{"id":9110,"date":"2023-11-21T11:25:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T19:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/living-future.org\/?p=9110"},"modified":"2023-11-21T11:25:52","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T19:25:52","slug":"the-building-industrys-long-awaited-signal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/living-future.org\/the-building-industrys-long-awaited-signal\/","title":{"rendered":"The Building Industry’s Long-Awaited Signal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LEADING SUSTAINABILITY ORGANIZATIONS UNITE: AIA, ILFI, IWBI, USGBC, AND MM ALIGN AROUND COMMON MATERIALS FRAMEWORK<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In an unprecedented collaboration of leading organizations dedicated to sustainable building practices and impact reduction in the built environment, the American Institute of Architects (AIA)<\/a>, the International Living Future Institute (ILFI)<\/a>, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)<\/a>, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)<\/a>, and mindful MATERIALS (mM)<\/a> have joined forces to align around the Common Materials Framework<\/a>, which establishes for the first time a common language for holistic material sustainability in the building industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a standing-room-only event at the 2023 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo<\/a>, held this year in Washington, D.C., leaders from the five organizations presented “Building Alignment: The Role of Project Certifications to Drive Impact” to shed light on the critical importance of aligning their efforts to advance materials sustainability, transparency, and optimization in the construction and design industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaterials have remained one of the toughest sustainability puzzles to solve. Partly, that\u2019s because their impacts are so diverse and global \u2014 and because so many entities impact material choices from design to installation,\u201d says Alex Muller<\/a>, VP of Strategy at mindful MATERIALS. \u201cBut it\u2019s also been a confusing world to wrap your arms around. Every organization defines product sustainability differently and asks for different pathways or labels to meet the same objectives \u2014 safe, sustainable, and socially just materials. So it\u2019s not surprising we\u2019ve made less progress than we\u2019d want. That\u2019s all about to change thanks to the Common Materials Framework \u2014 and the commitment from these organizations to find meaningful alignment on holistically sustainable materials.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Common Materials Framework, whose first version was completed in 2021, acts as a \u2018Rosetta Stone\u2019 for product sustainability, translating diverse product standards and disparate data points into consistent categories of impact: Human Health, Climate Health, Ecosystem Health, Social Health + Equity, and Circularity. The AIA Materials Pledge first articulated these impact \u2018pillars\u2019 and are now widely recognized in the building industry. By doing so, it allows any organization, data platform, standard, designer, or manufacturer to have a common and comparable foundation for their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not overstating anything to say these are some of the most influential groups in the built environment where sustainability is concerned. The announcement at Greenbuild represents years of collaboration and months of direct conversation. To have everyone up on the stage together, speaking in the same language and with the same urgency about aligning like \u2018no more talk, this is it\u2019 \u2014 I mean, wow, that was powerful and something I have been hoping to see my entire career,\u201d says Annie Bevan<\/a>, CEO of mindful MATERIALS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IWBI announced its commitment to map existing material features in WELL to the CMF, conduct a gap analysis to inform new possible CMF-aligned WELL beta features, and explore ways to support similar alignment with its Works with WELL<\/a> licensing program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to be locking arms with like-minded organizations to help realize a shared vision for better materials,\u201d says Rachel Hodgdon<\/a>, President and CEO of IWBI. \u201cBy working together and leveraging the Common Materials Framework, we are not only creating greater alignment across industries, we are also seizing an opportunity to accelerate progress toward healthier and more sustainable materials.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USGBC announced plans to consider the CMF organizing principles for its much-anticipated LEED v5<\/a>, which is available to review in draft<\/a> for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance now. Draft Versions of Building Design & Construction and Interior Design & Construction will be launched next year and include a multi-attribute, holistic approach to sustainable materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUSGBC embraces collaboration across industries to elevate the benchmarks for the built environment,\u201d says Peter Templeton<\/a>, President and CEO at USGBC. \u201cBy championing sustainable materials, we not only curtail energy, water, harmful ingredients, and waste in manufacturing but also mitigate impacts during distribution, transportation, and future phases of use, reducing carbon emissions while also safeguarding health and environmental quality. The Common Materials Framework offers an opportunity for our industry stakeholders to standardize terminology and speed the uptake of sustainable products. We look forward to collaborating with this effort going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After adopting the five pillars more than three years ago, AIA offered a sneak peek into its process to build out actionable next steps for the over 250+ AIA A&D Materials Pledge<\/a> signatories. The CMF will be used to build clear metrics that will help track the adoption of holistic materials selection among AIA\u2019s 96,000 members.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAIA is committed to supporting the architect\u2019s ability to create a zero carbon, equitable, healthy, and resilient future through the power of design,\u201d says Lakisha Ann Woods<\/a>, CEO of AIA. \u201cWe are excited to move the A&D Materials Pledge beyond aspirational language and into action and implementation. Our members will now be able to benchmark their projects amongst their peers and track their years of progress, similar to our tracking in the AIA 2030 Commitment Program. The industry\u2019s alignment around the CMF will allow AIA and our industry to speak the same language when discussing materials selection in the built environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As ILFI prepares for the release of the next versions of its market-transformative programs \u2014 Declare, the Living Product Challenge, and the Living Building Challenge \u2014 Materials Director Mike Johnson<\/a> called for urgent action in support of holistically sustainable and regenerative design and manufacturing and shared that the organization will leverage the CMF to ensure that its standards are industry-leading and aligned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cILFI is dedicated to helping the world define what good looks like for the built environment and to empowering communities around the world to respond to the urgent social and environmental issues of our time,\u201d says Lindsay Baker<\/a>, CEO of ILFI. \u201cThis collaboration of the world\u2019s leading healthy building organizations will help us rapidly scale up our beneficial work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This collaboration and alignment between the AIA, ILFI, IWBI, USGBC, and mindful MATERIALS creates a powerful synergy, says Bevan. One she believes will propel the building materials industry forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy leveraging the CMF, we will finally establish a common language and a shared foundation for materials data and sustainability standards,\u201d says Bevan. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to overstate how deeply this has been needed to align our respective missions, accelerate impact reduction, and reward the manufacturers working hard to meet so many different standards. This Framework and this leadership will allow us to come together and align our momentum for greater impact. I\u2019m incredibly excited for what comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

