Material Transparency
It’s easy to select a product from a catalog without thinking about where it comes from. But if you care about hidden impacts like embodied carbon, toxic ingredients or byproducts, or social responsibility in the supply chain, a lack of information from manufacturers can hinder your selection process.
We offer tips, insights, and analysis on all these issues and more. We also look at:
-
the quality of the information that’s available to you
-
why it’s so hard to get
-
what makes it important
- and even what to do with the data once you have it
Material Transparency
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
-
What’s an HPD? Health Product Declaration FAQs
Feature Short
We answer frequently asked questions on HPDs, which allow manufacturers to disclose product ingredients and hazards.
-
Finding Products for LEED v4 and v4.1
Feature Article
Finding and managing product information for LEED has changed—and v4.1 has added even more to think about.
-
Why Chemical Transparency Matters
Feature Article
You can’t manage what you don’t measure—especially if you don’t know it exists in the first place.
-
EPDs Are the Future of the Building Industry, Whether You Like It or Not
Feature Article
Environmental product declarations are taking off, but can they actually fly? Experts share the ups and downs of this promising but imperfect transparency tool.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
-
Building Product Disclosure & Optimization (BPDO) Cheat Sheet
Infographic
The three Building Product Disclosure and Optimization (BPDO) credits in LEED v4 are pushing the industry into new territory. Suppliers have made significant progress on materials transparency and optimization since the release of version 4, but not enough to make all the points realistically achievable. With version 4.1, LEED has modified thresholds and simplified requirements so that all six points should be within reach for most projects.
-
EPD Quick-Start Guide: 5 Easy Steps
Infographic
Use these tips to get what you need from an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), fast.
-
The 8 Shades of Greenwash: How Many Do You Recognize?
Infographic
Most building products these days have an environmental angle to their sales pitches. Many are legit, but as ever, you still have to watch for the telltale signs of greenwash—the practice of inventing or exaggerating the environmental benefits of a product.
-
HPD Quick-Start Guide: 5 Easy Steps
Infographic
How to get solid information from a Health Product Declaration (HPD), in just five steps.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
-
A New Halogen-Free Polyiso Insulation from GAF
Product Review
GAF now offers a full line of polyisocyanurate foam insulation that is free of toxic halogenated flame retardants.
-
Mineral Wool Batts Now Formaldehyde-Free
Product Review
Thermafiber and Roxul have introduced the first formaldehyde-free mineral wool batt insulations, following the example set by the fiberglass insulation industry.
-
Fiberglass, XPS, Cork? Insulation Options for LEED v4 and Living Buildings
Product Review
Choosing insulation with an eye to points in LEED v4 or Living Building Challenge compliance? Here’s how insulation materials compare.
-
Unmilled Timber Frames Go High Tech, Replacing Steel
Product Review
Keep the beauty of round logs, and get more strength from an engineered wood structure, promises Wisconsin-based company WholeTrees.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
-
Health Product Declaration Matures with New Feature
News Brief
HPD version 2.2 integrates reporting options for suppliers of parts that go into building products, and for managing multiple versions of a product.
-
Manufacturers Find Their Voice with the Living Product 50
News Brief
What began as a group of those pursuing the Living Product Challenge is now a wider platform for community and communication.
-
Health Product Declaration Collaborative Teams Up with USGBC
News Brief
A strategic partnership between HPDC and the U.S. Green Building Council aims to scale material transparency.
-
Declare Labels: Now with Improved Data and Verification
News Brief
A new partnership between the International Living Future Institute and Toxnot will help manufacturers provide better-quality health information.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
-
A Manufacturer’s Guide to a Successful Sustainability Platform
Op-Ed
Manufacturers have a unique role in sustainable building and LEED—and they don’t need to leave profits behind. Here’s a manufacturer’s guide to improving and promoting green products.
-
Thanks To You, Transparency is Reaching Deeper into the Supply Chain
Op-Ed
The A&D community’s “ask” for ingredient transparency continues to move entire industries toward healthier products, especially now with the Supplier HPD.
-
Let’s Talk: Mainstreaming Transparency Takes More than Letters
Op-Ed
To move the building industry toward greener products, there are two big things we need to do.
-
Material Transparency for LEED v4: EPDs and HPDs for Metal Studs
Blog Post
Reducing your building’s carbon footprint or health impacts? Going after new LEED credits? Transparency documents for steel studs can help.
Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
-
Why Chemical Transparency Matters
Feature Article
You can’t manage what you don’t measure—especially if you don’t know it exists in the first place.
-
EPDs Are the Future of the Building Industry, Whether You Like It or Not
Feature Article
Environmental product declarations are taking off, but can they actually fly? Experts share the ups and downs of this promising but imperfect transparency tool.
-
Cool Products from the Latest Greenbuild Expo
Feature Article
We scoured the Greenbuild expo floor for the best new products and the most interesting updates. Then we whittled it down to these standouts.
-
The Product Transparency Movement: Peeking Behind the Corporate Veil
Feature Article
Manufacturers are offering more product information than ever, but how can we know what to trust?
