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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that are useful in many building materials and consumer products but have a large potential for harm.   The goal of this report is to inform and inspire building owners, architects, designers, building product manufacturers, and government decision makers to eliminate unnecessary uses of PFAS and to promote the design and use of safer non-PFAS alternatives.

The presence of hazardous chemicals in products makes the transformation to circularity more challenging. This report describes UNDP's interventions on Chemicals and Waste Management which aim to achieve circularity across different industries, inluding construction.

This guide defines the core information that building project teams need to know to make the consideration of human health and environmental issues a systematic part of building materials specification, purchasing, and use.

The Healthy Home Guides provide advice and guidance on hazardous chemicals to avoid in different types of building materials. The guides include key product features to look out for and recommended alternatives that are healthier and more sustainable.

This handbook is aimed at helping the American architecture and construction sectors select healthier and more sustainable  materials for their projects. The handbook outlines guidelines for evaluating and selecting materials based on factors such as lifecycle assessment, material transparency, and health and wellness impacts. It also suggests useful tools and provides examples from case studies.

Phthalates are mainly used as plasticisers in plastics and can be found in everything from wall coverings and furniture to electronic devices and toys. Phthalates make up two-thirds of the plasticisers market but are proven to be hazardous for human health. This report gives an overview of what phthalates are, their use, and current legislation. It includes a three-step guide to substituting phthalates and analyses the alternatives. 

Byggvarubedömningen, or BVB, is a building materials assessment tool for the Swedish construction market. BVB provides an evaluation standard based on seven factors: Chemical content; Input materials; the construction phase; the management phase; Demolition; Residual and waste products; Indoor environment. These are weighted to come up with a final score: either "recommended", "accepted" or "to be avoided".

This report summarises the workstream of the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) into the use of plastics in the built environment and the impacts on human health.

"What's it Made of?" is an environmental health initiative which encourages the elimination of dangerous substances commonly included in furniture production. The initiative involves a simple pledge for manufacturers to ask their suppliers about the substances in their materials and products. "What's it Made of?" was launched in 2016 and instantly gained over 300 signatures, which continue to grow through the efforts of the Sustainable Furnishings Council.