Thank you to everyone who signed on to the Materials Pledge letter. It was officially released on April 15th with 56 signatory firms. The Materials Pledge will soon have a new home online and a way to continuously add more signatory firms. I'm keeping a list for now and there are already four more firms who want to join. I will let everyone know when and where the Materials Pledge is online once the logistics are worked out.
I want to especially thank the members of the AIA Materials Knowledge Working Group (MKWG) who worked so hard to make the language of Pledge timeless and are still working to help create metrics and goals that are measurable and actionable.
When you look at the letter, the Materials Pledge is captured in this part of the language:
EACH OF US PLEDGE TO
- Continue asking for transparency and better products.
- Continuously improve and update our specifications and procurement processes to require transparent and optimized products.
- Collaborate and share best practices, tools, and education.
- Support Human Health by preferring products which support and foster life throughout their lifecycles and seek to eliminate the use of substances that are hazardous.
- Support Climate Health by preferring products which reduce carbon emissions and ultimately sequester more carbon than emitted.
- Support Ecosystem Health by preferring products which support and regenerate the natural air, water, and biological cycles of life through thoughtful supply chain management and restorative company practices.
- Support Social Health and Equity by preferring products from manufacturers who secure human rights in their own operations and in their supply chains, and which provide positive impacts for their workers and the communities where they operate.
- Support a Circular Economy by reusing buildings and materials; and by designing for material efficiency, long life, and perpetual cycling.
The Materials Pledge came out of the amazing work of my volunteer colleagues in the AIA Materials Knowledge Working Group (MKWG) in the last couple years including many SD Leaders.
AIA MKWG members
Core committee members:
- Rachelle Shoessler-Lynn, FASID– Chair
- Ralph Bicknese, AIA, LEED Fellow – Chair elect
- Catherine Bobenhausen, CIH
- Mary Dickinson, AIA
- Jeff Frost, LEED AP BD+C
- Brad Guy, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
- Jean Hansen, FIIDA, LEED Fellow
- Heather Henriksen
- Tyler Krehlik, AIA, LEED AP
- Tanya Mejia, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C
- Lona Rerick, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
- Lauren Shumaker
- Francis Yang, PE, LEED AP
Thought leaders
- Mike Davis, FAIA, LEED AP
- Mary Ann Lazarus, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C
- Russell Perry, FAIA, LEED Fellow
- Anne Hicks Harney, FAIA, LEED Fellow
- Brodie Stephens LEED AP
- Larry Strain, FAIA, LEED AP
- Paula McEvoy, FAIA, LEED Fellow
- Linda Sorrento, FASID, LEED Fellow
