How Declare Labels Contribute to a Greener Construction industry

The construction industry has long been a significant contributor to greenhouse gasses and climate change. As such, the sector has sought greener building standards as an alternative to conventional structures. Declare labels have proven to be a viable approach to product transparency — a powerful resource for contractors, building designers and consumers interested in using sustainable materials. Highlighting the eco-friendliness of building components allows stakeholders to make sounder decisions for environmental and public health. 

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The climate crisis has inspired a wave of ecologically sound building projects targeting reduced emissions and greater energy efficiency. Green buildings have especially appealed to companies with sustainability initiatives due to the widespread adoption of environmental, social and governance principles.  

The construction sector is not well-renowned for having pro-environment fundamentals. Studies suggest the industry is liable for 25% of worldwide logging activities while emitting 39% of global carbon dioxide, 49% of sulfur dioxide, and 25% of nitrous oxide. It is also responsible for extracting 40% of the world’s raw materials.

Transitioning to green products and practices, reducing waste, and increasing operational efficiency can dramatically diminish buildings’ adverse environmental impacts. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), energy-saving construction and design could reduce emissions levels by 12.8% by 2035 from 2022 levels. Existing construction practices illustrate a 13% increase in emissions without mitigation efforts.

Green building frameworks have paved the way for more climate-resilient clean energy structures worldwide. However, sourcing and incorporating sustainable materials into building projects remains challenging. Fortunately, Declare labels can help streamline this process. 

What Are Declare Labels? 

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) developed Declare labels to deliver a transparent database of product sustainability. The labels follow Living Building Challenge’s (LBC) requirements, indicating what the item is made of, its carbon footprint, and how harmful it is to the environment and people. 

Many compare Declare labels to food nutrition labels, as each breaks down the most critical product information and ingredients, helping construction stakeholders and consumers make informed buying decisions. Declare labels allow the green building sector to achieve the highest sustainability standard and construct safer, energy-efficient structures. Products with Declare labeling comply with the LBC Red List – chemical compounds deemed most hazardous to human health and the environment. Manufacturers must disclose all ingredients and residuals at or over 100 parts per million – or 0.01% – in each product.

How Do You Read Declare Labels?

Declare labels aim for straightforward clarification and accessibility to building products’ composition. Some of the labels’ core components include:

• Product identifier: States what the product is and its model, if applicable;
• Declaration status: Identifies the product as LBC Red List Free, LBC Red List Approved or Declared;
• Ingredients: Lists all the ingredients used to manufacture the product;
• Red List chemicals: Discloses any substances from the Red List;
• Additional details: Details end-of-life options for the product, life expectancy and certifications it’s received.

The key difference between the LBC Red List Free and Approved statuses is whether the item is entirely free of the ILFI’s chemicals or contains trace amounts. The LBC Red List Free declaration is also a product’s highest attainable status.

Construction professionals should familiarize themselves with the Red List to identify the most concerning compounds. They can then use the Declare labels to compare products and weigh the environmental and health impacts before use. 

Benefits of Declare Labels 

Declare labels eliminate the guesswork in sourcing quality green materials for sustainable building projects. This offers several advantages to construction stakeholders and the average consumer pioneering eco-friendly infrastructure and design.

1. Better Product Decision-Making

Using the product information on Declare labels results in healthier and environmentally sound product choices. For example, a plumbing specialist may forgo using a pipe with potentially hazardous compounds, which could increase occupant exposure to poor air quality. 

Because manufacturers must meet stringent criteria to receive a Declare status, the labels also improve customer satisfaction and loyalty by cultivating trust in how products are made.

Declare labeling makes green product selection more efficient, as designers and contractors can verify sustainability and meet LEED certification standards. For example, builders might select Meganite’s silica-free countertops and sinks, which have obtained Declare labeling and various certifications for low emissions.

Kohler Co. – a global kitchen and bathroom plumbing manufacturer – also began applying GreenCircle Certified’s third-party declarations in 2020. GreenCircle Certified examined Kohler’s processes to ensure material health and compliance with Declare label standards, indicating whether any chemicals matched those on the Red List. 

2. Efficient Building Performance

Declare labeling’s transparency ensures excellent building performance by specifying sources of indoor pollutants, boosting awareness of potential allergens, and maintaining maximum indoor air quality. They also indicate a product’s carbon footprint to encourage material use with reduced embodied energy. 

Integrating vegetation and recycled materials on green roofs saves 12.5% of energy daily during summer. Meanwhile, light-emitting diode bulbs use 90% less power than incandescents, lowering the amount of heat expelled. Contractors, architects, and designers can use Declare labels for these products to ensure optimal efficiency. 

3. Public Health Risk Mitigation

Because Declare labels point to potential hazards within a product, they can prevent public health risks associated with the materials.

For instance, formaldehyde – a known carcinogen – is widely used in pressed wood products, while phthalates make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) more pliable and durable. PVC products are among the most common materials found in construction. Likewise, perfluorinated compounds – including perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOAs – do not break down and have a four-year half-life in the human body. Animal studies show these forever chemicals cause pancreatic, liver, mammary, and testicular tumors in rats.



4. Greater Sustainability

Promoting less harmful material use in building and design reduces pollution and resource consumption. The Declare labels emphasize end-of-life information, encouraging a more circular economy. Likewise, the labels facilitate a transition toward low-carbon materials, enabling fewer building greenhouse gasses. 

More on the topic: 5 Ways the Construction Industry Is Getting Greener

Challenges and Criticisms

Overall, the adoption of Declare labels is relatively aligned with resistance to green buildings. Studies show they have 31% higher design expenses, 11% longer completion timelines, and 6.5% higher construction costs than standard structures. Green upgrades can also be more difficult and costly to insure, especially since repairing or replacing damaged property with eco-friendly materials is more pricey.

The criteria for achieving LEED building status are also complex. As such, only 4.08% of new construction in the US is considered green.

Although Declare labels can help contractors, designers, and consumers make better product choices to ensure building sustainability, there might be misunderstandings about the information presented. The labels are highly detailed and may be challenging for everyone to comprehend. Likewise, there must be a way for people to verify the accuracy and authenticity of the information presented on them. 

Addressing the challenges requires implementing new policies and incentives for adoption. Tax credits and manufacturer rebates should be offered for product purchases with Declare labels while industry stakeholders promote their value and use. Additionally, educational resources and training will help manufacturers, construction specialists, and consumers better understand the labeling process. 

Building Transparency 

The future of green building demands widespread adoption of Declare labels. Their benefits for the construction sector and society are too crucial to overlook. Transparency and a deeper understanding of eco-friendly materials and design are critical as the industry continues to shift toward sustainability.

Featured image: Danist Soh/ Unsplash.

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