBLY
Avoid – Chemical of High Concern
LT-1
LT-P1
LT-UNK
OR
NoGS
9
What Action? LT-1
Avoid
LT-P1
Determine if LT-1
LT-UNK Assess with GreenScreen NoGS
10
GreenScreen Benchmark Scores Benchmark 4
Guide decisions with Benchmark scores and recommended actions
Prefer – Safer Chemical
Benchmark 3 Use but Still Opportunity for Improvement
Benchmark 2 Use but Search for Safer Substitutes Benchmark 1 Avoid – Chemical of High Concern
Benchmark U = Unspecified due to insufficient data
11
Aligned with LEED v4.1 Option 2 - Material Ingredient Optimization 1. Advanced Inventory and Assessment, 100% cost value: – At least 75% by weight of the content inventory has a public GreenScreen assessments and Benchmark scores
2. Material Ingredient Optimization, 150% cost value: – At least 95% by weight of the content inventory has public GreenScreen assessments and Benchmark scores and no Benchmark-1 ingredients 12
Prioritizing Assessment Needs 1. Chemicals with screening results of LT-Unk or NoGS 2. Preferred chemistry for a functional use e.g. flame retardants 3. Preferred chemistry within a material sector e.g., ceramics 4. Product chemistry for a product category e.g., paints
13
Example: Accepted List of Plasticizers
Excerpt from https://tcocertified.com/accepted-substance-list/
14
Combine Demand to Lower Cost 1. Identify interested parties for a commonly used CASRN 2. Determine how much each interested party is willing to invest 3. Determine cost per interested party 4. Commission a GreenScreen assessment 5. Publish GreenScreen Benchmark score in HPD Builder and Automated List Translator tools
More public assessments and more informed choices! 15
Invitation We will convene a group in 2021 to discuss next steps. How you can engage: – Participate in the group defining strategy and focus – Suggest industry associations for us to engage – Suggest priority product categories or functional uses
16
Thank you! Contact Clean Production Action: Shari Franjevic shari@cleanproduction.org https://www.greenscreenchemicals.org/
17
Transparency as a Key Strategy for Equity
Vision:
All people and the planet thrive when the environment is free of toxic chemicals.
Mission:
To advance human and environmental health by improving hazardous chemical transparency and inspiring product innovation
HBN Key strategies 1. 2. 3.
Build capacity for informed decisions Drive market demand & adoption Increase transparency & public disclosure
HBN Research
What are Common Products? Product Literature
Common Ingredients Resin
Common Products
Resin
• Chemical 1 • Chemical 1 • Chemical 1 •Surfactant Chemical 2
• Chemical 1 %
• Chemical 2 • Chemical 3 • Chemical 3 •Pigment Chemical 3
• Chemical 3 %
• Chemical 4 • Chemical 5 • Chemical 5 • Chemical 6
• Chemical 5 %
Surfactant Pigment
Why are Common Products Important? • Tracking Movement Progress:
– e.g. transparency has improved in the paint industry
• Providing a Baseline for Current Products:
– Compare Common Product to HPD – Manufacturers can use this information to identify targets for improvement
• Powering HBN Material Recommendations: – Research reports – HomeFree hazard spectra – Transformation Targets
• Powering creative research outside of HBN
Changes in Transparency Observed in Common Product Updates Name
2015-2016
2019-2020
XPS Insulation (extruded polystyrene)
0
2
EPS Insulation
0
1
Kraft-faced Fiberglass Batt Insulation
1
3
Unfaced Fiberglass Batt Insulation
2
3
Low VOC Eggshell Acrylic Paint
1
3
Drywall (FGD Gypsum)
0
2
Type X Drywall
0
4
Drywall Joint Compound
0
2
Linoleum Flooring
0
4
Key 0 None 1 Very Low (<25%) 2 Low (25 - 49.9%) Medium (50 3 74.9%) 4 High (≥75%)
Materials Research:
2019-20 Transparency Key Findings The Good • Transparency is improving! – Drywall – Flooring – Paint The Bad • Transparency continues to lag – Sealants – Adhesives – Backerboards –
Materials Research: 2019-20 Key Findings
The Good • Estrogenic APEs are no longer common in paint! • XPS and EPS insulation phased out of HBCD flame retardant • Fiberglass board insulation now has one formaldehyde free option The Bad • Drywall manufactures are increasingly using FGD gypsum Mercury. • Fluoropolymers are common in oil repelling grout sealers –
Centering on Equity
Equity and Environmental Justice Are “Baked-In” all HBN’s Materials Evaluations
Drywall Mercury Emissions
NEW!! Drywall Hazard Spectrum Guidance
HomeFree Product Categories
Homefree.healthybuilding.net
Black Architects Lead
Materials/ Fenceline Community Expertise & Resources
Reinventing Equitable & Just Principles of Practice
National Initiative: Centering Equity in Sustainable Building
Health For All is Possible By collectively putting targeted pressure on those industries that have lagged behind in transparency, we can transform the entire marketplace towards safer products and environmental equity.
