The Switch List
Advanced Materials Program FOR
What’s The Switch List, and why does it matter?
Specifying building materials and finishes in a way that is responsive to human and environmental health considerations is one of the most important ways we design for life. When we introduced the Perkins&Will Precautionary List in 2008, we helped ignite an industry movement toward healthier built environments. Since then, we’ve taken a precautionary approach to choosing products and materials, avoiding those with known or suspected toxicants whenever possible. As a result, we’ve improved the lives and well-being of people the world over.
Nearly two decades later, an abundance of products formulated to be responsive to human and environmental health considerations is readily available, providing alternatives. We believe now’s the time to switch to those alternatives.
A growing body of objective and published scientific evidence demonstrates the negative impacts certain materials and compounds may have on people and environmental systems. Given our leadership role in advancing human and ecological health and well-being, and appropriate and judicious application of the precautionary principle, it’s important that we continue to exercise caution and to apply that caution by taking positive action.
The Switch List: Perkins&Will’s Advanced Materials Program is a compendium of substance and product and material types that, as of April 22, 2025, we are no longer specifying on our projects because of their reported negative impacts on human and environmental health. Our teams are focusing on alternative best-in-class materials and products instead.
Join our call to action!
Transparency and consistency are the keys to accelerating the collective impact. We believe in the power of collaboration to create a healthier, more sustainable, and regenerative future. As project partners, you play a pivotal role in shaping the materials and products that define our built environment. Together, we can raise the bar, innovate boldly, and drive meaningful change.
We are calling on our project partners to join our movement to prioritize transparency, accountability, and sustainability.
Why join the call to action?
Advocate for Climate, Environmental, and Human Health Solutions
Prioritize and promote sustainable and healthy product selections in our projects.
Support Material Transparency
Encourage the use of materials with disclosed environmental and health impacts, fostering informed decision-making.
Lead with Purpose
Be at the forefront of change, demonstrating your commitment to addressing climate challenges and advancing regenerative practices.
Join our call to action today. Together, we’ll accelerate impact and create a legacy of positive change for generations to come!
The Switch List: Products and Materials to Avoid
Coatings, sealants, or adhesives must meet the volatile organic compound (VOC) content and emissions standards set by South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Department of Public Health for interior application.
Products cannot use weathering steel alloys.e
Composite or engineered wood products cannot contain added formaldehyde.b
Tropical hardwoods must be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.
Thermal or acoustical insulation products must be lowemitting and not contain halogenated flame retardants or added formaldehyde.b
Gypsum wallboard products must not contain halogenated flame retardants or antimicrobials.c
Acoustical ceiling panels must be low-emitting and not contain halogenated flame retardants, added ureaformaldehyde, or antimicrobials.b,c
Carpets or resilient floorings cannot contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or chlorinated polymers, orthophthalates, halogenated flame retardants, heavy metals, per- and polyfluorinated substance stain treatments, or antimicrobials.c
Wallcovering, upholstery, window coverings, windows, landscape piping, or exterior cladding must not contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or chlorinated polymers.
Metals—including plumbing fixtures, hardware, and furnishings—must not be chrome-plated.
Piping or plumbing fixtures that transfer consumable water must be lead-free or compliant with National Science Foundation (NSF)/American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 61.
Refrigerants cannot be chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) based. Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants should have an ozone depletion potential of zero, and teams should strive to use only those with the lowest global warming potential.d
Lighting cannot be fluorescent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How was The Switch List generated?
It is based on governmental publications and peer-reviewed scientific findings that have demonstrated particularly harmful impacts on human health, habitat, and/or climate by specific materials or substances. The materials, chemical classes, and substances are sourced from some of the most well-known sources in the industry, including Pharos, GreenScreen, our own Precautionary List, the Green Science Policy Institute’s Six Classes, the Living Building Challenge Red List, and the Cradle to Cradle Restricted Substance List.
Note: Pharos and GreenScreen were used to establish referenced governmental publications and peer-reviewed scientific findings that support the Precautionary List.
An overview of each source, organization, and their assessment methodology can be found here.
What determines which product categories are included?
Categories were selected based on the wide availability of products in the market that meet the requirements. In some instances, such as “lighting cannot be fluorescent,” it is an industry best practice. In other cases, there are multiple product options available for an equal or similar cost.
Does The Switch List replace the Precautionary List?
No. It does not replace our Precautionary List. Rather, both lists will coexist and complement each other. The Precautionary List should still be used to determine where alternative materials should be researched. As professionally appropriate alternative products become available that avoid substances on the Precautionary List, they will be added to The Switch List.
The precautionary principle remains our cornerstone and essential guidance. Where objective and published studies have demonstrated evidence of a potential of human or environmental health issues, we have and will continue to apply the precautionary principle. That avoidance, where reasonably practicable and professionally appropriate, shall be the path we follow.
