Instead of a world that is merely a less bad version of the one we currently have, we ask a simple and profound question: What does good look like?

Philosophy

Living Future’s vision is to cultivate a society that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative. To make progress toward this vision, we must continue refining the definition of sustainability and regeneration through clear, measurable, and meaningful targets that can advance not only the building industry and organizations, but also policy. Our programs play a critical role in setting these targets and supporting best practices and innovations available in the industry. Through our programs, Living Future strives to not just minimize negative impacts but actually create positive social, cultural, and environmental impacts and benefits for all.

Living Future consults the best-available science, technical expertise, and the Living Future community of practitioners and advocates in establishing requirements. We rely on the expertise of technical advisors, the continuous feedback loops driven by the experience and real world knowledge of project teams and community members, and allied efforts and partnerships around the world, rather than a consensus approach.

Our programs are grounded in demonstrated performance and operational data, rather than anticipated or modeled performance. Through these programs, we aspire to bring about ripple effects resulting in positive health, climate, and equity outcomes. Projects within our programs change regulations, open minds, and shift expectations about what is possible. Transparency, information sharing, and advocacy are essential transformative tools and are integral to program requirements.

Update Process

1. Discovery entails information gathering, assessment, and analysis to determine whether a program needs a version update. 
2. Development includes conducting research to inform update content, including gathering more specific input from technical advisors, practitioners, and other stakeholders; visioning; defining metrics and thresholds; and drafting updates to the program implementation guidance
3. Review provides an opportunity for content review by advisory groups, auditors, external peer reviewers, other members of the Living Future community, and the broader public to see how early input was integrated into the update and to provide feedback before it is finalized. 
4. Publication entails making the new version publicly available and developing all external communication about the update and transition processes between the previous and new versions.
5. Support involves ongoing customer support, tracking program impacts, maintaining program feedback loops, and developing and publishing any supplemental educational or technical support courses as needed over time.

Current Program Updates

Materials Programs

Since launching the Living Building Challenge (LBC) in 2006, Living Future, in collaboration with industry partners, has supported  the growth of the regenerative materials movement. A key contribution has been Declare, a “nutrition label” for building materials, which Living Future launched in 2012 to make it feasible for projects to achieve LBC’s imperative to screen and avoid products with Red List chemicals.

Today, there are over 400 manufacturers participating in Declare and generating 1,600+ labels utilized by top Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms and building owners. Through Declare, Living Future has demonstrated the value of labels that: 

1. Simplify and standardize complex data, 
2. Incentivize manufacturers to disclose and optimize products, 
3. Enable AEC firms to specify best-in-class products, and 
4. Build a network of advocates to scale change.
5. Build a network of advocates to scale change.

Living Future aims to expand this labeling approach for health to environment and equity, by creating three “sister” labels. While the naming might change, for now we are calling them Declare Health, Declare Environment, and Declare Equity. These three labels will provide the foundation and structural elements of the updated Living Product Challenge certification program. 

Declare Environment will measure a product’s impacts on the nine planetary boundaries (inclusive of embodied carbon, energy, water, land use, biosphere, pollution, and circular design), and Declare Equity will focus on social health and equity (inclusive of human rights, fair labor practices, and community impacts throughout the value chain). Each label will offer a roadmap from entry level to highest achievement. This tiered structure will allow all manufacturers to participate, helping to grow the movement, while clearly recognizing performance and encouraging continuous improvement. 

These labels will align with mindful MATERIALS’ Common Materials Framework, and the anticipated global marketplace demand for Digital Product Passports. We will ensure it contributes to the LBC, as well as LEED, WELL, and other sustainable building standards, and is recognized in global procurement policies. We also intend for the new labels to align with common ESG and sustainability reporting guidelines to help maximize the investments required of manufacturers.

Over the next 2–3 years, we will develop and launch the three labels alongside a revamped Living Product Challenge. While some elements are already underway, the full development timeline depends on securing additional funding. We currently have grants supporting the Red List update, enhancements to Declare Health, and early-stage work on the new label frameworks. A major EPA grant that would have funded the development of Declare Environment was unfortunately canceled, and we are actively pursuing alternative sources of support. If you’re interested in helping advance this important work, we invite you to contribute to our Resiliency Fund.

In 2025-2026, the Declare program will be updated from version 2.0 to 3.0, and rebranded as Declare Health. Major updates will include an expanded Red List and creating a pathway for manufacturers to show progress toward optimization beyond achieving Red List Free status.

Significant funding for the program update is provided by the Freedom Together Foundation.

The anticipated timeline for program development and review is in the table below. Manufacturers interested in engaging with the development and review process may contact Declare Support.

Anticipated Date	Event
Early 2025	Announcement of Declare program update
Fall 2025	Drafts will be made available for comment
Early 2026	Launch of new program

Declare Equity

Declare Equity will be a new transparency label from Living Future designed to advance social equity and fair labor practices in the manufacturing sector. The label will introduce product-level metrics focused on the well-being of workers involved in a product’s production and supply chain, aiming to address challenges such as supply chain opacity, inconsistent accountability, and limited industry awareness.

The program will evaluate manufacturers across three key categories:

• Manufacturing Workforce – Will focus on equitable pay, safety, and well-being for all employees, including part-time staff and interns.
• Supply Chain Visibility – Will assess supplier practices across the full value chain, emphasizing transparency and ethical labor practices.
• Driving Systemic Change – Will encourage manufacturers to support communities, advance environmental justice, and lead broader industry reform.

Within these categories, 10 indicators will define thresholds for performance across four levels—starting from a baseline that reflects current industry norms and progressing toward transformative, community-centered practices. Some indicators will be organizational in nature but clearly marked and applied at the product level for pilot use.

Like the Just label, each Indicator in Declare Equity will include a defined Intent, Applicability, Metrics, and Compliance Details (including documentation, exceptions, and supporting resources) to guide implementation and verification.

Through support from the Freedom Together Foundation, Living Future has developed an initial draft of the program that we aim to pilot, which will be covered by fees from the Pilot Partners. We are actively seeking funds to further develop the program manual based on feedback from the pilot and build out the technology to support the label. 

Anticipated Date	Event
Fall 2025	Launch of pilot program
Spring 2026	Program refinements based on pilot feedback
Fall 2026	Launch of new program

Declare Environment

Declare Environment will be a new transparency label from Living Future designed to standardize the reporting of impacts on the nine planetary boundaries, including embodied carbon, energy, water, land use, biosphere, pollution, and circular design. In addition, this label will report the impacts of positive actions manufacturers are taking to restore and regenerate our planet. 

More information to come!

Receiving Ongoing Feedback

Practitioner and stakeholder feedback on program content and implementation guidance is critical to continuous improvement and evolution. Future opportunities for public comment will appear on this page.

If you have any questions or comments on Living Future programs, please contact us at the relevant program support email address below.

Declare | Just | Living Building Challenge | Living Product Challenge | Zero Carbon | Zero Energy