Know better. Do better.
Material Health Innovation in LEED Material Health Open Innovation Symposium November 17, 2020
Wes Sullens
Director, LEED
U.S. Green Building Council
U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
PRIORITY AREAS FOR MATERIALS & RESOURCES IN LEED v4.1
HEALTH
LOW-CARBON -
Reuse of Buildings and Materials Whole Building Lifecycle Analysis Environmental Product Declarations Optimized Low-Carbon Materials Bio-based & Sustainably Harvested
-
Low-Emitting Materials Ingredient Disclosure Product Optimization Green Chemistry Supply Chain & Ecosystem
CIRCULAR -
Building Reuse & Salvage Recycling & Recycled Content Extended Producer Responsibility Zero Waste Manufacturing Bio-based & Sustainably Harvested
LOW-CARBON
Products and materials represent roughly 40% of global CO2 emissions
CIRCULAR
Reduce Reuse Recycle Dispose
More Circular = Less Carbon CIRCULAR
Rethink/Redesign Reduce Reuse/Share Reduce Remanufacture/ Reuse Repair
Recycle Recycle Dispose Dispose
Less Hazardous Ingredients = More Circular HEALTH
Rethink/Redesign Reduce Reuse/Share Reduce Remanufacture/ Reuse Repair
Recycle Recycle Dispose Dispose
Less hazards mean more cascading uses are possible
HEALTH
Reducing intrinsic hazards tends to result in lower-emitting products
W-CARBON HEALTH IRCULAR
Step 1: Transparency Step 2: Optimization
Transparency documents – explosion of data • EPDs:
• 10,000+ product-specific EPDs • 100+ industrywide EPDs
• Material Ingredients: • • • • • •
7,300 Health Product Declarations 850 Declare & Living Product Challenge certifications 500 Cradle to Cradle certified products 250 Product Lens certifications 150 Product Health Declarations by Global GreenTag International And more…
HUMAN & ECOLOGICAL HEALTH
LEED v4.1 Credit
Material Ingredients Option 1. Material Ingredient Reporting Credit Criteria: Choose 20 products for 1 point (10 products for ID+C, Core & Shell, and Warehouse/Distribution Centers) Option 2. Material Ingredient Optimization Select 10 products, or products representing 10% of total permanently installed material costs Third party verified disclosures count for 1.5 products
V4.1 Credit
Material Ingredients Select 10 products, or products representing 10% of total permanently installed material costs
Option 2. Material Ingredient Optimization i. Action Plan: Reward manufacturer progress towards optimization following the principles of green chemistry (50% of cost or ½ product)
ii. Advanced Screening & Assessment: Avoid hazards and/or resolve data gaps (100% of cost, or 1 products)
iii. Full Assessment: Full inventory and assessment of ingredients; avoid known hazards (150% or 1.5 products)
LEED v4.1: THE RESULTS ARE IN
LEED v4.1 sought to improve credit uptake in the underperforming product-related credits from LEED v4. Since 2019, projects can substitute v4 credits for v4.1 credits if they choose to do so…
LEED v4.1 Credit Substitutions As of November 16, 2020
• Total number of credit substitutions: 12,750 • Number of unique projects: 3,500 • 52% of projects substitute 1+ product-related credit • Of the LEED projects that substitute v4.1 credits, 35% substitute the Material Ingredients credit U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
Product-Related Credits Dominate v4.1 Substitutions as of November 16, 2020
Credit
Percentage of Total Number of all v4.1 Credit Substitutions Substitutions
Total Project Area of Substituted Credits (sq. ft.)
