IN THE NEWS: Google's Healthy Materials Project

Here’s some recent wind in our sails: In October, Google announced the launch of Portico, “The Healthy Materials Tool” for manufacturers, architects, contractors and project managers.  The database pools and evaluates data from several trusted standards and certifications, including Health Product Declaration (HPD), GreenScreen, and Cradle2Cradle, and LEED v4.  The Healthy Materials Program considers ingredient/chemical inventory and disclosure, ingredient/chemical hazard assessment, material optimization, and transparency.  Google’s evaluation process rewards those manufacturers who invest in full disclosure, providing Google and the general public with access to product ingredients and test results.   

According to Google, The Healthy Materials Program “benefits all, empowering users to Respond to the increasing market demand for healthy materials, transparency, LEED certification, and industry standards; Access product and materials information in a simple, easy-to-understand format; Understand material properties and potential impacts human health; and Make informed selections of products and materials based on reliable and transparent data.”  At HAABITT, we’re thrilled to know that a likely byproduct of this effort will be an increase in the demand for, and access to, healthier materials for both work and home environments.  That means more pressure on manufacturers to produce healthier, more cost-effective building materials.

Why is Google motivated to lead this effort?  They say they’re invested in developing innovative, healthy building environments to support the creative efforts of their talented employees.  For now, access to the database is restricted to participating manufacturers and to design and construction professionals actively engaged in Google workplace building projects.  Our hope is that access is rapidly expanded to the rest of us, and that this effort ultimately addresses the need to clean up building materials both in the workplace and on the homefront.  We’ll stay tuned!