Materials petal
The Materials Petal is complex, as the International Living Future Institute notes that presently “it is impossible to gauge the true environmental impact and toxicity of the built environment due to a lack of product-level information.”
Nevertheless, this Petal seeks to create a materials economy that is non-toxic, ecologically restorative, transparent, and socially equitable. It is linked to Declare®, the Institute’s ingredients label for building products, a publicly accessible label and online database.
The Materials Petal prohibits the use of Red List products, being the worst in class materials prevalent in the building industry, such as asbestos, formaldehyde and lead. It requires projects to account for the total embodied carbon through construction via a one-time carbon offset.
It goes further. Projects must advocate for the creation and adoption of third-party certified standards for sustainable resource extraction and fair labour practices. For instance, all wood must be certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards, or salvaged. Materials and even consultants must be procured from within set geographical limits of the site to contribute to the regional economy.
Finally, the Materials Petal requires a focus on waste, specifically a net positive waste outcome. Through the creation of a Materials Conservation Management Plan which explains how the project optimises materials in each phase, from design through to operation and to end-of-life, this Petal demands waste be viewed as a valuable resource.
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