Environmental Product Declarations
1,610
13%
248 Million
Material Ingredients
1,264
10%
188 Million
Sourcing of Raw Materials
1,037
8%
175 Million
Low Emitting Materials
1,441
11%
200 Million
5,352 substitutions
LEED v4.1 Material Ingredient credit substitutions in the past 18 months represent
50x
San Diego Convention Center
3,250x
2,450x
x 118
18,500 x
40,000 x
Source: Wookiepedia
INTRODUCING BETTER MATERIALS Unified Search + Verification for LEED Documentation U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
bettermaterials.gbci.org
U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
PILOT CREDIT LIBRARY • • • • •
Social Equity Within the Supply Chain Circular Products Procurement of Low-Carbon Construction Materials Multi-Attribute products Integrative Analysis of Building Materials
WE NEED YOUR INNOVATION
WE WILL REWARD YOUR INNOVATION
BETTER MATERIALS, BETTER LIVES
THANK YOU! Links & Resources:
Wes Sullens, LEED Fellow Director, Materials & Resources wsullens@usgbc.org 202-297-4229 Based in the Bay Area of California U.S. Green Building Council 2101 L Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20037 Web: www.usgbc.org
• All-In: Creating a Safe & Equitable Future for All: www.usgbc.org/all-in • LEED v4.1 for Buildings: new.usgbc.org/leed-v41 • November LEED Addenda Update: www.usgbc.org/articles/leed-addenda-update-november-2020 • Circular Products Pilot Credit: www.usgbc.org/circularproductsv41 • Social Equity Within the Supply Chain Pilot Credit: www.usgbc.org/credits • Better Materials: https://bettermaterials.gbci.org/ • LEED Zero: https://www.usgbc.org/programs/leed-zero
A Comprehensive Approach to Sustainable Manufacturing Why better product design includes a net positive approach The Importance of Material Health Mohawk (MHK) embraces transparency and is the industry leader in product disclosures. We believe transparency allows consumers to make purchase decisions for themselves. People spend 90% of their time indoors, so it is vital to create and maintain buildings that enhance well-being. Healthy buildings come from healthy products. Chemicals of Concerns are material components that are found on various hazard listings (i.e. ILFI’s Red List, Perkins + Will’s Precautionary List, Healthcare Without Harm’s Flooring Criteria) and include, but are not limited to, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and coal fly ash. MHK leads the way in the number of ILFI Declare Labels. We have over 300 SKUs that are listed as “Red List Free” from the Declare program. While the Declare program allows a single component to be held as proprietary, MHK has made an executive management decision to achieve Red List Free status on all our Declare Labels, which requires disclosure of all components above the 100-ppm threshold. The usage of coal fly ash as a traditional filler in PVC carpet tile manufacturing allows manufacturers to increase overall recycled content, which helps reduce embodied carbon. Unfortunately, these and other chemicals of concern have a direct impact on human health. Chemicals of concern are classified because they have adverse effects not only on the end users in their homes and workplaces, but also the supply chain communities where these materials are extracted and produced. MHK is focused on manufacturing safe and healthy products that benefit our consumers and protect our supply chain communities. While MHK already offers the industry’s largest selection of Red List Free modular carpet tiles manufactured in the USA, MHK has transitioned away from PVC-based modular carpet tiles.
The Importance of Embodied Carbon The built environment contributes roughly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Over the last two decades, technology has made significant progress in reducing carbon emissions associated with operating buildings; however, as we continue to make strides in reducing the operational footprint of our buildings, embodied emissions from building materials, products, and construction processes will represent a larger percentage of a building’s total emissions. Embodied carbon is the sum impact of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributed to materials from raw material extraction to product manufacturing. This presents a significant opportunity for action. At Mohawk, we agree that embodied carbon is important. As such, MHK is a participating member of the Carbon Leadership Forum and has our products included in the Embodied Carbon Calculation Tool (EC3) tool. MHK continues to research and develop new innovations, even after making substantial improvements in our manufacturing processes and product design to improve the embodied carbon of our products.
