Material Collection
Plant
Innovations in manufacturing have led to the invention of sustainable, plant-based products that dramatically reduce negative health and environmental impacts. Products made from organic materials like seaweed or hemp provide healthy, biodegradable alternatives to harmful synthetics.
Plant
7 products
About Our Collections
The goal of our collections is to help promote transparency in the material ingredients of building products by fostering knowledge and awareness of products and materials for which life-cycle information is available, and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts.
Keep an eye out for the following symbols:
A Healthier Affordable Building Product
Products with the designation of "Healthier & Affordable" were specified and installed in at least one of our Case Studies of healthier affordable housing.
Available at the Donghia healthier Materials Library
The Donghia healthier Materials Library library is open to Parsons student and faculty. Learn more about access and opening hours here.
Low Embodied Carbon
“Embodied Carbon” is the total amount of carbon emitted during the process of making a material. *HML refers to a manufacturer's EPD to determine whether a product's A1-A3 carbon emissions falls within HML's threshold for Low Embodied Carbon.
New Product
This product has been added to the collection within the past six months.
Ingredient Disclosures
There are several ways of evaluating a material’s health that we include with product information. Disclosures are reports by manufacturers about product ingredients, impacts, or other attributes.
Key Disclosures include:
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
A voluntary technical specification for reporting information on product contents and associated health information, intended to be the health-analogue to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
Declare Label
Declare is a transparency platform and product database that answers three questions:
1. Where does a product come from?
2. What is it made of?
3. Where does it go at the end of its life?
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
A standardized format for communicating the environmental effects associated with a product’s raw materials extraction, energy use, chemical makeup, waste generation, and emissions to air, soil, and water.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
A reporting format that provides basic information about a material’s chemical ingredients, the potential safety hazards to installers, and recommended practices for installation.
Other
Manufacturer | Product | Ingredient Disclosures | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Textile | Algae | AlgiKnit | AlgiKnit |
AlgiKnitAlgiKnit is a compostable yarn made from readily abundant biopolymers. This product was designed as a sustainable, closed loop alternative for the apparel and footwear industries. CategoryTextile, AlgaeManufacturerAlgiKnit![]() Material composition*kelp, seaweed, algae *as reported by the manufacturer COLORSred, seafoam green CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Other
Last UpdatedFebruary 27, 2018 |
Fibrous, Cellulosic, & Granular Insulation | Cellulose | US Greenfiber LLC | Cellulose Fiber Insulation |
Cellulose Fiber InsulationThis product provides a natural insulation alternative that optimizes human and environmental health. Greenfiber's cellulose insulation is free from formaldehyde, asbestos, glass fibers, and mineral wool. The product is also made with up to 85% recycled materials from local sources, diverting hundreds of tons of paper from landfills and reducing energy consumption from transporting raw materials. Greenfiber's R-value is declared at 3.8/inch. CategoryFibrous, Cellulosic, & Granular Insulation, CelluloseManufacturerUS Greenfiber LLC![]() Material composition*Cellulose Fiber <85%, Boric Acid <10%, Ammonium Sulfate <11%, Distillate Mineral Oil <2% *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZING19.05 lb Package COLORSOff-White CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Other
Declare | Red List Free
Additional DocumentsLast UpdatedFebruary 01, 2017 |
Fibrous, Cellulosic, & Granular Insulation | Cellulose | Insolution Manufacturing | Polar Barrier Loose Fill |
Polar Barrier Loose FillPolar Barrier’s Loose Fill insulation is manufactured using 100% recycled paper. Primarily intended for use in walls and attics, this insulation provides superior sound control, fire protection, and energy savings compared to fiberglass. The production of Polar Barrier Loose Fill also uses up to 10 times less embodied energy than fiberglass does, and its reliance on recycled materials diverts waste from landfills. The Loose Fill's R-value is declared at 3.9/inch. CategoryFibrous, Cellulosic, & Granular Insulation, CelluloseManufacturerInsolution Manufacturing![]() Material composition*Ammonium Sulfate 0-15%, Boric Acid 0-15%, Wheat Starch 0-5%, Non-hazardous Dust Control Agent 0-1%, Cellulose Particles (percentage not disclosed) *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZING30.0 lbs package COLORSWhite CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Other
