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Some materials provide a better alternative in an application dominated by products for which there are concerns about toxic constituents, intermediaries, or by-products. With the panoply of products made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants, some products are green simply because they provide an alternative. Examples of this are natural wall coverings, drain and vent piping, and roofing membranes. Some green products are free of hazards common to the product category; for example, LED lighting is inherently free of the mercury found in fluorescent lighting sources.

However, it’s worth noting that without transparency about actual ingredients, there’s no guarantee that a product won’t have less common or less well-known hazards that the manufacturer isn’t talking about. We use Pharos’s Chemical and Material Library to assess less well-known hazards, and we encourage manufacturers to review the hazardous properties of all chemicals they use and seek out safer materials.

Some materials provide a better alternative in an application dominated by products for which there are concerns about toxic constituents, intermediaries, or by-products. With the panoply of products made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants, some products are green simply because they provide an alternative. Examples of this are natural wall coverings, drain and vent piping, and roofing membranes. Some green products are free of hazards common to the product category; for example, LED lighting is inherently free of the mercury found in fluorescent lighting sources.

However, it’s worth noting that without transparency about actual ingredients, there’s no guarantee that a product won’t have less common or less well-known hazards that the manufacturer isn’t talking about. We use Pharos’s Chemical and Material Library to assess less well-known hazards, and we encourage manufacturers to review the hazardous properties of all chemicals they use and seek out safer materials.

