Video: Beyond Transparency: Improving Product Decisions with Transparency and Material Health Information

Parsons Healthy Materials Lab and Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC) hosted the third discussion in our Four-Part Fall Discussion Series: Transparency and Material Health In Practice. This live audience Discussion Series provides Architecture and Design Professionals with practical answers to questions that you are likely to encounter as you take the next steps to integrate healthy materials practices into product selection and specification in your projects.

The third Discussion in our series, entitled “Beyond Transparency: Improving Product Decisions with Transparency and Material Health Information” provided insight into the next level of integrating material health information with other decision parameters. We addressed the question: “How can project teams tackle the question of “selecting healthier products.” We explored decision-making frameworks that integrate consideration of material health attributes with cost, performance and other product characteristics. Drawing on experience in related fields such as industrial hygiene, we explored the tools that are feasible in today’s situation, to support these next steps in selecting and specifying healthier building products, and healthier buildings.

Speakers included:

• John Amatruda, Principal – Vidaris, Inc.
• Catherine Bobenhausen, Senior Consultant - Colden Corporation
• Heather Henriksen, Managing Director, Harvard University Office for Sustainability
• Jonsara Ruth, Design Director- Parsons Healthy Materials Lab
• Alison Mears, Director- Parsons Healthy Materials Lab
• Wendy Vittori, Executive Director - Health Product Declaration Collaborative

October 9th: Transparency and Material Health “In Practice” - Accessing and Using Transparency and Material Health information

This discussion provided an overview of transparency reports and material health databases and libraries available for use by architecture and design practices. Our panelists shared their practical approaches to integrating these tools and information with their existing firm libraries. They also addressed the techniques they have used to prepare design professionals, through education and practice, to use these tools in project documentation, specifications, and to obtain LEED/WELL and other building certification credits.

Panelists included:

● Mary Dickinson, Perkins+Will

● Susan Kaplan, HLW International

● Jack Dinning, Donghia healthier Materials Library at Parsons

● Alison Mears, Parsons Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons

● Wendy Vittori, HPD Collaborative

Watch the second Discussion here.

September 18th “Managing Transparency and Material Health in Practice - Introduction to Firm-Level Issues”

In this session, our experienced panelists shared how they have addressed the firm-level administrative and management issues which may arise with the decision to include transparency and material health information in projects. Topics included: design philosophy, education and training, and the firm/client value proposition and ROI.

Speakers included:

o John Amatruda, Principal – Vidaris, Inc.

o Robin Guenther, Principal - Perkins+Will

o Amanda Kaminsky, Founder and Principal - Building Product Ecosystems

o Alison Mears, Director- Parsons Healthy Materials Lab

o Wendy Vittori, Executive Director - Health Product Declaration Collaborative

Watch the first Discussion here.