Co-founded by The New School's Parsons School of Design, Healthy Building Network, Green Science Policy Institute and Health Product Declaration Collaborative, the Healthy Materials Lab (HML) is focused on reducing the amount of toxic substances found in building materials, while also encouraging the adoption of new, less toxic materials. The HML sits at Parsons Design Lab, and will actively influence how building practice is taught to designers. Of particular focus to the Lab is affordable housing's construction methods.

The press release issued by Parsons quotes Bill Walsh, founder and executive director of Healthy Building Network: “This partnership, with its focus on designing building products to improve human health, is unprecedented in the building materials industry".

For more about the partners involved, as listed in the press release:

The Healthy Building Network was founded in 2000 to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in building products as a means of improving human health and the environment.

Green Science Policy Institute Facilitates responsible use of chemicals to protect human and ecological health. They educate and build partnerships among scientists, regulators, businesses, and public interest groups to develop innovative solutions for reducing harmful chemicals in products.

Health Product Declaration Collaborative is a customer-led organization committed to the continuous improvement of the building industry’s performance through transparency, openness and innovation in the product supply chain. The Health Product Declaration Collaborative created and supports the Health Product Declaration (HPD), the first open standard format for reporting building product content and related health information.

The JPB Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the US through transformational initiatives that promote the health of our communities by creating opportunities for those in poverty, promoting medical research, and enriching and supporting our environment.