Designing Out Plastics: A Blueprint for Healthier Building Materials

Almost all plastics are made from fossil fuels, while the chemicals used to produce them are linked to cancer, reproductive harm, developmental issues, and other health harms. They also release microplastics which contaminate our environment and our bodies, and at the end of their life, plastics create massive amounts of waste. Tragically, these impacts fall hardest on children and on low-wealth, Indigenous, and communities of color.

From flooring and siding to insulation and even paint, the building and construction sector accounts for 17% of global plastic production – second only to packaging. Plastic use in construction is on track to nearly double by 2050, intensifying its environmental and health harms. In fact, driven in large part by building materials, the plastics industry is expected to produce more plastic in the next 25 years than in all of history to date.

The sector uses 70% of all PVC (vinyl) produced globally and 30% of all polystyrene—two of the most hazardous plastics. Plastic building materials make buildings less fire resistant, burning faster and hotter while generating more toxic chemicals than natural materials—posing an escalating threat as climate change fuels more severe wildfires.

Habitable has identified healthier, no/low-plastic alternatives for many plastic building products. Informed™ product guidance can help developers, designers, builders, homeowners, and policymakers find healthier alternatives to plastics.