As we approach the end of 2025, the building materials industry has experienced remarkable progress in material health transparency and product disclosure. The second half of this year marked a pivotal turning point for Health Product Declarations (HPDs), with groundbreaking updates to industry standards, expanded leadership, and growing recognition of the critical role that material transparency plays in creating healthier buildings. Let’s explore the key developments that shaped the HPD landscape from mid-2025 through today.
HPD Open Standard Version 3.0
The most significant milestone of 2025 came with the launch of HPD Open Standard Version 3.0, which became the effective version in August and achieved full implementation in September. This represents more than just an incremental update—it marks a fundamental shift in how the building industry approaches material health data.
Version 3.0 ushers in a new era of digital-first transparency for building products. Moving beyond the traditional print-and-PDF paradigm, this latest standard recognizes that the future of material health information lies in digital formats and seamless data exchanges. The digital focus enables more sophisticated automation, improved interoperability with other systems, and enhanced accessibility for architects, specifiers, and project teams who rely on HPD data to make informed material selections.
The transition to Version 3.0 reflects years of collaborative development involving hundreds of stakeholders across the building industry. From manufacturers and architects to sustainability consultants and tool developers, this collective effort demonstrates the industry’s commitment to making material health information more accessible, reliable, and actionable.
Celebrating Innovation: The Material Health All-Star Award
September brought another exciting development with the opening of submissions for the 2025 Material Health All-Star Innovation Award. This initiative recognizes organizations that are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in material health and transparency.
Building design teams and manufacturers were invited to submit case studies showcasing cutting-edge innovations in material health practice. The top four submissions earned the opportunity to present their work at the 6th Annual Material Health Open Innovation Symposium in October 2025, gaining recognition among industry leaders and sharing valuable insights with the broader community.
This award serves multiple important functions. It spotlights organizations doing exemplary work, provides a platform for knowledge sharing, and inspires others in the industry to elevate their own material health practices. By celebrating real-world case studies, the award bridges the gap between theory and practice, demonstrating that healthier building materials are not just an aspiration but an achievable reality.
Material Health ToolSuite
Throughout the second half of 2025, the Material Health ToolSuite continued to gain traction as an essential resource for building professionals. This suite of integrated tools builds upon the foundation of the HPD Open Standard, leveraging standardized data formats to enable advanced features that make material health evaluation more accessible and efficient.
Significant numbers of project teams are now using the ToolSuite for their LEED Material Ingredients credits and other green building certifications, the platform has become indispensable for architects and designers seeking to make informed decisions about healthier building materials. The ToolSuite offers pre-checks against certification programs, custom dashboards tailored to specific project needs, and seamless integration with other industry tools through API partnerships.
This ecosystem approach represents a maturation of the material health field. Rather than operating in isolation, HPDs now connect with a broader network of sustainability tools and platforms, enabling more holistic decision-making that considers material health alongside other critical factors like embodied carbon, circular economy principles, and social equity.
Unprecedented Industry Adoption
The numbers tell a compelling story of growing industry commitment to material transparency. As of 2025, the HPD Public Repository contains over 14,000 published HPDs, covering more than 40,000 building products from over 1000 manufacturers. The HPDC membership has expanded to more than 400 companies, representing the full spectrum of the building industry.
This widespread adoption underscores the industry-wide trust in the HPD Open Standard as the go-to format for transparent, comprehensive product data. Major architecture and engineering firms—including HDR, Perkins + Will, HKS, and ZGF—actively encourage building product manufacturers to provide HPDs as part of their specification requirements. For manufacturers, providing HPDs has evolved from a differentiator to an expectation, opening doors to specification on high-profile projects and demonstrating commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.
Looking Ahead
The developments of the second half of 2025 position the material health movement for continued growth and impact. The launch of Version 3.0 provides a robust, future-ready platform for digital transparency. The expanded leadership brings fresh perspectives and expertise to guide the evolution of standards and practices. And the growing ecosystem of tools and resources makes material health evaluation more accessible than ever.
As we move toward 2026, the building industry faces urgent challenges related to climate change, human health, and environmental justice. Material transparency through HPDs provides a critical foundation for addressing these challenges. By knowing what’s in our building materials, we can make better choices—avoiding harmful chemicals, reducing environmental impacts, supporting circular economy principles, and creating healthier spaces for everyone.
The progress made in 2025 demonstrates that material health transparency is not just possible—it’s happening now, driven by collaboration across the entire building industry. From manufacturers and architects to building owners and policymakers, stakeholders are coming together around a shared vision of healthier, more sustainable buildings. For more information, please visit the HPD Collaborative.