Summary
Details
- Global
Declare is not legally mandatory.
It can become practically required where:
A building project requires Declare labels.
A Living Building Challenge project uses Declare documentation.
An architect or owner specifies Declare-listed products.
A procurement policy requires ingredient transparency.
A manufacturer wants to demonstrate Red List screening.
A buyer requires public product content disclosure.
In most cases, Declare is voluntary and used to support material transparency and healthy building product selection.
Deep dive
- What’s Required
- 1. Product ingredient disclosure
- 2. Screening against chemicals of concern
- 3. Public database listing
- 4. Optional third-party verification
- 5. Label validity and correct use
- Important Deadlines
- Current Status
- Penalties for Non-Compliance
- 1. Label withdrawal
- 2. Loss of specification eligibility
- 3. Claim correction
- 4. Contractual consequences
- 5. Greenwashing risk
- Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
- Resources
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What’s Required
1. Product ingredient disclosure
Manufacturers must disclose product composition in a structured Declare label format.
This can include:
Product name.
Manufacturer.
Final assembly location.
Life expectancy.
End-of-life options.
Ingredient information.
Chemical names.
Chemical registry numbers.
Percentage by weight.
Supply-chain disclosure status.
Declare’s support materials state that published labels can show chemical registry number, chemical name, and product percentage by weight in the Declare Database.
2. Screening against chemicals of concern
Declare screens product materials against chemicals of concern lists, including Red List-related screening. ILFI describes the platform as allowing manufacturers to create a bill of materials, contact suppliers, link supplier and testing data, screen materials against chemicals of concern lists, and submit products for Declare.
3. Public database listing
Declare labels are published through a public database. This is important because architects, building owners, and project teams can check a product’s disclosed content and status.
The database supports:
Product search.
Manufacturer search.
Red List status.
Ingredient transparency.
Specification decisions.
Green building documentation.
4. Optional third-party verification
Declare allows third-party verification of label claims. ILFI states that it has collaborated with approved third-party verifiers to give manufacturers the opportunity for independent, objective verification of Declare label claims.
5. Label validity and correct use
Declare is a voluntary transparency program with defined label use rules. Living Future’s terms state that if a label is altered or applied to products after a 12-month expiry, Living Future may terminate participation, withdraw the label and product from the database, and publicly disclose incorrect label use or expiration.
Important Deadlines
Declare is voluntary, so there is no universal legal deadline.
Important timing points:
Declare labels are time-limited and must be kept current.
Living Future terms reference a 12-month expiry for Declare label use.
Certification timing depends on ingredient disclosure, supplier responses, screening, submission, and ILFI review.
Project teams should verify the current database listing before relying on a Declare label for procurement or green building documentation.
Current Status
Declare is active and global. ILFI describes Declare as a transparency platform and product database changing the materials marketplace, while Living Future describes it as a voluntary product transparency program for ingredient disclosure in building materials.
Current status:
Active product transparency label.
Managed by the International Living Future Institute.
Focused on building products.
Public database.
Ingredient disclosure and Red List screening.
Optional third-party verification.
Relevant to architects, real estate owners, manufacturers, and green building projects.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Declare does not impose statutory penalties.
Possible consequences include:
1. Label withdrawal
Living Future may withdraw a label and remove a product from the database if requirements or label use rules are not followed.
2. Loss of specification eligibility
Products may lose eligibility for projects requiring Declare documentation.
3. Claim correction
Unsupported ingredient transparency or Red List claims may need to be corrected.
4. Contractual consequences
If Declare documentation is required in a project specification, failure may affect procurement.
5. Greenwashing risk
Overstated material health claims can create reputational and legal risk.
Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
Typical failure modes include:
Using a Declare label after expiry.
Altering a Declare label.
Applying a label to products outside the listed scope.
Publishing incomplete ingredient information.
Missing supplier disclosure.
Confusing Declare with full environmental certification.
Treating Red List screening as proof of legal compliance.
Claiming third-party verification when the label is not verified.
Not updating the label after formulation changes.
Using Declare claims beyond the database listing.
Resources
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