Global partnership launched to align sustainable building materials
Six leading global green building organizations — including the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Building Research Establishment (BRE), Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), mindful MATERIALS and Living Future — have launched a new international partnership to align how sustainable building materials are assessed across rating systems like LEED, BREEAM, WELL, Green Star and the Living Building Challenge. The goal is to eliminate confusion and duplication caused by differing frameworks and to establish a unified approach to evaluating materials’ environmental, social and health impacts. By creating shared metrics and data standards, the partnership aims to streamline reporting, improve transparency and support global sustainability and circular economy goals.
Once implemented, the initiative will help manufacturers more efficiently report sustainability data, enable designers and builders to compare verified product information and allow building owners to meet climate and health commitments with greater ease. Leaders from each organization emphasized that harmonizing sustainability criteria will simplify compliance, boost trust and accelerate the adoption of healthier, low-carbon materials worldwide. The first milestone will be a call to action, followed by a 2026 principles and metrics paper, setting a roadmap for global alignment. Ultimately, this collaboration represents a critical step toward uniting the building industry around a common language for sustainability — ensuring that better materials become the norm across every market.