Through innovations in materials, manufacturing, and community involvement, MHK’s carpet tile styles manufactured at our Glasgow, Virginia plant on EcoFlex NXT, EcoFlex Air, and EcoFlex Matrix backings have met the stringent requirements for the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Living Product Challenge Petal Certification. All our certified carpet tiles are Net Positive Carbon, going beyond just Carbon Neutrality. This means that for an average commercial installation1, MHK’s EcoFlex Matrix offsets remove 1.4 metric tons CO2e from the atmosphere. These carbon savings associated with MHK’s modular tile certified to LPC Petal Net Positive are equal to 3,392 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle, 1,506 pounds of coal burned, or 22.6 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
MHK’s EcoFlex Matrix Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) vs. Industry Average An LCA looks at several impact categories beyond global warming potential to evaluate a product’s complete lifetime impacts. Comparing these impacts for EcoFlex Matrix carpet tile to the industry average, we are well under in nearly all impact categories. We have achieved Net Positive Carbon, in which the carbon manufacturing and supply chain impacts are offset by 105%. Mohawk encourages our facilities throughout the world to pursue Zero Waste to Landfill (ZLF) certification to create truly circular products, and we are always looking for recycling opportunities for hard-to-place waste streams. To date, 50 Mohawk facilities have earned this certification. Our EcoFlex Matrix tile is 40% lighter than our traditional modular carpet tile. This dematerialization reduces the amount of material needed, manufacturing inputs required, and waste generated without sacrificing material health or product performance. When paired with MHK’s innovative internally produced nylon fibers systems, this translates to reductions in lifecycle impacts including a 30% decrease in embodied carbon compared to our traditional modular carpet tile.
The Importance of Social Co-Benefits Unlike footprints, which measure a product’s negative impact, Handprints measure a product’s positive impact across its life cycle. To be a true sustainable product and to operate in a net positive manner, manufacturers must integrate handprinting strategies to ultimately give back more than they take from the environment and humankind. As a global manufacturer, MHK has the ability and the reach to make an impact within multiple locales, socio-economic demographics and more. We have partnered with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to create a water handprint via donated, high-efficiency showerheads, and through a partnership with Groundswell, we place SmartFlower solar energy units in areas where the benefits of sustainability often do not reach. These kinds of partnerships not only offset our footprint, but also promote social co-benefits by allowing institutions to save money and educate students on regenerative sustainability through real-life examples.
Importance of Comprehensive Approach At Mohawk, we believe you shouldn’t have to choose between sustainability attributes; a true sustainable product should have a holistic story. A specific investment in product transparency and social responsibility extends not only to short-term sales, but also to the long-term vision of creating a regenerative future for all. Product development and environmental health are important, but they are not a sole focus; in the communities where we live, work and play lie an even greater opportunity. For MHK, all these facets are closely intertwined and interdependent. Sustainability has never been a single attribute concept. The same is applicable to product manufacturing with sustainability aspects. MHK is focused on manufacturing safe and healthy products that also contribute to reducing our customer’s overall embodied carbon footprint while giving back to our communities. 1
Average commercial installation = 2,000 square yards
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING WEEK 2020
Balancing Health, Equity, and Carbon Reduction
Industry-wide transparency and optimization is vital to our ability to improve human and environmental health through our individual building choices.
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
Who was involved? OASE Program and Bora Architects Summer 2020 Sustainability Researcher: Jake Kennedy ‐ Administered by Oregon Sea Grant and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality ‐ Funded by EPA Pollution Prevention Grant and other partners Research Collaboration Partner HPDC/ASU Research Team ‐ Wendy Vittori, Executive Director, HPDC ‐ Indrayudh Mondal, Primary Researcher, ASU
We focused on types of building materials, not specific products. SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
Resources UTILIZED RESOURCES Basic Content andCategory Health and Informed Product
Information Product& Type AnalysisInformation Basic Content Health Resources
Basic Content and Health
Information Informed Product Category and Product-Level Assessment Product-Level Assessment Product Type Analysis
Product Category & and Informed Informed Product Category Product Type Analysis Product-Level Assessment Product Type Analysis
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
Prioritizing Product Categories
SCOPE AND PROCESS: Prioritizing Product Types Scope and Process: Product Categories
Categories
Wall Construction
egories
Flooring
Casework
Gypsum Board
Concrete Sealers
Substrates
Framing
Tile
Wood Veneer and Countertops
Wood Flooring
Plastic Laminate
Wood and Resin Panels
Linoleum Flooring
Solid Surface Countertops
Textiles and Fabrics
Rubber Flooring
Acoustical Panels
Vinyl Flooring
Markerboards
Paints and Coatings
PVC-Free Flooring
Tackboards
Wall Protection
Resilient Base and Accessories
Glass Markerboards
Epoxy Terrazzo
Dry Erase Wallcovering
Wall Finishes
Ceiling Finishes Ceiling Panels Wood Ceilings Stretched-Fabric Systems
Resinous Flooring Carpet
Visual Display
Window Coverings Aluminum Louver Blinds Curtains and Drapes Roller Shades
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
SCOPE AND PROCESS: Massive Data Set
ta
97
Data
Products in Categories Studied 509
Processing Data
213 12 73
4,268 Products
34,197
Lines of Data
34,000+ lines of data 34,197
Lines of Data SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
4,268 Products
4,200+ products
OBSERVATION #1
We need better ways to identify product TYPES within these data sets.
