What is the AIA Materials Pledge?
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) developed the Architecture & Design Materials Pledge to inspire a positive shift in how architects and designers evaluate the products and finishes they specify. The pledge focuses on creating healthier, more sustainable building environments through intentional material specifications.
The Five Impact Categories
Firms participating in the Materials Pledge commit to supporting:
Human Health - Preferring products that support life throughout their life cycles and eliminating hazardous substances
Social Health and Equity - Choosing products from manufacturers that secure human rights in operations and supply chains
Ecosystem Health - Selecting products that support and regenerate natural air, water, and biological cycles
Climate Health - Prioritizing products that reduce carbon emissions and ultimately sequester more carbon than emitted
Circular Economy - Designing for resiliency, adaptability, disassembly, and reuse, aspiring to zero-waste construction
Materials Pledge Reporting Requirements
The AIA Materials Pledge has established a formal reporting framework to track progress. The deadline for Materials Pledge reporting in 2025 is May 31.
Reporting Structure
The reporting framework includes three levels:
Firm-level reporting - Includes general information about the firm, commitments, resources, knowledge, and implementation
Project-level reporting - Covers general material strategy questions that apply across selected projects
Product-level reporting - Details specific products used on projects and how they align with the five impact categories
The goal isn't to capture every product on every project but to encourage focused material goal setting and reporting that demonstrates progress toward healthier material selection.
Resources for Materials Pledge Signatories
Several resources have been developed to support firms in meeting their Materials Pledge commitments:
Materials Pledge Starter Guide - Provides guidance on holistically evaluating building products
A&D Materials Pledge Reporting Guide - Outlines the reporting process, methods, schedule, and structure
Healthier Materials Protocol - Offers practical methods to track and integrate sustainable materials selection
AIAU Materials Certificate Program - Provides education on material selection through essential courses
Common Materials Framework (CMF) - Developed by mindful MATERIALS, maps product certifications to the five impact categories
How Acelab Supports Materials Pledge Reporting
Acelab's AIA Materials Pledge Template
To streamline Materials Pledge reporting, we've developed a specialized template project in Acelab with custom fields aligned with the Materials Pledge survey questions. The template provides:
Pre-configured Custom Fields - Includes appropriate predefined options that account for all product-related questions in the Materials Pledge Survey
Impact Category Views - Dedicated views for each of the five impact categories aligned with mindful MATERIALS framework
Collaborative Workspace - Enables teams to work together on gathering and organizing material information needed for reporting
How to use Acelab's AIA Materials Pledge Template
1. Creating a New Project from the Template
From the Projecta Dashboard, click on "New Project"
Select "Start from Template" and choose AIA Materials Pledge
Your project will be created and displayed on the Projects page
2. Customizing Your Materials Pledge Project
On the Projects page, click the pencil icon to edit project details
Fill out or edit project information
In the Description section, add your firm's sustainability goals
4. Adding documentation and collaborators
Navigate to the Project Info page
Upload relevant documents, such as specifications or sustainability action plans
Scroll down to the Team section and click Add a Collaborator
Add the email addresses of teammates who will help with materials documentation
Hit send invitation
Once collaborators accept the invitation, you can click to edit their permission levels
3. Documenting Products for Reporting
Start a product search to find products in Acelab's database
Add products to your project
In Schedules, complete the custom fields that align with Materials Pledge reporting requirements
Document your firm's progress toward Materials Pledge goals
Best Practices for Materials Pledge Reporting with Acelab
Start Early - Begin documenting materials well before the May 31 reporting deadline
Be Selective - Focus on materials with the greatest impact or those that exemplify your firm's commitment
Collaborate Effectively - Assign specific team members to document different product categories
Document Processes - Note the strategies used to evaluate and select materials
Leverage Existing Standards - Use established certifications like Cradle-to-Cradle to demonstrate compliance
Build Institutional Knowledge - Use your Firm Library in Acelab's Materials Hub to preserve material knowledge for future projects
The AIA Materials Pledge represents a significant opportunity for architects and designers to transform the building materials industry through more intentional specification practices. Get started with Acelab's Materials Pledge template to streamline your firm's reporting process, demonstrate compliance, and contribute to the collective industry knowledge about sustainable materials.