Promoting Wellness with Healthy Building Materials

Designing for Better Living

As an interior designer, I’ve always been fascinated by the relationship between our built environments and our overall well-being. It’s no secret that the materials we choose to surround ourselves with can have a profound impact on our physical, mental, and emotional health. That’s why I’m on a mission to help homeowners and developers alike embrace the power of healthy building materials.

The Building Health Initiative launched by the USGBC Northern California chapter has really opened my eyes to the importance of this issue. They recognized that health and wellness are vital components of sustainable and green building, and set out to help move the market in a healthier direction.

Turning Buildings into Wellbeing Havens

One of the key goals of the Building Health Initiative is to “harness the strength of world-class companies and organizations to move markets.” This resonates with me because I truly believe that when industry leaders come together, we can revolutionize the way we design and construct our living and working spaces.

CaraGreen, a company that distributes eco-friendly products as healthier alternatives to conventional building materials, is a great example of a partner that’s helping to drive this change. They’ve shifted their focus from simply “sustainable” materials to ones that actively promote human health and wellness.

Take their selection of low-VOC materials like PaperStone, for instance. By keeping harmful chemicals like formaldehyde out of the air, these products help create clearer, healthier indoor environments. And their Organoid panels, made from organic materials like lavender and rose petals, don’t just look beautiful – they can actually improve our mood and reduce stress through their natural aromas.

Rethinking the Essentials

But it’s not just about the fancy decorative elements. Even the most fundamental building blocks of a home or office can be reimagined with wellness in mind. Biofilico points out that beyond the obvious choices of natural materials like stone, wood, and bamboo, there’s a whole world of innovative bio-based options to explore.

Take mycelium, for example – the root structure of mushrooms. When combined with agricultural waste and water, it can be grown into stable, non-toxic materials for everything from acoustic panels to lighting fixtures. Or consider the potential of algae, which can be transformed into sustainable bioplastics, roofing tiles, and even clothing. The possibilities are endless!

Tackling Toxicity Head-On

Of course, the quest for healthier building materials isn’t just about finding new and innovative solutions. It’s also about addressing the elephant in the room: the toxic chemicals that have long plagued our indoor environments.

Biofilico reminds us that a healthy indoor environment consultant would typically consider not just the materials chosen for a building or interior, but also any finishes, adhesives, and installation products used. Things like formaldehyde, phthalates, and flame retardants have no place in a truly wellness-focused space.

That’s why leading green building certifications like LEED and WELL are putting such a strong emphasis on material ingredient transparency and optimization. They’re encouraging project teams to select products that have been vetted for their environmental, economic, and social impacts – essentially, building spaces that are good for both people and the planet.

Striking a Balance

Of course, specifying healthy building materials isn’t always as straightforward as it might seem. As Biofilico points out, there’s often a delicate balance to be struck between environmental impact, human health, and factors like durability and cost.

Take the example of leather. On one hand, it’s a natural, biodegradable material that can be seen as a waste diversion strategy from the meat industry. But the tanning process can also involve harmful chemicals. The solution? Seek out leathers that have been vegetable-tanned using natural tannins instead.

Or consider the case of plastic. While it’s undeniably problematic from an environmental standpoint, recycled and upcycled plastic products can actually be a healthier alternative to virgin materials in certain applications. The key is finding ways to keep these materials in a closed-loop system, where they’re continuously repurposed rather than ending up in landfills.

Wellness Wonders at Work

As I’ve delved deeper into this topic, I’ve been truly inspired by the innovations happening in the world of healthy building materials. Take the example of Kirei acoustical products. Not only do they help reduce unwanted noise, but their endless customization options make them a breeze to incorporate into any design scheme.

Or how about Lapitec Sintered Stone, which CaraGreen offers as a durable, easy-to-clean surface perfect for high-traffic areas like restaurants and gyms? It’s the kind of material that doesn’t just look good – it actively contributes to a space’s overall cleanliness and sanitation.

And let’s not forget about the power of natural scents. Organoid‘s decorative panels, infused with the aromas of lavender, vanilla, and rose petals, can actually evoke a sense of comfort and calm the moment you step into a room. It’s a perfect example of how building materials can go beyond the purely functional to nourish our senses and our overall wellbeing.

A Healthier Future, Built to Last

As I look to the future, I can’t help but feel excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. The Building Health Initiative is just the beginning, with industry leaders coming together to “leverage best practices, research, and resources” in the pursuit of healthier built environments.

And with game-changing certifications like WELL and Cradle to Cradle setting the bar for material transparency and circularity, I know that the healthy building movement is only going to gain momentum. It’s not just about creating spaces that look good – it’s about designing places that truly nourish the mind, body, and spirit.

So, whether you’re a homeowner looking to create a wellness oasis, or a developer aiming to redefine the future of office design, I encourage you to embrace the power of healthy building materials. After all, our homes and workplaces should be sanctuaries, not sources of stress and toxicity. With the right materials and a bit of creativity, we can build a better, healthier future, one project at a time.

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