Additional DocumentsLast UpdatedSeptember 21, 2016 |
Fibrous, Cellulosic, & Granular Insulation | Seaweed | Advance Nonwoven | Seaweed Insulation |
Seaweed InsulationAvailable At the Donghia Materials LibrarySeaweed insulation provides an organic alternative to materials such as mineral wool. Seaweed mats are formed using heat and high-pressure compression. It allows for a long lifetime and for repeated recycling, either reused as insulation or transformed into 2D or 3D designs. Advance Nonwoven's Seaweed Insulation is Cradle to Cradle Gold Certified. Their standard product contains no added flame retardants or antimicrobials. However, because these additives are available upon request, it is best to emphasize a desire for no added treatments when ordering the material. CategoryFibrous, Cellulosic, & Granular Insulation, SeaweedManufacturerAdvance Nonwoven![]() Material composition*90% seaweed, 10% recycled fiber *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZINGThickness 10-250 mm, width 1200 mm max, length is unlimited CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Other
Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard
Last UpdatedMarch 13, 2018 |
Masonry | Hempcrete | American Lime Technology | Tradical Hemcrete |
Tradical HemcreteAvailable At the Donghia Materials LibraryTradical® Hemcrete® is a highly sustainable hemp-lime product line designed to create insulating walls in new structures or to retrofit existing floors, roofs, and walls with thermally efficient, breathable insulating layers. CategoryMasonry, HempcreteManufacturerAmerican Lime Technology![]() Material composition*Hemp, Lime (Calcium Hydroxide), Hydraulic Lime Binder, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Silicates, Silica, Oxides of Magnesium, Aluminum, and Iron *as reported by the manufacturer CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Other
Last UpdatedApril 06, 2018 |
Masonry | Hempcrete | Just Bio Fiber | Hempcrete Blocks |
Hempcrete BlocksJust Bio Fiber's hempcrete blocks are a breathable, durable, non-toxic alternative to typical structural wall assemblies. Made primarily from hemp and lime, these blocks are Declare Red List Free as well as naturally fire resistant. Wall systems built with these blocks regulate temperature and humidity while retaining heat. They also do not require a vapor barrier and are resistant to mold, insects, rodents, and mildew. CategoryMasonry, HempcreteManufacturerJust Bio Fiber![]() Material composition*Hemp Hurd 30-50%, Calcium Hydroxide 20-40%, Calcium Carbonate 10-30%, Calcium Magnesium Tetrahydroxide 10-30%, Kaolin 1-10%, Fibrous Glass 1-10%, Silica Sand 1%, Styrene 1% *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZING21.3" x 10.7" x 8" CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Other
Declare | Red List Free
Last UpdatedJune 18, 2021 |
Masonry | Hempcrete | IsoHemp | Hempcrete Block |
Hempcrete BlockIsoHemp’s hempcrete blocks are a non-load-bearing masonry product. These natural, healthy blocks are designed to be used for insulating envelopes, partition walls, and counter-partitions. Made only from hemp and lime, hempcrete’s ability to diffuse accumulated heat makes it a fantastic thermal regulator. This product also regulates humidity due to its permeability and is naturally very fire-resistant, making toxic flame retardants obsolete. Not only are IsoHemp hempcrete blocks good for human health, they also have a positive environmental impact. Their manufacture requires very little energy, and they act as a carbon sink, actively absorbing CO2 from the air. CategoryMasonry, HempcreteManufacturerIsoHemp![]() Material composition*Hemp (particle size of 2 to 20 mm) 80%, Hydraulic Lime 11%, Air Lime 9% *as reported by the manufacturer AVAILABLE SIZING30 cm x 60 cm, available in 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, and 30 cm thicknesses CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES
Health Product Declaration (HPD)
Declare Label
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Other
Additional DocumentsLast UpdatedJuly 17, 2019 |
The products in this collection have all been evaluated holistically for their contents and performance. To be considered, the product must have a primary ingredient (by volume) that is derived or harvested from plants or a plant-derived substance that plays a critical role in the product’s performance or manufacturing avoiding additives harmful to human and planet.
Updated February 27, 2018
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