In this episode of Product Talk, host Lauren Brant speaks with sustainability journalist and material expert Kenn Busch about the growing importance of material intelligence in product specification.
As more architecture and design firms begin collecting materials data through initiatives like the American Institute of Architects Materials Pledge, designers are gaining new insight into how products impact human health, climate, and the built environment.
But carbon metrics only tell part of the story.
Together, Brant and Busch explore how chemistry, lifecycle thinking, and responsible sourcing—especially when it comes to forests and wood products—are shaping the future of sustainable specification in the A&D industry.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why “material intelligence” is becoming essential in product specification—and how designers can move beyond trends to evaluate products through chemistry, lifecycle impacts, and human health.
- What the latest data from the American Institute of Architects Materials Pledge reveals about how architecture and design firms are collecting materials data—and where the industry still has work to do.
- How forests and responsibly sourced wood products fit into the future of sustainable design, and the role designers play in communicating their value through the materials they choose to specify.
