Healthy-living properties
Healthy-living properties refer to designing a building in a way that does not harm the health of its occupants. More than that, it should protect them from harmful influences wherever possible, while targeted measures can even improve their well-being. We spend an average of 80 to 90 per cent of each day indoors. This makes the health-related quality of our indoor environments particularly important.
Pollutants from building materials and furnishings can enter indoor spaces
Many paints, varnishes, plasters, adhesives, plastics, or wood-based materials contain volatile gases that are released into the indoor air for many years and can, for example, trigger allergies, asthma, and neurological diseases in humans. In addition, there are potential health burdens from mold spores, fibers, organic plasticizers, or biocides. Even a chemically neutral surface can impair well-being due to electrostatic charge.
Some people are more sensitive than others
Standards and substance bans initially originate from the working world and are thus geared towards healthy and productive individuals. Therefore, stricter rules must apply to children, the elderly, and the sick, but these have not yet been generally introduced by law. Additionally, there are people with particular sensitivities to environmental influences, for whose needs suitable products should also be available.
We want buildings that offer optimal conditions for health
Good building products should not only help preserve health by minimizing harmful influences. Natural building products can even positively influence the indoor climate by temporarily buffering moisture that occurs in every household. Ideally, buildings can even enhance well-being through the positive effects of light, smell, haptics, and color.
What does this mean for natureplus?
Building products with the natureplus label do not harm the environment or human health through pollutants. We ensure this through regular laboratory tests with strict limit values that go far beyond legal requirements. The composition of certified products, predominantly from natural materials such as plant fibers, clay, or lime, also contributes to creating healthy indoor environments.
Building Material Guidelines
In our product database, you can find detailed information, free of charge and without registration, on over 600 building products awarded the natureplus eco-label.