- link Copy URL - [ Share on X ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Designing for Well-Being: Why Healthy Materials Matter More Than Ever https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1314931?absolute=1&via=3blnews "Share on X") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1314931?absolute=1 "Share on Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1314931?absolute=1 "Share on Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Designing for Well-Being: Why Healthy Materials Matter More Than Ever&body=ESG News from International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/1314931?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Responsible Production & the Circular Economy](/categories/responsible-production-circular-economy) # Designing for Well-Being: Why Healthy Materials Matter More Than Ever Jun 2, 2026 12:15 PM ET Campaign: [IWBI | Workplace Wellness](/news/campaign/iwbi-workplace-wellness) ![building materials](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/healthy-materials_IWBI_060226.png) Designers hold the power to shape how people experience the world around them. Materials selected to construct and finish spaces define not only their appearance and performance, but also their influence on human health and environmental outcomes. Material choices are, in effect, health choices. President and CEO of IWBI Rachel Hodgdon observed, “What the social determinants of health teach us is that where we sit and who we sit next to – our physical and social environments – have a greater impact on our state of health than our genetics and our access to healthcare combined.” This perspective underscores a fundamental truth: the spaces people inhabit exert measurable effects on well-being. **The Material World: A Complex and Critical Frontier** As foundational components of the built environment, materials have far-reaching consequences that extend well beyond design aesthetics. Every stage of a material’s lifecycle — extraction, manufacturing, installation, use and eventual disassembly — carries implications for both human and planetary health. Chemical emissions, toxic compounds and carbon footprints are often interconnected, influencing indoor air quality, ecological systems and long-term health outcomes. Despite growing awareness and an expanding body of research, the materials landscape remains deeply complex. This complexity continues to slow the broad adoption of healthier alternatives, even as the desire to promote well-being and reduce environmental harm intensifies. Rodolfo Perez, PhD, Water and Materials Concept Lead at IWBI, emphasizes this connection: “Every material choice carries ripple effects. It influences human, environmental and social health through aspects such as indoor air quality, toxic releases, circular economy and how people interact with the environment at large. Addressing material health is not merely a design decision. It’s a public health and environmental imperative.” **Why This Matters** Humans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, making the quality of indoor environments a critical determinant of health and well-being. Materials that emit harmful substances can [compromise](https://www.thermofisher.com/allergy/us/en/living-with-allergies/understanding-allergies/how-do-chemicals-and-pollution-affect-respiratory-health.html) respiratory health, trigger allergic responses and contribute to chronic conditions. By contrast, healthier material selections can support comfort, cognitive performance and overall quality of life. Designers and specifiers play a pivotal role in shaping these outcomes. Through careful selection of products that have undergone rigorous third-party evaluation for human and environmental health, it becomes possible to mitigate risks and foster environments that actively support well-being. This approach aligns with the mission of IWBI and other leaders in the field to create people-first spaces — places that prioritize health, comfort, safety and belonging. **Turning Intent into Action** The evolution of healthy materials practices has been marked by significant innovation. In 1999, Shaw introduced EcoWorx® carpet tile, a product that would become the first flooring solution to achieve Cradle to Cradle Certified® designation. This milestone established a new precedent for circularity and health-focused design within the flooring industry. Today, nearly 90% of the products Shaw makes are Cradle to Cradle Certified. This reflects a commitment to integrating principles of material health, product circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship and social fairness across product development and manufacturing. **Aligning with WELL** Shaw’s engagement in the [Works with WELL™](https://www.wellcertified.com/works-with-well/) program exemplifies how material innovation can align with building standards that prioritize human health. Products such as EcoWorx carpet tile contribute toward WELL Building Standard features—from restricted VOC emissions to enhanced chemical restrictions–supporting projects that seek to enhance occupant well-being and achieve certification goals. This alignment enables designers and specifiers to: - Simplify decision making for specifiers implementing WELL features with verified products - Advance client objectives related to well-being and ESG - Deliver spaces where material choices yield measurable benefits **A Shared Responsibility** Every material introduced into the built environment carries responsibility. Scrutinizing materials for their impact on people and the planet throughout their lifecycle is no longer optional — it is essential. The spaces in which people live, work and gather are powerful determinants of health and collective resilience. Prioritizing healthy materials ensures that the environments created for healing, learning, connection and thriving truly support human well-being. View original content [here](https://resources.wellcertified.com/articles/designing-for-well-being-why-healthy-materials-matter-more-than-ever). 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