Accelerating the Regenerative Materials Movement: A Path to a Better Future

A few months ago, I wrapped my first Ecotone project with my Living Future colleagues Michael Berrisford and Juliet Grable and their editorial team. We are delighted to introduce the new book, The Regenerative Materials Movement (Ecotone, 2023). These dispatches about #regenerativematerials are a primer on the issues at play in our work.?

Using the three pillars of our work— #climate, #health, and #justice—we sought to represent a variety of intersecting issues that all relate to the impacts that #buildingmaterials have on our world. We acknowledge that there are more subjects and voices than we’ve assembled, but it is a powerful introduction to these topics and an instructive guide for practitioners and supporters that entices and encourages deeper examination. The viewpoints are those of people who are in the very thick of it, including ILFI’s own Hannah Ray and Susan Puri as well as Robin Bass and Lauren Sparandara (Google), Dana Bourland, AICP (JPB Foundation), Bill Browning (Terrapin Green), Gina Ciganik (Healthy Building Network), Terry Campbell , Ryan Temple , Paul Vanderford , S Trent Seager (Sustainable Northwest Wood), Don Davies (carbon expert), Kelly Alvarez Doran and James Kitchin (MASS Design Group), Heather Henriksen (Harvard University), Kathleen Hetrick (Buro Happold), Jeff Hurley (Blue Green Alliance), Carol Kwiatkowski (Green Science Policy Institute), Malisa Maynard (Mohawk), Alison Mears & Jonsara Ruth (Healthy Materials Lab), Alex (Muller) Beckman (Mindful Materials), Sharon Prince (Grace Farms), Christina Raab (Ph.D. in materials chemistry), Veena Singla (National Resources Defense Council), Rebecca Stamm (Healthy Building Network), Charley Stevenson (Integrated Eco Strategy), and Wendy Vittori (Health Product Declaration Collaborative).

There are three themes that emerge in these pages. The first that stood out to me is the deep, passionate agreement that this movement can only be successful through collaboration and interconnection. The second theme that struck me relates to the rapid emergence of voices, expertise, and power in the Global South. A final theme speaks to deep considerations of justice. Many of the contributors are keenly aware that historically, the modern environmental movement has not focused enough on the impacts of environmental and health injustices. Indeed, the authors illustrate how justice is fundamental and intersectional to the work.

Together, we are working to usher in a new era of building where the materials we use are regenerative. When we say “regenerative,” we mean materials that are safe for our bodies and ecosystems, and which sequester carbon emissions from our atmosphere, create jobs that sustain families and communities, and enable local economies and communities to thrive. We hope this book supports you and your team on the path ahead.?

#HealthyMaterials #RegenerativeMaterials?