The Healthy Materials Lab, housed at Parsons School of Design, provides the tools to help make our living and working environments healthier through better material choices. Launched in 2015 by Jonsara Ruth and Alison Mears, the program began by addressing the materials used in affordable housing. It has since expanded, and has an attained an international reputation, defining the field of material health within the architecture and design spheres.
Parsons School of Design Encourages Healthier Material Choices
“The chemicals in the products we live with are now inside us. Products off-gas or release particles as dust and are taken into our bodies, either by being absorbed through the skin, inhaled as dust, or even ingested when particles latch onto food,” says Ms. Ruth. She adds that according to medical science that ninety percent of disease in humans is linked to the exposure to our environments, and only ten percent is genetic.
But it’s not all gloom and doom. “We can choose healthier materials,” says Ms. Ruth, “We can choose not to expose people throughout their lifecycle by our purchasing choices, and then we can choose to make healthier homes through what we put in our own homes and our families will be healthier.”
Earth and Human Wellness Through the Healthy Materials Lab
HML provides information to architects, designers, and individuals so they can prioritize both human and planet health in their decisions. There are courses, lectures, and podcasts available both in New York and online, as well as a resources, including a healthy materials collection.
Diligence is importance as even “healthy” choices such as low-VOC or zero-VOC paints can still contain a long list of other toxins. Some latex-free, mineral-based paints not only use fewer toxic materials, they can absorb toxins—and are breathable and able to absorb moisture, releasing it back into the environment when it gets too dry. Swapping out paint is one of the easiest ways to detox your home.
On the construction side, alternatives to foam insulation and standard wall materials can help create energy efficient, healthier homes using materials such as straw and hemp. These have the added benefit of absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere when they grow, so they’re a win win for everyone.
“There are many reasons we need to stop relying on oil-based and plastic materials and shift to plant- and mineral-based materials. There’s some great innovation happening, and one of the things we do at the lab is collect the innovation and share it with other people,” asserts Ms. Ruth.
Tips for Making Healthier Design Choices
The resources section at Healthy Materials Lab provides a list of alternative material choices. For everything from flooring and tile to wall boards and insulation, information is also provided about why these innovative items are better for us and the environment.
Floors
Marmoleum, Various Products
Insulation
New Frameworks, Straw Bale Panels
Wall and Ceiling Panels
Armstrong, Tectum Direct-Attach Wall Panels
Story by Stephen Treffinger / Photos Courtesy of Nicholas Calcott for Parsons School of Design
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