###<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Common Materials Framework<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Common Materials Framework (CMF)<\/a> is the outcome of the most detailed cross-stakeholder industry effort to date to analyze and organize over 100 of the most common building product and material certifications and disclosures.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CMF gives structure to over 650 relevant sustainability factors identified within these programs. Those factors are organized within the five buckets of health and sustainability referenced across multiple stakeholder materials pledges, including the AIA A&D Materials Pledge<\/a>. By mapping the underlying data and organization of those Pledge statements, the CMF allows signatories of those pledges to navigate and demonstrate achievement on their public commitments.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once digitized, the CMF will act as a smart filter, allowing practitioners to search for sustainable products at any depth. mindful MATERIALS\u2019 intention is that the CMF will work seamlessly across all leading building and material databases and technology platforms, ensuring a consistent foundation of information wherever material decisions are made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About mindful MATERIALS, Inc.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

mindful MATERIALS\u2019 mission is to reverse the embodied impacts of the built environment by driving the use of regenerative and restorative building products that meet an industry-aligned framework for health, sustainability, and resilience, the Common Materials Framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

mindful MATERIALS furthers its mission through a global cross-sector collaboration hub to develop and drive adoption of the common materials framework, which is digitized through its curated digital materials library and connected to industry tools, resources, education, and advocacy for the greater benefit of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about mindful MATERIALS and the Common Materials Framework, visit mindfulmaterials.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About American Institute of Architects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 1857, AIA consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state, and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About International Living Future Institute<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The International Living Future Institute\u2019s mission is to cultivate a society that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. To do this, the organization envisions a Living Future and shows that it works better in practice and policy. The Institute is premised on the belief that providing a compelling vision for the future is needed to reconcile humanity\u2019s relationship with the natural world. The Institute\u2019s programs have shaped more than 55 million square feet of real estate development across the United States and around the world. Learn more at http:\/\/www.living-future.org.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About International WELL Building Institute<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the world\u2019s leading organization focused on deploying people-first places to advance a global culture of health. IWBI mobilizes its community through the administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and WELL ratings and certifications, management of the WELL AP credential, the pursuit of applicable research, the development of educational resources, and advocacy for policies that promote health and well-being everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About U.S. Green Building Council<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 1994, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has been at the forefront of defining what it means to design, construct, and operate green buildings and communities. Through the development of LEED,  the world\u2019s most widely used green building rating system, USGBC is committed to a sustainable,  prosperous future through LEED, the leading program for green buildings and communities worldwide.  Our vision is that buildings and communities will regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation. Our mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built,  and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Institute of Architects
Katie Jacobs
katiejacobs@aia.org<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

International Living Future Institute
Anjula Duggal 
anjula.duggal@living-future.org<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

International WELL Building Institute
media@wellcertified.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Green Building Counci
Deisy Verdinez
dverdinez@usgbc.org<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

mindful MATERIALS
Jen Levisen
jen.levisen@mindfulmaterials.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LEADING SUSTAINABILITY ORGANIZATIONS UNITE: AIA, ILFI, IWBI, USGBC, AND MM ALIGN AROUND COMMON MATERIALS FRAMEWORK In an unprecedented collaboration of leading organizations dedicated to sustainable building practices and impact reduction in the built environment, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the U.S. Green […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","cover_caption":"","cover_credit":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-release"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t