Library

Full set of resources from the Healthy Hospitals program which includes:

• Step-by-step resources that will make it simpler for any hospital or health care organization to design, implement, and measure the success of their chemical reduction efforts;
• Guidance on healthier flooring, carpet and interiors products;
• Links to criteria documents and lists of products that meet the HH goals.

Green public procurement specification for general construction and flooring adhesives. The goal of the specification is to set a hierarchy of preferences for connecting materials together and to encourage the use of adhesives that have fewer health and environmental hazards in order to create a healthier indoor environment during both construction and building occupancy.

Green public procurement specification for general construction and flooring adhesives. The goal of the specification is to set to set a hierarchy of flooring covering preferences, establish minimum environmental goals for flooring installations in state properties, and provide recommendations for additional aspects of flooring performance, cleaning and maintenance for a healthier indoor environment.

In January 2019, the California Building Standards Commission unanimously approved changes to the state building codes proposed by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal. The changes allow use of polystyrene insulation without flame retardants below a concrete slab-on-grade. These changes would maintain fire safety while improving human and environmental health.  This fact sheet details the key considerations for implementation of a policy on allowing flame retardant-free insulation within a building code, and the associated health and technical considerations.

The Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List represents the “worst in class” materials, chemicals, and elements known to pose serious risks to human health and the greater ecosystem that are prevalent in the building products industry. The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) believes that these materials should be phased out of production due to human and/or environmental health and toxicity concerns. While there are certainly other items that could be added, this list was determined by selecting items with the greatest potential impact if they were significantly curbed or eliminated from the building industry. ILFI worked with the Healthy Building Network and the Pharos Project to develop the original Red List in 2006.

Red List classes are added or retired with each new version of the LBC Standard. The revised chemical groupings that were established as part of the LBC 4.0 release more suitably categorize Red List chemicals by function, application within the building products sector and structural similarity. The chemical classes are described below, and the chemicals included in each group are detailed in the 2022 LBC Red List CASRN Guide. While all chemicals in the 2022 LBC Red List CASRN Guide fall within the list of chemical classes outlined in the Standard, not necessarily all chemicals in an LBC Red List Class are included in the enforceable CASRN Guide. The CASRN Guide itself is typically updated on an annual basis in January, and seeks to ensure that the Red List remains a leadership tool and reflects best available science.

Chemicals production and consumption is set to double by 2030, from a $5 trillion industry globally in 2017, with production set to increase, mainly in emerging economies. If chemicals production is doubled, chemical pollution must not double as a consequence – rather we should aim to significantly reduce it from current levels.

Current international attempts at the massive undertaking of addressing chemical pollution are not working. For the world to solve the major environmental and health challenges we face, there must be a sustainable chemicals revolution. We can only achieve this through senior-level engagement with the chemical sciences community through an authoritative, intergovernmental science-policy interface.

The Royal Society of Chemistry engaged with scientists in their community to develop the vision for a chemicals strategy, relevant to any nation in principle.  Four pillars were identified on which any chemicals strategy has to be based: education, innovation, circular economy and regulation. National governments must invest in these areas and create a responsible framework of action for chemicals management.

Curated list of evaluated substances to replace chemicals of concern on the SIN list.