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Thoughts from the Chair Winter 2025

by | Dec 9, 2025 | Uncategorized

                I’ve been struggling a bit to come up with this quarter’s “Thoughts….” I knew I wanted to neatly explain why HPDC is so important and the primary focus of my extracurricular energies for the last decade and a half. Then, this morning, a coworker said he’d heard on the radio that cancer risks in “Cancer Alley” – that 85-mile stretch of petrochemical plants from New Orleans to Baton Rouge – are 7 times higher than the national average. This led me to new research using mobile labs to measure air pollution throughout this region that says we’re significantly underestimating that risk. As we’ve known since Rachel Carson’s time, the beneficiaries of polluting industries and their government enablers bank on narrow data that assumes otherwise completely healthy people are subjected to just one toxin at a time, so no harm is done as long as we keep that below some magical threshold. This is ridiculous, of course, because we’re all subject to many toxins in the air, soil, and water. This is compounded with devastating effects on those unfortunate souls, maybe living in family homes predating the chemical plants and without the financial capacity to simply pack up and move, who send their children to school hundreds of feet from these facilities.
 
                This is certainly not new information to me, but serves as a succinct reminder that my reasons are not complicated. Chemical companies and governments will not protect us, especially the most vulnerable. But those of us making decisions about what we build with have the power to do something. We long ago realized that only with adequate knowledge can we make decisions, as manufacturers, builders, designers, and owners, that avoid the worst effects and drive change towards healthier outcomes for everyone. Providing this information for every building product is HPDC’s purpose. With HPDs covering tens of thousands of products, we’ve come a long way. We have much more to do; to enhance what we know about some products and learn what we still don’t know about others, to reach further down the supply chain, to reduce the number of chemical unknowns, and to understand how to make better choices with this information.
 
                We bank on the broad notion that enough of us care to create a world where the benefits of some do not cause the suffering of others. HPDC, with “Collaborative” very intentionally in our name, knows we can’t do this alone. Our board, technical committee, and technical subgroups have provided the primary forums for representatives from across the material health ecosystem to sort out the many nuances of collecting and using this information. With equal intention we’ve kept HPDs free to access and inexpensive to generate. Having well established methods for collecting health information, we are expanding the Builder to cover the full breadth of the Common Materials Framework, AIA Materials Pledge, and LEED v5 Materials Credit. We will be sharing the importance of material transparency beyond the commercial building sector. And, our ecosystem partners are becoming more sophisticated in their capabilities to make this information actionable to project teams, manufacturers, and researchers.
 
                So, my message is simply this: In the drive to eliminate the need for toxic chemistry, HPDC plays a central role. If you haven’t already, please join us.
 

– Mike Manzi

Material Health Open Innovation Symposium: All-Star Case Studies

by | Oct 27, 2025 | Announcement, News, Uncategorized

All-Star Case Studies: Innovation in Action

The All-Star Case Studies session showcased real-world examples of companies and advocates turning the principles of material health into measurable progress. Each presentation demonstrated how transparency, innovation, and persistence are transforming products, processes, and entire industries. From designing circular, PVC-free flooring and reimagining traditional wood treatments without harmful chemicals, to leading grassroots movements against toxic materials and engineering high-performance products from recycled content—these “All-Star” innovators exemplify what it means to move beyond disclosure into action. Together, their work illustrates how creativity and commitment to safer chemistry can lead to tangible solutions for a healthier, more sustainable built environment.

Christine Mullan – Shaw Industries

“Advancing Material Health with EcoWorx™ Resilient”

Christine Mullan, Product Sustainability Manager at Shaw Industries, opened the All-Star Case Studies session with her presentation Advancing Material Health with EcoWorx™ Resilient. She highlighted how Shaw’s decades-long commitment to Cradle to Cradle design and circularity led to the development of EcoWorx™ Resilient, a flooring product that eliminates PVC and prioritizes occupant health and recyclability. Mullan explained how Shaw integrates health product declarations (HPDs), supply chain transparency, and material optimization to continually improve product chemistry. Her presentation underscored that sustainability and performance are not competing priorities—they can coexist when companies embed material health into their innovation strategy from the start.

Kevin Kowal – TerraMai

“Faux Sugi Ban®: Charred Wood Reimagined for Health & Sustainability”

Kevin Kowal, Vice President at TerraMai, shared the story behind Faux Sugi Ban®: Charred Wood Reimagined for Health & Sustainability, a modern reinvention of the traditional Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique. Kowal described how TerraMai developed this non-toxic, VOC-free alternative to achieve the visual depth of charred wood without harmful chemicals or combustion. The product exemplifies TerraMai’s philosophy of “Hedonistic Sustainability”—creating designs that are beautiful, durable, and responsible. His talk reflected how reclaimed materials and innovative finishing processes can redefine aesthetic expectations while contributing to healthier indoor and outdoor environments.

