Certified sustainability through systems such as LEED, BREEAM, and WELL is an increasingly differentiating factor in contemporary architecture. Natural wood interior finishes, when equipped with the appropriate certifications, can significantly contribute to obtaining these seals of environmental excellence and well-being.
Contribution to LEED v4 Certification
Materials and Resources (MR)
Wood finishes contribute to multiple credits in this category:
Environmental Product Declaration (MR Credit): Parklex Prodema’s NATURPANEL-W, NATURHARDPANEL-W, and NATURFLOOR-W products have Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14025, providing transparency on their environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle.
Sourcing of Raw Materials: The FSC and PEFC certifications of Parklex Prodema products guarantee that the wood comes from sustainably managed forests, contributing up to 2 points in this category.
Material Ingredient Reporting: Detailed composition documentation, including information on primary chemical components, facilitates compliance with this credit. At Parklex Prodema, NATURHARDPANEL-W has HPD (Health Product Declaration) and DECLARE certifications; NATURFLOOR-W has HPD; and we are working on obtaining the DECLARE certificate for NATURPANEL-W.
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)
Low-Emitting Materials: High-performance wood finishes meet volatile organic compound (VOC) emission limits, contributing to indoor air quality. Parklex Prodema products are certified under standards such as CLEAN AIR GOLD and INDOOR AIR QUALITY, ensuring VOC emissions below 0.5 mg/m³.
Acoustic Performance: Perforated acoustic panels optimize reverberation time in interior spaces, meeting acoustic comfort requirements.
Integration with BREEAM
Materials (Mat)
Mat 01 – Environmental Impact of Materials: The EPDs of Parklex Prodema products accurately assess environmental impact, boosting scores in this category.
Mat 03 – Responsible Sourcing of Materials: FSC/PEFC chain-of-custody certifications provide evidence of responsible sourcing.
Health and Well-being (Hea)
Hea 02 – Indoor Air Quality: Low VOC emission levels help maintain indoor air quality.
Hea 13 – Acoustic Comfort: Natural wood finishes improve acoustic comfort through sound absorption and diffusion, especially in perforated or slotted configurations.
Energy (Ene)
Ventilated facade systems with wood cladding contribute to building energy efficiency through the ventilated chamber effect, reducing thermal loads.
Alignment with WELL Building Standard v2
Air
Feature 01 – Air Quality Standards: Wood finishes with controlled VOC emissions help maintain healthy indoor air quality levels.
Feature 02 – Smoking Ban: The materials do not contribute to air quality degradation.
Materials
Feature 26 – Enhanced Material Safety: Transparency in composition and the absence of substances of concern facilitate compliance.
Feature 27 – Antimicrobial Activity for Surfaces: Certain surface treatments can provide active antimicrobial properties. Parklex Prodema’s NATURHARDPANEL-W and NATURPANEL-W products offer this feature.
Mind
Feature 87 – Beauty and Design: Natural wood finishes directly contribute to this credit by incorporating biophilic elements that enhance occupants’ psychological well-being.
Feature 88 – Biophilia I – Qualitative: The visual presence of natural wood meets the requirements for connection with nature.
Documentation Strategies
Evidence Collection
To maximize contribution to these certifications, it is essential to:
- Maintain the chain of custody from origin to installation.
- Document emissions through tests from accredited laboratories.
- Record raw material origins with valid certifications.
Coordination with Sustainability Consultants
Early collaboration with specialized consultants enables:
- Identification of project-specific scoring opportunities.
- Optimization of finish and configuration selections.
- Preparation of required verification documentation.
Future Trends in Certification
Toward Stricter Criteria
Upcoming versions of these standards will incorporate:
- Mandatory life-cycle analysis for all major materials.
- Circularity requirements and reuse potential.
- Measurement of biodiversity impact during raw material extraction.
Integration of New Indicators
Systems are evolving to include:
- Water footprint in material production.
- Social impact on source communities.
- Climate resilience of selected materials.
The strategic specification of wood finishes such as Parklex Prodema products–with their complete environmental documentation and recognized certifications–positions architectural projects to achieve the highest levels of sustainability and well-being certification.
Need specific technical advice for your project? Contact our team with no obligation to address technical questions, analyze specific requirements, or develop customized solutions.