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
ANALYZING COMMON SUBSTANCES Analyzing Common Substances
GreenScreen Scores Across All Categories
GreenScreenTM Benchmarks
Gr eenScreen Scores Across Al l Categori es 6%
16% 34%
Ha z ar do us ( BM- 1 , L T - 1 , L T - P1) LT- UNK NoGS O t he r ( BM- U, 2 , 3 , 4 )
List Translator (per HPD) NoGS LT-UNK LT-P1 LT-1
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
44%
ANALYZING COMMON SUBSTANCES: HAZARDS
nalyzing Common Substances Hazardous Substance (CAS #)
Analyzing Common Substances GS Score LT-1*
47
Quartz (14808-60-7)
LT-1*
24
Silicon Dioxide (7631-86-9)
BM-1
22
Carbon Black (1333-86-4)
BM-1*
19
Talc (14807-96-6)
BM-1
15
Ferric Oxide (1309-37-1)
BM-1
14
Polyvinyl Chloride (9002-86-2)
LT-P1
12
Zinc oxide (1314-13-2)
BM-1
10
Epoxidized Soybean Oil (8013-07-8)
LT-P1
9
Calcium Hydroxide (1305-62-0)
LT-P1
8
Lime (1305-78-8)
LT-P1
8
Aluminum (7429-90-5)
BM-1
6
Sodium Hydroxide (1310-73-2)
LT-P1
6
Ferrosoferric Oxide (1317-61-9)
BM-1
6
Cristobalite (14464-46-1)
LT-1
6
Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin (9003-35-4)
LT-P1
5
1,6-Hexanediol Diacrylate (13048-33-4)
LT-P1
5
Antimony Trioxide (1309-64-4)
BM-1
5
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
Hazardous Substance Prevalence in Product Types per Category
No. of Product Types
Titanium dioxide (13463-67-7)
* = Form-specific hazard (HPD Special Condition)
Hazardous Substance Prevalence in Product Types per Category
Occurrence
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Titanium dioxide
Quartz
Flooring
Silicon dioxide
Carbon black
Wall Finishes
Talc
Window Coverings
Ferric oxide
Ceiling
Polyvinyl chloride
OBSERVATION #2
Can the functions these substances perform be fulfilled with safer chemistry?
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
ANALYZING COMMON SUBSTANCES: AMBIGUOUS DATA
nalyzing Common Substances LT-UNK Substance (CAS #)
Occurrence
No. of Product Types
NoGS Substance (CAS #)
Occurrence
No. of Product Types
Limestone (1317-65-3)
34
Pulp, Cellulose (65996-61-4)
12
Fiberglass (65997-17-3)
21
Polyester (113669-95-7)
7
Kaolin (1332-58-7)
18
Starch, Soluble (9005-84-9)
5
Polyethylene Terephthalate, PET (25038-59-9)
16
Dolomite (16389-88-1)
5
Cellulose, Microcrystalline (9004-34-6)
15
2-Ethylhexyl Methyl Terephthalate (63468-13-3)
5
Polyethylene (9002-88-4)
13
Linseed Oil (8001-26-1)
5
Polyurethane Foams (9009-54-5)
9
Nitrogen (7727-37-9)
4
Polyvinyl Alcohol (9002-89-5)
8
Dibenzoylmethane (120-46-7)
3
Polyvinyl Acetate (9003-20-7)
8
Ethylene Glycol Diacrylate (2274-11-5)
3
Silica Gel (112926-00-8)
8
1,2- Cyclohexanedicarboxylic Acid… (1200806-67-2)
3
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
OBSERVATION #3
We should prioritize this list of substances for public Benchmark assessment and further study.
