Red List Free Materials
Materials verified clear of all 800+ chemicals on the Living Building Challenge Red List — third-party documented.
Toxicity Screening — All Clear
This material screens clear across all seven independent toxicology authorities we use on every project.
Material Type
Living Building Challenge Material Certification
Material Description
Red List Free is the most stringent material-level certification in residential construction. To earn the LBC Red List Free label a product must contain zero ingredients from the Living Building Challenge's list of ~800 chemicals (organized into 22 classes including the families on our Avoid list). The certification is third-party verified by the International Living Future Institute, with the manufacturer required to disclose every intentional ingredient down to 100 ppm. Declare and HPD (Health Product Declaration) labels are the documentation standards. EBH specifies Red List Free wherever an equivalent product carries the certification — paints, flooring, cabinetry, insulation, and increasingly even electrical and plumbing components.
Composition & Origin
Health Profile — All Endpoints Clear
Severity scored 0–10 against the same 10 hazard endpoints we use for the chemical families on the avoid list. Every score is 1–2 — essentially no signal across every endpoint.
Common Forms & Brands
- Declare label (International Living Future Institute)
- HPD — Health Product Declaration
- EPD with material-health disclosure
- Common framing: any product carrying the Red List Free Declare label
Why We Use It
- Third-party verified — manufacturer claims don't count
- Covers 800+ chemicals across the 22 LBC Red List classes
- Documents every intentional ingredient ≥ 100 ppm
- Drives industry-wide reformulation toward cleaner products
- Lowest-risk material-selection floor for indoor environments
Where It Performs Best
- Specifications for chemically-sensitive occupants
- LEED v4 / v4.1 Materials & Resources credits
- Living Building Challenge full certification projects
- WELL Building Standard projects
Building Applications for Red List Free Materials
Listed alphabetically. Where in a home this material earns its keep.
Cabinetry & Casework
Flooring (Resilient, Wood, Stone)
Insulation
Paint & Finishes
Plumbing & Electrical Components
Sealants & Adhesives
Red List Free Materials on a Bay Area Home
Red List Free Materials shows up on our zero energy homes for a reason. An all electric house with a very small heating load only works if the envelope is right, and the envelope is only as good as the materials you are willing to put in it.
If you are planning a new house or a deep remodel and you want this level of material control, that is the whole job we do. Earth Bound Homes builds in Palo Alto, Atherton, Menlo Park and across the San Francisco Bay Area.