How do products comply?
Project teams are encouraged to explore the available products that have been optimized to avoid the human and environmental health concerns highlighted by The Switch List.
Compliance may be demonstrated by publicly reporting sustainability attributes. Human Health will require VOC content and emissions data, fully disclosed Health Product Declarations (HPD) or a Declare label. Environmental will require Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) documentation, or third-party certification.
We encourage manufacturers to report all sustainability attributes for their products as third-party verified documentation in third-party product databases.
Will we be externally publishing a list of compliant products?
No. We will not be publishing a list of compliant products. Instead, we are promoting increased use of existing third-party product databases, enabling our team to vet products and confirm compliance with The Switch List.
Do you have a vetted product list or specifications that you can share with the project team?
We can share a list of alternate products and specifications to be included in our partner’s documents.
Is this a ‘Red’ / ‘Black’ / ‘Green’ list of products?
No. It does not ban any specific manufacturers, nor does it ban specific products as such. Client requirements or project requirements are factored into our professional practice. It encourages project teams to make every attempt to avoid specific materials or compounds that may occur within products. The Switch List is based on governmental publications and peer-reviewed scientific findings that have demonstrated particularly harmful impacts on human health, habitat, and/or climate by specific materials or substances. The guidance will be updated annually based on new scientific evidence and as new best-in-class materials become available.
Perkins&Will seeks to collaborate with manufacturers to reformulate materials or compounds in their products to align with The Switch List.
What should we communicate to clients that require proof of a product’s history of use and durability of finishes prior to specification and installation?
We recognize clients have standards. The Switch List currently has an exception to apply such standards; however, teams should encourage clients to consider product alternatives due to the human and environmental health concerns The Switch List works to address.
Are any exceptions allowed?
Our project teams will make every attempt to avoid the materials on The Switch List through an alternate design or specification. However, our project teams must take accountability for circumstances where this may not be possible or professionally appropriate:
1. Building codes prevent the avoidance of stipulated substances, such as flame retardants;
2. Client standards require a non-compliant product (in this case, project teams must continue to advocate for an alternate material before applying this exception);
3. At least three appropriate alternate products cannot be found;
4. Procurement issues prevent the specification of an alternate material.
I have questions about The Switch List. Whom should I contact?
Email the Perkins&Will Material Performance Team. They’ll be happy to help!
SwitchListTeam@perkinswill.com
References & Resources
Reference Hazard Lists & Hazard Tools:
Perkins&Will’s Precautionary List
https://transparency.perkinswill.com/lists/ precautionary-list
International Living Future Institute’s Red List
https://living-future.org/red-list
Green Science Policy Institute’s Six Classes
https://greensciencepolicy.org/ harmful- chemicals/
Cradle to Cradle 4.0 Restricted Substance List c2ccertified.org/resources/detail/cradle-tocradle-certified-restricted-substances-list-rsl
REACH Restricted Substance List
www.cirs-reach.com/REACH/REACH_ Restriction.html
Habitable Pharos Chemical Hazard Data
https://pharos.habitablefuture.org/
Greenscreen for Safer Chemicals www.greenscreenchemicals.org
Library Resources: Mindful Materials www.mindfulmaterials.com
Sustainable Minds www.sustainableminds.com
Building Ease www.buildingease.com
Ecomedes www.ecomedes.com
Declare Database www.declare.living-future.org
Healthy Product Declaration Repository www.hpd-collaborative.org/ hpd-public-repository-3
Center for Environmental Health: Healthier Furniture & Fabrics
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_4Tu um7AqMuSk1Scv1hBoiobjRBe4RvOWKrpARdLM GE/edit?gid=994198215#gid=994198215
End Notes
a.
b. Products must be verified as ultra-low-emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Certification or verified by manufacturers as having “no added formaldehyde” (NAF), including medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, sheathing, veneered products, and engineered wood flooring, including products used in architectural woodwork, architectural casework/millwork, and paneling. Compliant standards and measurements include:
‒ CARB ATCM Phase II or TSCA Title VI (for composite wood products)
‒ CDPH Std. Method v1.2 (for insulation and acoustic ceiling products)
‒ ISO 16000-3: 2010 or EN-717-1-2004
‒ Formaldehyde levels less than 0.05 ppm (0.06 mg/m2)
c. Antimicrobials marketed with a health claim and that don’t serve as a product preservative in high moisture conditions.
d. HFCs shall have the lowest global warming potential possible. Refer to the Refrigerant Toolkit for resources.
e. Avoid grades ASTM A242, ASTM A588, and ASTM A606 Type 5, and any other compositions that contain Chromium VI.