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  • Soraa Vivid Galium Nitride LEDs
  • Soraa Vivid Galium Nitride LEDs
  • Soraa
  • Soraa Vivid Galium Nitride LEDs
    Soraa
    Soraa Vivid MR-16 LED luminaires are ideal for use where light quality is critical, such as art galleries or retail displays. Unlike other LEDs that use gallium nitride (GaN) crystals grown on a sapphire or silicon carbide base, Soraa uses GaN grown on a GaN base so the crystals have far fewer imperfections. Though less efficacious than some LEDs, Soraa MR-16s produce higher intensity, “full spectrum” light that rivals halogen bulbs, while operating at lower temperatures. They are available in 14-, 25-, and 36-degree beam angles.
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  • Thermory Decking
  • Thermory Decking
  • Thermory
  • Thermory Decking
    Thermory
    Thermory wood decking is thermally modified for durability without the use of chemical preservatives. Heated to approximately 400°F in a process Thermory has used in Estonia since the 1990s, the decking is strength-tested at 14,000 lbs/in2 and, according to the company, will resist rot and insects for at least 25 years. Most Thermory decking is made of ash harvested and milled in the U.S. and then shipped to Estonia for thermal treatment, so decking shipped back for use in the U.S. has added embodied energy from transportation. The company does not currently offer FSC certified wood. Thermory decking is available in various sizes.
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  • Restoration Juniper Decking
  • Restoration Juniper Decking
  • Sustainable Northwest Wood
  • Restoration Juniper Decking
    Sustainable Northwest Wood
    Restoration Juniper Decking is made from untreated juniper wood harvested in grassland restoration projects in Oregon's high desert. The kiln-dried, 2"x6"x8' decking is naturally more rot-resistant than cedar or redwood, offering an alternative to pressure-treated wood. Human suppression of the region's wildfire cycle has allowed juniper to crowd out other native species, depleting the area's groundwater; ranchers have previously cut and burned juniper trees, but Sustainable Northwest is working to create a new market for the wood.
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  • UVolve Instant Floor Coatings
  • UVolve Instant Floor Coatings
  • UVolve Instant Floor Coatings
  • UVolve Instant Floor Coatings
    UVolve Instant Floor Coatings
    UVolve is a line of UV-cured clear acrylic coatings developed for use on concrete, terrazzo, and vinyl composite tile (VCT). Applied onsite, they contain photoinitiators that cure and harden the coating instantly when exposed to UV light, producing a durable, low-maintenance surface that is free of the bisphenol-A (BPA) found in epoxy used in many concrete coatings. UVolve coatings are durable enough that they can be cleaned with soap and water, rather than having to be stripped and refinished, and their fast cure time and low VOC emissions make them appropriate for applications requiring a quick curing floor finish, such as retail outfits or hospitals. UVolve forms a thin coating, so it is not intended to replace all epoxy floor finishes.
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  • Agepan Functional Wood
  • Agepan Functional Wood
  • Peak Building Products
  • Agepan Functional Wood
    Peak Building Products
    Agepan, manufactured in Germany by Glunz AG and imported in North America by several Passive House building product dealers, is a line of vapor-permeable wood fiber products. Agepan THD, an insulation appropriate for both interior and external applications, contains no added formaldehyde, though it is bonded with PMDI, an isocyanate. Agepan THD has an R-value of R-3 per inch. It is available in a variety of sizes and thicknesses, as well as in either square edge or tongue and groove styles. Other products include floor and roof panels, OSB, and cellulose insulation. An EPD was conducted for Agepan in accordance with ISO 14025 and is available for review via the German Institute of Construction and Environment here (PDF).
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  • WP-40 Wall Protection
  • WP-40 Wall Protection
  • Pawling Corp.
  • WP-40 Wall Protection
    Pawling Corp.
    Pawling's WP-40 wall covering is made of Pro-Tek PETG, the company's non-halogenated, class A fire retardant alternative to PVC. The rigid material provides impact protection as corridor wainscot, patient room walls, sink backsplashes, and other applications. WP-40 is available in 4'x8' sheets, 0.040" thick, in 16 standard colors; custom sizes, custom colors, and color-matched caulk are available upon request.
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  • Knoll Environmental Fabrics
  • Knoll Environmental Fabrics
  • Knoll, Inc.
  • Knoll Environmental Fabrics
    Knoll, Inc.
    Knoll’s drapery, panel, upholstery, and wall covering textiles under the company’s Environmental Fabrics line are available with post-consumer recycled content, natural fibers such as wool, and Eco Intelligent polyester. Fabrics options include Terratex, which is made from 100% recycled polyester, and Eco Intelligent polyester, which does not use antimony during production and requires no chemical backing so it can be recycled “indefinitely.”
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  • Mayer Eco System Fabrics
  • Mayer Eco System Fabrics
  • Mayer Fabrics
  • Mayer Eco System Fabrics
    Mayer Fabrics
    Mayers’s Eco System commercial contract fabrics are available with Terratex and Eco-Intelligent polyesters. Terratex is made from 100% recycled polyester (between 32% and 45% post-consumer), and Eco-Intelligent polyester does not use antimony during production and requires no chemical backing so it can be recycled “indefinitely.”
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  • Robert Allen Pure Style Fabrics
  • Robert Allen Pure Style Fabrics
  • Robert Allen Design
  • Robert Allen Pure Style Fabrics
    Robert Allen Design
    Robert Allen Pure Style fabrics are made from 100% organic cotton, recycled polyester, wool, and rapidly renewable fibers. These fabrics are available with metal-free dyes and pigments and minimal finish processing and without stain and water repellents, including perfluorinated compounds, although those treatments can be specified for contract applications.
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  • Kimball Systems Furniture
  • Kimball Systems Furniture
  • Kimball
  • Kimball Systems Furniture
    Kimball
    Certa, Hum Minds at Work, Interworks EQ, Traxx & Tiles, and Xsite from Kimball are BIFMA level 2 certified workstations. The workstations are SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certified for low emissions. If requested, the wood in Hum Minds at Work. can be FSC-certified. Overall recycled content ranges from 1%–21% post-consumer and 0%–46% pre-consumer. The workstations are designed to be reconfigured and refinished, minimizing the need to throw away or replace workstations. Various metal parts are finished with a low-VOC powder coating and adhesives used are water-based and low-VOC. Haworth warranties vary from product to product, and depend on use. Warranties range from one year to a lifetime.
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  • Haworth Systems Furniture
  • Haworth Systems Furniture
  • Haworth, Inc.
  • Haworth Systems Furniture
    Haworth, Inc.
    Compose, Premise, UniGroup, and UniGroup Too from Haworth are BIFMA level 2 certified workstations. The workstations are Greenguard Children & Schools certified for low emissions, and any wood in the workstations can be FSC-certified, if requested. Overall recycled content ranges from 14%–15% post-consumer and 29%–36% pre-consumer. The workstations are modular and reconfigurable, minimizing the need to throw away or replace workstations. Several finishes are available, and Haworth covers most products with a lifetime warranty.
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  • Exhibit Wall Rail
  • Exhibit Wall Rail
  • National Office Furniture
  • Exhibit Wall Rail
    National Office Furniture
    Exhibit Wall Rail is a line of BIFMA level 2 certified products used to turn any wall into a workspace for organization and collaboration. The products are SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certified for low emissions. Exhibit contains 62% pre-consumer and 1% post-consumer recycled content. The rail frame is available in two colors, and several products are available to mix and match as needed, including tackboards, slat walls, laminate marker boards, and organizers.
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  • HON Seating
  • HON Seating
  • The HON Company
  • HON Seating
    The HON Company
    The HON Company offers a wide range of executive, guest, and lounge seating that is BIFMA level 2 certified. A few of the seating options are also SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certified for low emissions. With few exceptions, the HON Company offers a full lifetime warranty on all of its seating.
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  • Gunlocke Seating
  • Gunlocke Seating
  • The Gunlocke Company
  • Gunlocke Seating
    The Gunlocke Company
    Gunlocke offers a range of executive, guest, and lounge seating that is BIFMA level 2 certified. A few of the seating options are also SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certified for low emissions. According to the company, all the wood in Gunlocke's seating can be FSC-certified for a 5% upcharge. Gunlocke offers a five-year warranty on high-wear components and seating control mechanisms, and a three-year warranty on the fabric and leather.
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  • Global Total Office Seating
  • Global Total Office Seating
  • Global Total Office
  • Global Total Office Seating
    Global Total Office
    Global Total Office offers a wide range of guest, lounge, task, and healthcare seating options that are BIFMA level 2 certified. Most of the seating options are Greenguard Children & Schools certified. The seating is also designed for disassembly, which aids in upgrading the furniture, replacing broken parts, and recycling. Global Total Office offers a limited lifetime warranty on most products.
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