Tom Ennis – Coal Tar Free America

“Keepers of the Flame: 20 Years of Working Against Toxic Pavement Products and Making a Difference”

Tom Ennis, Founder of Coal Tar Free America, delivered a compelling presentation titled Keepers of the Flame: 20 Years of Working Against Toxic Pavement Products and Making a Difference. Ennis chronicled his two-decade campaign to eliminate toxic coal tar pavement sealants—products linked to dangerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—from communities across the U.S. His advocacy has resulted in bans covering more than 20 million residents, with growing momentum toward a nationwide prohibition supported by the American Medical Association. Ennis’s story was a powerful reminder that citizen-driven initiatives, backed by science and persistence, can create measurable environmental and public health victories.

Pelin Tezcan – Pliteq Inc.

“Pliteq Material Health Innovation Showcase” Pelin Tezcan, Business Development Engineer for Mass Timber and Sustainability at Pliteq Inc., closed the session with Pliteq Material Health Innovation Showcase, highlighting how her company transforms waste into innovation. Tezcan demonstrated how Pliteq’s acoustic and vibration isolation products are engineered using recycled rubber and sustainable design principles, proving that circular manufacturing can produce high-performance results. She emphasized Pliteq’s focus on continuous research, transparency, and collaboration with builders and architects to achieve both environmental and acoustic excellence. Her presentation illustrated how smart engineering and material reuse can drive scalable, real-world sustainability solutions.

Material Health Open Innovation Symposium: Ecosystem Presenters

by | Oct 27, 2025 | News, Uncategorized

Ecosystem Roundup: Connecting the Forces Driving Material Health

The Ecosystem Roundup session brought together key leaders and innovators from across the material health landscape to showcase how collaboration, data, and technology are converging to accelerate industry-wide transformation. Each presenter represented a vital piece of the growing ecosystem—from digital tools that bridge design and procurement to global certification systems redefining how we measure health and sustainability. Together, these organizations are creating a more connected framework where transparency fuels innovation, interoperability empowers decision-making, and shared progress drives a healthier built environment for all.

Barbra BatShalom – BuildingEase

Barbra BatShalom, Founder and CEO of BuildingEase, opened the Ecosystem Roundup by highlighting how digital platforms can break down barriers between design and procurement. Her presentation showcased BuildingEase as the industry’s first tool to connect design intent directly with product data, helping architects and builders easily access and apply verified material health information. Drawing from her decades of leadership in sustainability and her role with the Sustainable Performance Institute, BatShalom emphasized that streamlined data exchange is essential for accelerating the shift to healthier, more transparent products across the built environment.

Andre L. H. Baros – Acelab

Andre Baros, Senior Director of Material Research at Acelab, discussed how the architecture community is reimagining the relationship between materials and design excellence. With more than 25 years of experience in architecture and sustainability, Baros described Acelab’s mission to empower designers through data-driven decision-making. By creating a centralized digital hub that connects architects with innovative, high-performing products, Acelab is helping bridge the gap between creativity and accountability. Baros’s presentation underscored that access to reliable material data not only supports health and transparency goals but also inspires better design outcomes.

Bill Walsh – Safer Chemistry Impact Fund

The symposium’s keynote address was delivered by Bill Walsh, Founding Director of the Safer Chemistry Impact Fund, whose presentation From Transparency to Transformation: Building the Business Case for Safer Chemistry set a powerful tone for the day. Drawing on his decades of leadership at organizations such as the Healthy Building Network, Passport Foundation, and Greenpeace USA, Walsh explored how the building industry can turn chemical transparency into real progress. He emphasized that while tools like the HPD Open Standard have revolutionized visibility into product contents, the next frontier lies in driving innovation—creating and scaling safer alternatives that benefit both human health and the planet. Walsh highlighted how public data, cross-sector collaboration, and strategic investment can accelerate the adoption of safer chemistry at scale, inspiring attendees to think boldly about the systemic changes needed to make healthier materials the industry norm.

Kathleen Egan – Ecomedes

Kathleen Egan, CEO and Co-Founder of Ecomedes, presented how her SaaS platform is helping the building industry simplify sustainable purchasing decisions. Egan demonstrated how Ecomedes integrates more than 2,200 manufacturers and harmonizes data from over 35 certification systems, enabling users to find, compare, and select healthier, greener materials efficiently. By combining sustainability data, cost insights, and performance metrics in one place, Ecomedes empowers manufacturers, designers, and facility owners to make informed decisions that align environmental and financial goals. Her message reinforced that transparency and accessibility must go hand in hand for large-scale adoption of sustainable materials.

Rodolfo Perez – International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)

Rodolfo Perez, Senior Director at the International WELL Building Institute, explored how the WELL Building Standard continues to evolve to prioritize transparency, human health, and ethical supply chains. As the lead for the Materials and Water concepts in WELL, Perez outlined new strategies for integrating material health into global building standards, including efforts to address social impacts like fair labor and modern slavery in product supply chains. His talk demonstrated how WELL is broadening its framework from physical health to encompass the full social and environmental lifecycle of materials.

