OVERVIEW
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:
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the quality of the information that’s available to you
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why it’s so hard to get
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what makes it important
- and even what to do with the data once you have it
IN-DEPTH
Filter results:
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Unmilled Timber Frames Go High Tech, Replacing Steel
January 4, 2017Product Review
Keep the beauty of round logs, and get more strength from an engineered wood structure, promises Wisconsin-based company WholeTrees.
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HPD User Guide Helps with LEED, WELL Product Selection
September 19, 2016News Brief
Just in time for LEED v4, a guide for using Health Product Declarations is being released.
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“Product Lens” Focuses on Whether Chemicals Can Harm Us
August 4, 2016News Analysis
UL’s new take on ingredient transparency uses the Cradle to Cradle screening method while adding notes on exposure risks.
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Chemical Risk Assessments Come to LEED v4
July 5, 2016News Analysis
A controversial pilot credit developed with the American Chemistry Council looks into toxic exposure risk from building materials for installers and occupants.
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TSCA Reform: Chemical Regulations, at a Cost
June 23, 2016Primer
In a world where we can’t even ban asbestos, a new law revamps how the federal government regulates chemicals—but some worry it steps on the toes of progressive states.
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Study Vets Materials for Entire Wall Assemblies
June 1, 2016News Brief
When you look at the whole assembly, it can change how you see the materials. Here XPS and fiberglass come out ahead, and SPF behind.
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New Ways to Meet LEED v4 Ingredient Disclosure
April 26, 2016News Analysis
LEED addenda for April 2016 add BIFMA, C2C Material Health, Declare, and the Globally Harmonized System for classifying chemicals.
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EPD Quick-Start Guide: 5 Easy Steps
November 5, 2015Infographic
Use these tips to get what you need from an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), fast.
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The 8 Shades of Greenwash: How Many Do You Recognize?
November 25, 2014Infographic
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.
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HPD Quick-Start Guide: 5 Easy Steps
November 5, 2015Infographic
How to get solid information from a Health Product Declaration (HPD), in just five steps.
