Transparency in Timber Panels: Declare Labels Explained

What Are Declare Labels for Timber Panels?

Declare Labels are product transparency labels developed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), designed to disclose the material composition, origin, and lifecycle attributes of building products. When applied to timber panels, these labels reveal whether the materials contain Red List chemicals, where they’re made, and whether they are recyclable or responsibly sourced.

Functioning like a “nutrition label” for building materials, Declare helps architects, designers, and clients make informed decisions aligned with sustainability, wellness, and transparency goals. Declare-labelled timber panels are particularly useful in projects pursuing Living Building Challenge (LBC), WELL, or LEED certifications.

Understanding How Declare Labels Support Transparent Timber Design

Clear Chemical Disclosure

The core of the Declare program is its Red List compliance screening. Timber panels with a Declare label must disclose all intentionally added ingredients down to 100 parts per million (ppm). This ensures that specifiers can avoid chemicals like formaldehyde, phthalates, or halogenated flame retardants commonly found in traditional panel adhesives and finishes².

Material Origin and Lifecycle Insights

Each Declare label includes the product’s manufacturing location and end-of-life pathway—recyclable, reusable, or landfill. For timber panels, this information provides clarity on sourcing (e.g., FSC® certification), embodied carbon potential, and waste management. This helps design teams align with the circular economy principles promoted in green building programs³.

Approved for Green Certifications

Declare-labelled products contribute to the LBC Materials Petal and help earn points under WELL’s Materials Transparency and LEED’s Material Ingredients credits. They are also prioritized by owners focused on eliminating toxic exposure, particularly in schools, hospitals, and wellness-oriented environments¹.

Why Transparency Is Essential in Timber Panel Specification

The demand for transparency in building products continues to rise as clients and certifiers push for healthier, more responsible interiors. Timber panels are used extensively on walls, ceilings, joinery, and acoustic applications—making it vital to know what they’re made from and how they perform environmentally.

Declare labels remove the guesswork. By disclosing chemical content and lifecycle data, they allow specifiers to verify that their materials support health, safety, and sustainability goals—not just aesthetic ones. In doing so, they build occupant trust and future-proof a project’s environmental credibility⁴.

Key Considerations When Selecting Declare-Labelled Timber Panels

To make the most of the Declare program, designers and project teams should evaluate label categories and supporting documentation.

Label Status: LBC Red List Free, Compliant, or Declared

  • Red List Free: No Red List chemicals present. Highest level of certification.

  • Compliant: Minor exceptions approved by ILFI (typically not avoidable today).

  • Declared: Full disclosure, but contains Red List ingredients. Still offers value through transparency.

Manufacturing and Certification Partners

Review manufacturing locations and ensure compatibility with other certifications such as FSC®, GREENGUARD, or EPDs. Declare does not replace emission testing or lifecycle assessments—it complements them.

Integration With Project Documentation

Declare labels are accepted by many green certification platforms and can streamline submittals. Digital listings are publicly available via the ILFI Declare database, ensuring easy verification for all stakeholders.

Key Timber Panel Options With Declare Labels

Some of the timber panel formats that commonly feature Declare labels include:

  • E0 MDF Panels With Natural Oil Finish: Red List Free and low VOC, used in acoustic walls and ceiling features.

  • Veneered Plywood With Formaldehyde-Free Adhesives: Elegant, stable, and Declare Compliant. Suitable for commercial joinery and screens.

  • Solid Timber Panels: Naturally free from toxins and ideal for LBC-compliant projects. Declare-labelled when untreated or sealed with approved finishes.

How Timberix Promotes Product Transparency Through Declare

At Timberix, we embrace full transparency as a core design principle. Many of our slatted, grooved, and acoustic timber panel systems are available with Declare labels—Red List Free or Compliant—depending on the product configuration.

Our Declare documentation complements other sustainability credentials including FSC® certification, GREENGUARD Gold emissions testing, and product-specific EPDs. For project teams prioritizing wellness, compliance, and ethical sourcing, Timberix makes specification simpler and more transparent—down to the last molecule.

References

  1. International Living Future Institute. (2023). Declare Label Program Overview. ILFI. 
  2. ILFI. (2022). Red List Chemicals in Building Products. ILFI. 
  3. BuildingGreen. (2021). Understanding Product Transparency Labels.BuildingGreen. 
  4. USGBC. (2023). LEED v4.1 Materials and Resources – Material Ingredients Credit. USGBC. 
  5. WELL Building Standard. (2023). WELL v2: Materials Concept. IWBI. 

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