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
DATA SUMMARY e and Process: Product Categories Available Data by Product Category 200
HPD
ILFI Declare Label
Cradle2Cradle
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
INTERIOR WALL CONSTRUCTION
FLOORING
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
WALL FINISHES
CEILING FINISHES
CASEWORK
VISUAL DISPLAY
WINDOW COVERINGS
DATA SUMMARY Available Data by Product Category 200
HPD
ILFI Declare Label
Cradle2Cradle
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
Informed Analysis Available
40
20
0
INTERIOR WALL CONSTRUCTION
FLOORING
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
WALL FINISHES
CEILING FINISHES
CASEWORK
VISUAL DISPLAY
WINDOW COVERINGS
A CLOSER LOOK Closer Look
Silicone Titanium dioxide dioxide
PVC
Fiberglass
Lime- Poly- Poly. stone ethylene Foam
2-EMT Dibenzoyl- Dolomite methane
Vinyl Flooring
Ferric oxide
Titanium dioxide
Linoleum Flooring SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
Cellulose
Lime- Poly- Poly. stone ethylene Foam
Linseed Pulp oil cellulose
A CLOSER LOOK Closer Look
Silicone Titanium dioxide dioxide
PVC
Fiberglass
Lime- Poly- Poly. stone ethylene Foam
2-EMT Dibenzoyl- Dolomite methane
Vinyl Flooring
Ferric oxide
Titanium dioxide
Linoleum Flooring SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
Cellulose
Lime- Poly- Poly. stone ethylene Foam
Linseed Pulp oil cellulose
A CLOSER LOOK Closer Look
Silicone Titanium dioxide dioxide
PVC
Fiberglass
Lime- Poly- Poly. stone ethylene Foam
2-EMT Dibenzoyl- Dolomite methane
Vinyl Flooring
Ferric oxide
Titanium dioxide
Linoleum Flooring SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
Worst in Class
Cellulose
Lime- Poly- Poly. stone ethylene Foam
Linseed Pulp oil cellulose
Best in Class
OBSERVATION #4
Just having data is not enough. We need “interpreters” to turn the data into actionable knowledge.
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
SUMMARY & NEXT STEPS
Make better use of the data we have. Improve HPDs and other systems to simplify comparisons across specific product types. Add product type field to HPDs. Expand common product composition descriptions.
Encourage safer chemistry. Categorize substances by specific functions. Identify safest alternatives to identified common hazardous substances.
Improve Data Quality and Usefullness. Minimize information ambiguity. Lobby for public assessment of prioritized list of LT-UNK and NoGS substances.
Maximize interpretation of health information. Expand product categories covered by resources like HBN’s HomeFree program. Lean on chemistry and health experts to turn data into actionable knowledge. SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
IN-HOUSE PROGRESS mmary and Next Steps
Material Selection Guides Simple snapshot by product type • Carbon Intensity • Material Health
Informed by ongoing research
Make the healthy choice the easy choice.
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 2020
Hotel Torni: Exploring the Durat Circular Program We’ve told you about a circular economy and how it impacts buildings and construction, but nothing showcases circularity like the relationship between Durat and Hotel Torni in Finland. The recent renovation of this luxury Finnish hotel shows Durat solid surface’s commitment to closing the loop, in action. The story begins in 2004, when Durat bathroom units were installed throughout Hotel Torni, located in Helsinki, Finland. These unique block and basin sinks with seamless vanities were designed
MORE INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER
specifically for the hotel by Finnish designer Pirkko-Liisa Topelius, and
Field Tripto - 2the history and aesthetic of Torni. spoke New Library - 3
After more than 15 years of use, Torni decided to undergo a complete remodel. Instead of removing the fixtures and placing them in a landfill, Durat removed and refurbished the pieces, creating a collection of recycled and upcycled sinks available for sale here. Not only is the original integrity of the pieces preserved, but Durat’s seamless qualities allow for it to be modified to accommodate spaces of any size. We love this case study because it tells the story of Durat Circular, their take-back program, so succinctly. Material waste is one of the largest contributors to our global waste stream. Discarded countertops can sit in a landfill for centuries. The Take Back Program allows Durat to minimize material waste and create a second life for their durable, timeless material.
