Declare is a material transparency programme that requires manufacturers to publicly disclose what their products are made from. Often described as a ‘nutrition label for building products’, it focuses on full ingredient disclosure, not performance or environmental scoring.
Developed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), Declare is designed to support healthier buildings by making hidden chemical content visible – particularly where materials are used in large quantities or in close contact with occupants.
It requires verified ingredient reporting but does not evaluate outcomes or performance. Its strength lies in radical transparency, not optimisation.
What it measures
Declare is about disclosure, not optimisation.
It documents:
Material ingredients: Product contents down to defined thresholds
Chemical hazards: Ingredients assessed against the Living Building Challenge Red List
Health considerations: Presence or absence of chemicals of concern
End-of-life pathways: Recyclability, reuse or disposal information (where available)
Supply chain transparency: Manufacturer accountability and data completeness
Products are assigned a Declare status (e.g. Declared, Red List Free, or Compliant with Exceptions), based on their disclosed ingredients.
What it does not measure
Declare is frequently misunderstood as a sustainability rating.
It does not:
- Judge overall environmental impact
- Measure embodied carbon or lifecycle performance
- Assess durability, quality or fitness for purpose
- Compare products against each other
- Certify buildings or guarantee healthy outcomes
A Declare label tells you what’s in a product – not whether it is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ in absolute terms.
Who it’s for
Declare is most relevant to:
Manufacturers
Willing to disclose full product composition transparently
Architects and interior designers
Working on health-led or material-conscious projects
Sustainability consultants
Supporting Living Building Challenge, WELL or health-focused briefs
Specifiers and researchers
Needing ingredient-level clarity to assess risk
Clients and institutions
Seeking transparency rather than marketing claims
It is particularly influential in healthcare, education and workplace interiors.
Geographic relevance
Internationally applicable
Used globally across commercial and institutional projects
Strong alignment with Living Building Challenge (LBC)
Often required for LBC material compliance
Not climate-specific
Focuses on chemistry, not performance in use
Declare is increasingly recognised beyond LBC projects as a transparency benchmark.
Find out more at declare.living-future.org
Explore products registered with Declare
Durra Panel – Compressed straw wall & ceiling system
Durra Panel is an Australian-made interior wall and ceiling panel system engineered from compressed agricultural straw. It turns a widely available seasonal by-product into a high-performance lining material that combines acoustic comfort, thermal regulation and fire resistance with a naturally derived construction core.
Bolon
Bolon is a Swedish flooring brand redefining vinyl through a climate-neutral, circular production model. Made using a high proportion of bio-sourced and recycled materials, Bolon’s woven flooring demonstrates how performance surfaces can reduce material impact without compromising design quality, making it a relevant reference point for projects focused on responsible specification and long-term use.
