The Declare Label

Declare is a transparency programme created by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). Think of it as a nutrition label for building products - it lists every ingredient in a material so architects, specifiers, and building owners can make informed decisions about what goes into their projects.

Unlike certifications that rate overall sustainability performance (BREEAM, LEED) or verify specific environmental claims (FSC, EPD), Declare focuses purely on disclosure. It answers one question: what is this product made of?

The programme launched in 2012 and has grown steadily. Thousands of products across flooring, insulation, paints, adhesives, cladding, and structural materials now carry Declare labels. Each label is publicly accessible through ILFI's online database.

Manufacturers submit their product's full ingredient list to ILFI, disclosing every chemical component down to 100 parts per million (0.01%). ILFI reviews the submission against the Living Building Challenge Red List - a catalogue of chemicals known to be harmful to human health or the environment.

Products receive one of three designations:

- Declare Listed - full ingredient disclosure, but may contain Red List chemicals - LBC Compliant - meets Living Building Challenge requirements with no Red List chemicals above thresholds - Red List Free - verified to contain zero Red List chemicals at any concentration

Labels are valid for one year and must be renewed annually. Each label displays the product name, manufacturer, ingredients, expected lifespan, end-of-life options, and where it was manufactured.

The annual renewal requirement means Declare labels reflect current formulations, not historical ones. If a manufacturer changes their recipe, the label must be updated.

The Red List is the backbone of Declare. Maintained by ILFI, it identifies chemicals and chemical classes that pose the greatest risk to human and ecological health. The list includes:

- Asbestos - Cadmium - Chlorinated polyethylene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene - Formaldehyde (added) - Halogenated flame retardants - Lead (added) - Mercury - Phthalates (except specific exemptions) - PVC (polyvinyl chloride) - Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) above thresholds

The Red List is updated periodically as scientific evidence evolves. It is intentionally precautionary - chemicals are listed based on the weight of evidence for harm, not waiting for absolute proof.

For specifiers, the Red List provides a clear line: if a product is Red List Free, it contains none of these substances. That simplifies procurement decisions considerably, especially for health-focused projects.

Ingredient transparency is increasingly expected in commercial and institutional construction. Clients commissioning schools, hospitals, and offices want to know that interior materials are not off-gassing harmful chemicals.

Declare labels support several specification pathways:

- Living Building Challenge projects require all permanently installed products to be Declare-listed or Red List Free - WELL Building Standard awards credits for using products with ingredient transparency, including Declare labels - LEED v4.1 awards Material Ingredients credits (MR credit) for products with Declare labels - BREEAM does not directly reference Declare, but the information supports Hea 02 (indoor air quality) evidence

Beyond certification credits, Declare labels reduce specification risk. When you know exactly what a product contains, you can assess compatibility with other materials, predict indoor air quality impacts, and make defensible material choices.

Declare is one of several material transparency programmes. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right tool:

- Health Product Declaration (HPD) - a more detailed chemical disclosure format used primarily in North America. HPDs report hazard screening results for each ingredient. Declare is simpler and more visual.

- Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) - reports environmental impacts (embodied carbon, resource depletion) but does not disclose individual chemical ingredients. EPDs and Declare are complementary, not competing. - Safety Data Sheets (SDS) - legally required documents that identify hazardous components.

SDS only disclose ingredients above certain concentration thresholds and focus on acute hazards, not chronic health effects. Declare discloses to much lower thresholds. - Cradle to Cradle - assesses material health alongside circularity, renewable energy, and social fairness.

C2C material health assessment overlaps with Declare but uses a proprietary methodology.

For UK projects, combining a Declare label (ingredient transparency) with an EPD (environmental impact) gives specifiers the most complete picture of a product's health and environmental profile.

All Declare labels are publicly accessible through the ILFI Declare database at declare.living-future.org. You can search by product name, manufacturer, or product category.

Each label is a single-page document showing:

- Product name and manufacturer - Where it was manufactured - Expected product lifespan - Every ingredient with its Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number - Red List status (Listed, LBC Compliant, or Red List Free) - End-of-life options (recyclable, biodegradable, landfill)

When writing specifications, reference the Declare designation you require. For example: "All interior paints and coatings shall be Declare Red List Free or Declare LBC Compliant." This gives manufacturers a clear target and makes compliance verification straightforward.

On Matera, suppliers can note Declare status in their material certifications. Look for it alongside EPDs and other third-party verifications when comparing products.

A Declare label is short, but each line tells you something useful. Read it in this order.

Declare is strongest for products used in large quantities indoors, close to occupants, or in projects with material health targets.