Products that are Safe for All Species Through Time: The materials we use within construction, the products we use within our buildings, are as vital as the food we eat, the water we drink and the air that we breathe if we are to maintain and improve the health of those who live work and play within our facilities.

Key to understanding the material and products we use is the transparency that enables us to make the correct specification, choice and procurement. Unfortunately, that transparency is not widespread across the UK manufacture and supply sector.

Indeed, as part of the (Living Building Challenge)Cuerden Valley Centre project in Lancashire, one of the biggest challenges was obtaining information on material ingredients to ensure compliance with the LBC Red List. There is currently a minimal number of Declare materials in the UK, which limited choice at our CVP. However, as the demand for transparency will inevitably grow, Declare will undoubtedly become a material sales differentiator. It will be an essential tool for example in meeting the pledges of the recent Architects Declaration of Climate and Biodiversity Emergency, currently signed by over 274 UK Architects

I am delighted, as part of the ILFI Europe team, that Declare will be launched into the UK market at our event, hosted by Fosters on the 13th June. where we will hear how major players in the UK Construction industry are addressing and setting standards for material transparency. Whether you are a client, manufacturer, architect, sustainability practitioner, contractor or you want to know more about Declare and healthy materials, you are very welcome to come and join us for an informal, fun evening in the Hub at Foster + Partners.

WHAT IS THE DECLARE LABEL? DECLARE is a transparency platform and product database established by the International Living Future Institute that is changing the materials marketplace. Where does a product come from? What is it made of? What is their end of life options? The answers to all these questions can be found at the DECLARE label for each of our certified products.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE. We want to minimize the apparent disconnect that exists between the manufacturer and the user. As many of the products have proprietary ingredients and a lot of secrecy, the end user never really gets to know what he purchases. The “ingredient list” is missing. The DECLARE label wants to break this disconnect and allow customers to make informed choices. It focuses mostly on Red List materials, which are all well-known environmental pollutants. These chemicals are bio-accumulation up the food chain so that nature and humans are harmed with their regular consumption. Such compounds also harm the lives of construction and factory workers due to constant exposure.

UK DECLARE LAUNCH PROGRAMME

18:00 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Chris Trott: Head of Sustainability, Foster + Partners

18:15 BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE DECLARE LABEL AND THE INTERNATIONAL LIVING FUTURE INSTITUTE

Martin Brown: European Strategic Advisor, ILFI

James Connelly: Vice President, ILFI

18:30 KINGSPAN, ASPECTA FLOORING AND HUMANSCALE ARE MANUFACTURING PIONEERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED DECLARE FROM THE BEGINNING AND THEY WILL SHARE THEIR JOURNEYS TOWARDS TRANSPARENCY.

Brent Trenga, Building Technology Director, Kingspan

Monique Vergouwen, Sustainability & Quality Assurance Manager, Aspecta Flooring

Hani Hatami; A&D Manager and Sustainability Champion – London, Humanscale

19:00 OUR DECLARE PANEL DISCUSSION

Chris Trott: Head of Sustainability, Foster+Partners

Davide Stronati: Global Sustainability Leader, Mott MacDonald

Divya Orbesen: Head of Materials Research, Foster+Partners

Martin Brown: European Strategic Advisor, ILFI

Anna Surgenor: Senior Technical Advisor, UKGBC

Catriona Brady: Head of Better Places for People, World GBC

19:30 DRINKS, CANAPES AND NETWORKING