Sustainable Hospital Finishes (a no brainer) December 2020
not that
Change is hard Our client was seeking new system finish standards. Streamlining specs, branding and incentivizing volume discounting were strong goals. But what about sustainability, avoiding chemicals of concern and cleaning up outdated maintenance practices? Our client was open to learning more. We aimed to achieve “all the things” within the new standards—high performance, best value, and sustainable criteria, because protecting the health of patients and the community was absolutely in alignment with the client’s values.
Cost
Performance All the things.
Best Practices
$ Minimize chemicals of concern
Step 1 Less is more. The most sustainable specification is no specification at all. Many back of house rooms can skip an applied floor for sealed concrete. We also opted for a high performance paint in lieu of sheet wall protection where possible.
Ex: Walls
Wall Protection- Not needed everywhere
High performance paint in lieu of wall protection - Sustainable
Ex: Back of house
Applied flooring- Unnecessary at some areas?
Sealed concrete- Sustainable
Step 2 Breaking it down. Consider how materials will (or won’t) break down at end of life. Glass breaks down into silica, metals into minerals. Synthetic materials take decades or centuries to decompose and release harmful chemicals as they do.
Acrylic Panel- synthetic material
Glass Panel decomposes into silica- Sustainable
Vinyl Base- synthetic material
Stainless Steel base decomposes into mineralsSustainable
Rubber base- Sustainable
Step 3 Spec smarter. For materials not naturally derived, do what you can to eliminate phthalates, PVC (polyvinylchlorides) and encourage no-wax cleaning products and protocols.
WHY
Current practice
Durable + Easy to clean + Infection control
=
Good practice + Human + Community + Environmental health
=
W HAT Vinyl, epoxies, antimicrobials
PVC Free, Phthalate free, No wax, no anti-microbial
Antimicrobial marketing is just that. The CDC does not support the use of antimicrobials as an infection control strategy. In fact, data shows antimicrobial agents do harm to human health. Skip antimicrobials and opt for surfaces that hold up to cleaning.
BPA is not just in water bottles, it’s in a host of building materials. Be persistent about asking manufacturers to issue an HPD (Health Product Declaration), disclosing chemicals used in their materials.
Added formaldehydes and fire-retardants are among the most dangerous chemicals for human health. Calling for no added urea-formaldehyde substrates in our specs has big positive impact on the health of our building occupants and for the planet.
If you can’t specify natural materials, opt for PVC free and Phthalate free products wherever possible. Many manufacturers are making excellent products eliminating these chemicals of concern.
Products Evaluated
Evaluation criteria
Finding “all the things”
Our goal: find specs meeting all 3 key objectives--high performance standards, cost effectiveness and desired sustainability criteria. A spreadsheet of evaluated products helped us refine to products meeting all criteria.
Winners
nora® floor coverings are made of high-quality natural and industrial rubbers. They are mixed with minerals from natural sources and other components, such as environmentally compatible color pigments, pulled into blanks, pressed and then vulcanized under heat and high pressure. Thanks to the material’s elastic properties, our floors do not require any plasticizers.The subsequent crosslinking with nora cleanguard® in the factory makes the surface dense and closed, without using any film or varnish. That is why they will never need to be coated and still look like new after many years of use.
Finding options wasn’t hard, 3rd party certifications like Cradle to Cradle, Declare and Mindful Materials gave direction on many manufacturers who met our criteria.
Mission accomplished (almost) 100% Phthalate free, PVC free and wax free flooring Used over 50% less sheet wall protection by specifying high performance paint. Where used, wall protection is PVC and Phthalate free Specified ABS millwork edge banding in lieu of PVC Specified rubber and metal base in lieu of vinyl base Sunshades are a combo fiberglass and PVC
HKS uses Mindful Materials as a guide to green specs. We’ve created easy guide sheets by area type for designers to understand a good vs. avoid summary of sustainable specs.
How to Green your specs?
Look to 3rd party evaluated recommendations and search Building Green and Material Bank online libraries for filterable search options.
Be in the know
To learn more about healthy material specifications, take the online course offered by Parson’s School of Design. Become your studio’s green spec star!
Got questions?
Want to know more about our green projects and specs? Feel free to give us a shout.