Product transparency declaration
The PVC industry has been heavily targeted in the past for the environmental and human health impacts associated with its manufacture, use and disposal. Many industries however benefit from the cost-effectiveness, versatility and light-weight nature of this plastic.
Now, the Resilient Floor Covering Institute, which represents over 95% of resilient flooring manufacturers in North America, including; cork, vinyl, linoleum, and rubber, have launched a new Product Transparency Declaration (PTD). The PTD takes the information provided in Environmental Product Declarations and Health Product Declarations to enable specifiers to understand if the ingredients used in a finished product are in a final form or high enough concentration to be harmful to the health of a building occupant.
This PTD is promoted as easier for manufacturers to navigate and for architects and contractors to understand. In the new PTD the manufacturers are required to list the contents of the finished product as opposed to listing the ingredients used to make the product. This will ensure that the information regarding the catalysts and other by-products of chemical reactions that are dissipated during the manufacturing process are also disclosed and not just the pure raw materials. This will create more transparency about the final product delivered on site.
Another interesting approach the PTD has taken is to simplify the declaration process. According to William Freeman, technical consultant to the Resilient Floor Covering Institute, the current Health Product Declaration is not easy to fill out. This has resulted in a range of consultants charging thousands of dollars to manufacturers to fill out the Health Product Declaration, money that could be more usefully spent on research and reformulation.
The PTD has a more straight forward approach to declaring product contents. The PTD’s are expected to be published voluntarily by product manufacturers but will be verified with the signature of a responsible company official.
It remains to be seen how the industry respond to this new voluntary approach, however, improved simplicity and transparency which enables time and money to be focused on research to exclude the most harmful chemicals rather than paperwork must be applauded.
Although this is not the first time a product manufacturer has created an alternative to the existing environmental standards, it is exciting to see industry driving change from within rather than waiting for legislation.
This article was created by --KLH Sustainability 09:27, 13 December 2013 (UTC) as part of an ongoing series of blogs for Designing Buildings Wiki.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
CIOB Construction Manager of the Year 2025
Just one of the winners at the CIOB Awards 2025.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.
Construction Products Reform Green Paper and Consultation
Still time to respond as consultation closes on 21 May 2025.
Resilient façade systems for smog reduction in Shanghai
A technical approach using computer simulation and analysis of solar radiation, wind patterns, and ventilation.