Terry Swack – Sustainable Minds

Terry Swack, Founder and CEO of Sustainable Minds, shared how her company is transforming how manufacturers and designers approach product transparency and life cycle impact. Sustainable Minds’ Transparency Catalog now connects nearly 2,200 manufacturers with tools to assess and communicate the environmental performance of their products. Swack discussed how life cycle assessment (LCA) data is helping companies move beyond disclosure toward design optimization and innovation. Her presentation highlighted that when product data is made clear and actionable, it drives both environmental accountability and competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Wes Sullens – U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

Wes Sullens, Director of Materials & Resources at the U.S. Green Building Council, concluded the Ecosystem Roundup with an update on LEED’s evolving approach to circularity and product transparency. A LEED Fellow and long-time advocate for regenerative design, Sullens explained how USGBC is embedding safer chemistry, waste reduction, and supply chain accountability into the next generation of LEED standards. His presentation illustrated how data interoperability between organizations like HPDC, USGBC, and WELL is essential to advancing shared sustainability goals. Sullens emphasized that collaboration—not competition—will define the next chapter of material health progress.

Material Health Open Innovation Symposium VI

by | Sep 15, 2025 | Announcement, News, Uncategorized

Material Health Open Innovation Symposium VI

The sixth annual Material Health Open Innovation Symposium brought together global leaders in sustainable design, manufacturing, and material transparency to explore how the building industry can move from disclosure to decisive action. Hosted by the Health Product Declaration Collaborative, this year’s symposium marked a turning point in the movement toward safer chemistry in the built environment.

With more than 40,000 products now represented in the HPD repository, the industry has entered a new era of open data and accountability. But as Executive Director Wendy Vittori reminded attendees, transparency is only the beginning—the next challenge lies in using that data to reshape material health practices at scale. Throughout the event, speakers shared groundbreaking insights, real-world case studies, and collaborative tools aimed at transforming material reporting into meaningful innovation.

Keynote Presentation: “Chemical Hazard Transparency: A Strategic Imperative for the Building Industry” Bill Walsh, Fund Director of the Safer Chemistry Impact Fund, founding HPDC board member, and national leader in sustainable materials shared how lessons from other sectors, like personal care, can accelerate safer chemistry in building products.

SESSION 1 – Introduction & Keynote

The symposium opened with Wendy Vittori welcoming attendees and setting the tone for a day centered on collective progress. Mike Manzi, Chair of HPDC’s Board of Directors, reflected on the organization’s journey and the need for continued support as grant funding transitions into member-driven sustainability. The keynote address by Bill Walsh, Founding Director of the Safer Chemistry Impact Fund, delivered an inspiring message on advancing safer chemistry through systems change. Walsh shared data-driven strategies for eliminating hazardous chemicals, aligning corporate ESG goals, and creating cross-sector collaborations that drive market transformation. His insights underscored that chemical transparency is no longer optional—it’s essential to the health of people, ecosystems, and economies.

SESSION 2 – All-Star Case Studies

The second session celebrated innovation in action through four All-Star Award-winning case studies showcasing companies transforming material health principles into real-world results.

  • Christine Mullan (Shaw Industries) presented EcoWorx™ Resilient, a PVC-free flooring line designed for circularity and occupant health, built on Shaw’s decades-long commitment to Cradle to Cradle certification.

  • Kevin Kowal (TerraMai) shared the story behind Faux Sugi Ban®, a non-toxic, VOC-free alternative to traditional charred wood that combines beauty, performance, and sustainability.

  • Tom Ennis (Coal Tar Free America) chronicled a 20-year advocacy campaign that successfully eliminated toxic coal tar sealants from communities across the U.S., protecting millions from carcinogenic exposure.

  • Pelin Tezcan (Pliteq Inc.) highlighted Pliteq’s advances in acoustic and recycled rubber products that demonstrate how sustainable innovation and high performance can go hand in hand.

Together, these stories demonstrated that safer materials are not just feasible—they are already reshaping industries.

SESSION 3 – Ecosystem Roundup

In Session 3, the spotlight turned to the broader ecosystem of organizations and tools accelerating the shift to healthier building materials.

  • Barbra BatShalom (BuildingEase) discussed new digital frameworks that connect design and procurement to streamline healthier material choices.

  • Andre Baros (Acelab) explored how architects can integrate transparent data into design excellence.

  • Kathleen Egan (Ecomedes) and Terry Swack (Sustainable Minds) showcased cloud-based platforms simplifying sustainable product selection for thousands of manufacturers.

  • Rodolfo Perez (IWBI) and Wes Sullens (USGBC) provided insight into how WELL and LEED standards are evolving to prioritize material health, transparency, and circularity.
    Collectively, these presentations revealed an increasingly interconnected network—one where open data, technology, and certification systems work together to turn sustainability goals into measurable impact.

SESSION 4 – Panel Discussion & Closing

The final session brought all ecosystem presenters together for a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Wendy Vittori. Panelists reflected on the critical need for collaboration across manufacturers, designers, and standard-setting bodies to overcome barriers and accelerate progress. They emphasized that alignment—between transparency tools, certification frameworks, and market incentives—is the key to unlocking the next generation of material innovation. Vittori closed the symposium by thanking attendees and reinforcing HPDC’s ongoing mission: to empower the building industry with data, collaboration, and leadership that make healthier materials the norm, not the exception.