The Chemistry of Positive Spaces
Material Health, Transparency & Third Party Testing
WHILE DISCUSSING INTANGIBLE ASPECTS AND WHOLESOME DESIGN, we should not lose sight of the importance of a healthy indoor environment. The built environment must accommodate the health and wellbeing of inhabitants, both physically and emotionally.
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Physical wellness requires a clean, orderly, and healthy indoor environment. This can be achieved by correct selection and installation of cutting-edge materials and products with the right “chemistry”. A sustainable chain of evidence is often needed in modern buildings, documenting the sustainability credentials, along with 3rd party tests and disclosures of every component.
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Are dangerous chemicals introduced by a specific product? Are there VOCs released during the product’s lifecycle? Does the material require ongoing maintenance involving chemicals that affect the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)? It’s vital to know what’s in each product when addressing the environmental health of an indoor space.‍
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Selecting a material type is the beginning of a process that includes mitigating exposure to VOCs and minimizing the impact of any cleaning and maintenance. When making decisions for the health of a building and its occupants, designers look for products that are transparent and supported with third-party credentials, while ensuring the environmental health of our planet is safeguarded during the process.
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“Eco-friendly”, “Sustainable” or “Green” without any evidence or testing can only be misleading, or simply just greenwashing…
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The disclosure of product information – fully and freely available to the public – combined with accountability secured by 3rd party testing and product transparency help designers, specifiers, and end-users make informed decisions about which materials should be introduced to the designed space.
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According to the American Council of Independent Laboratories in their report on The Value of Third-Party Certification, “Of all conformity assessment procedures that give assurance that a product, process, or service conforms to specified requirements (safety, health, and the environment), third-party certification provides the greatest value”*
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* “The Value of Third-Party Certification” American Council of Independent Laboratories.
April 11, 2002. Web. May 26, 2022.
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Garden on the Wall® helps designers create healthy environments with its preserved plant art offerings supported by an unsurpassed number of 3rd party safety, health, and well-being credentials.
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Garden on the Wall® is well-versed and experienced in supporting architects and designers with unmatched sustainability credentials, third-party testing, and certifications.
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As the only preserved garden/moss wall provider in the world with a published HPD v2.3 (up to 100 ppm disclosure for whole garden system), Red List Free denomination, Declare Label, 100% Bio-based Test Results per ASTM 6866, Class 1 and A Flame Spread & Smoke Index per ASTM E-84, and compliance with California Department of Public Health’s strictest VOC Standards.
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Garden on the Wall® is the only trusted partner that architects and designers rely on for fully sustainable preserved green wall installations.
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Since established in 2014, we have been helping design teams to convey their commitment to sustainability to their clients. This is why architects and designers specify Garden on the Wall® for their designed spaces, with sustainability in mind, to say nothing of our unparalleled quality & longevity standards, truly maintenance-free aspects, and peace of mind with our unequaled 5-Year Warranty.
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