Health Product Declaration Collaborative™

HPDs are an emergent new tool in the quest for greater product transparency - the pilot program was announced at the USGBC GreenBuild convention in 2012. They have come about from a group known as the Health Product Declaration Collaborative TM (HPDC). This is an independent organization for companies and individuals committed to the continuous improvement of the building industry’s environmental and health performance, through transparency and innovation in the building product supply chain. They have created the HPD Open Standard which may be used free of charge - no copyright applies for this purpose. However, sharing the HPD Open Standard, whether in-part or in its entirety, must be accompanied by attribution to the Health Product Declaration Collaborative.

The HPDC operates on the premise that designers, specifiers, and owners that have been frustrated by a lack of an industry accepted standard definition for what constitutes disclosure of a product’s ingredients will appreciate the clear definitions provided in the HPD Open Standard.

 

It also accommodates differences in the ability and readiness of manufacturers to disclose highly variable contents in many diverse products. It facilitates apples-to-apples comparisons and clear discussions about product formulations: between and among manufacturers; their customers and their suppliers; product certifiers; and building standards organizations.

The HPDC points out that manufacturers that are ready and able to provide a complete accounting of their product contents and hazards will find the HPD an excellent vehicle for full disclosure. Any manufacturers facing challenges with intellectual property and supply chain communication gaps can also use the HPD to better characterize the level of disclosure they can accomplish. The HPD is intended to facilitate clear communication among all players in the building industry regardless of their position on the spectrum of disclosure and transparency.

The HPD Standard itself is broken into sections to ease the documentation process for product manufacturers. Individuals within the manufacturing company are asked to follow seven distinct steps:

• Identify: Fill out manufacturer information and product description on the HPD forms.
• Inventory: Collect the documentation and list all product contents.
• Assess: Review contents against authoritative chemical Hazard Lists.
• Compliance: Provide the details of product testing and demonstrate compliance.
• Accessories: Note the installation, maintenance, cleaning, and operations materials needed for the product to function.
• Summarize: Confirm the information on a summary page, fill in explanatory notes & identify a release date.
• Publish: Share the final HPD with customers, designers, owners, etc.