Healthy Materials Sourcing and Selection

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Learn key questions and considerations to specify healthy materials for your projects.      


Continuing Education Approvals
  • 1 IDCEC CEU | HSW | CC-122943 (Your CEU will be reported to IDCEC on your behalf.)
  • 1 AIA LU | HSW | ASIDHLTHMAT  (AIA Members: Please contact education@asid.org to have your completion reported or add your AIA Member number to your ASID account profile.)

NOTICE: ASID is moving to a new learning management system for Design Learning by ASID in April 2026. This course will be transferred to the new platform, but there will be a brief interruption in service. You will have access to this CEU through Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 11:59pm EDT. If you wish to access the course contents after that date, it will be available on the new system after May 1, 2026


Description

Gain the knowledge you need to recognize materials that could be harmful to human health, and know how to find alternatives when specifying. Dr. Andrew Dent of Material ConneXion will walk you through scenarios to illustrate areas of concern and provide examples of situations where healthful alternatives are necessary. You will learn key questions to ask and how to navigate ratings and points systems to evaluate materials’ impact on human health.


What You Will Learn
  • Recognize materials that could be harmful to human health.
  • Find alternatives to unhealthy materials.
  • Explain the importance of ratings and points systems and how and when to use them.
  • Identify the key questions to ask when specifying healthy materials.

Andrew Dent, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President of Research, Material ConneXion

Dr. Andrew Dent is Executive Vice President of Research at Material ConneXion, and Chief Material Scientist at SANDOW. He plays a key role in the expansion of Material ConneXion’s technical knowledge base. His research directs the implementation of consulting projects and the selection of innovative, sustainable and advanced materials to Material ConneXion’s library, which currently houses over 8,000 material samples. Since joining Material Connexion, Dr. Dent has helped hundreds of clients—from Whirlpool and Adidas to BMW and Procter & Gamble—develop or improve their products through the use of innovative materials. A leading expert on sustainable materials, his insight has played an important part in creating a new generation of more sustainable products. He is a frequent speaker on sustainable and innovative material strategies and is the co-author of the Material Innovation books series, which, to date, includes Material Innovation: Architecture, Material Innovation: Product Design and Material Innovation: Packaging Design. Dr. Dent has also contributed to many magazines including Business Week, Fast Company and the Financial Times.  

 

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This CEU is registered with the International Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC) for continuing education credits. This credit will be accepted by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), International Interior Designers Association (IIDA) and Interior Designers of Canada (IDC).

The content included is not deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by IDCEC of any material or construction or any method or manner of handling, using distributing or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods and services should be directed to the instructor and provider of the CEU.

This program is registered for 1 CEU value | HSW. The IDCEC class-code is: CC-108108R2.

Key:

Complete
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Section 1: Introduction and Categories of Concern
Part 1: Introduction and Categories of Concern
Open to view video.
Open to view video. This 13 minute video introduces different healthy and harmful materials used in design. Click on the Handouts tab for the slides and a resource list.
You must register to access.
Quiz 1
4 Questions  |  5 attempts  |  3/5 points to pass
4 Questions  |  5 attempts  |  3/5 points to pass You must score a minimum of 75% (3 correct responses) to pass the quiz. You will have up to 5 attempts to pass.
You must register to access.
Section 2: Recycled Materials and Allergens
Part 2: Recycled Materials and Allergens
Open to view video.
Open to view video. This 8 minute video focuses on recycled and allergen materials. Click on the Handouts tab for the slides and a resource list.
You must register to access.
Quiz 2
3 Questions  |  5 attempts  |  3/3 points to pass
3 Questions  |  5 attempts  |  3/3 points to pass You must score a minimum of 100% (3 correct responses) to pass the quiz. You will have up to 5 attempts to pass.
You must register to access.
Section 3: Understanding Certifications and Course Conclusion
Part 3: Understanding Certifications and Conclusion
Open to view video.
Open to view video. This 8 minute video focuses on different certification and rating systems for the health and safety of materials. Click on the Handouts tab for the slides and a resource list.
You must register to access.
Quiz 3
3 Questions  |  5 attempts  |  2/3 points to pass
3 Questions  |  5 attempts  |  2/3 points to pass You must score a minimum of 66.7% (2 correct responses) to pass the quiz. You will have up to 5 attempts to pass.
You must register to access.
Course Evaluation Survey
3 Questions
3 Questions Please complete the survey to receive your course completion certificate.
You must register to access.
Course Completion and Credit Certificate
1.0 IDCEC CEU HSW credit  |  Certificate available
1.0 IDCEC CEU HSW credit  |  Certificate available 1 IDCEC CEU | HSW and 1 AIA LU | HSW awarded upon successful completion of the course. REPORTING: ASID will report CEUs earned directly to IDCEC on your behalf. AIA Members: Add your AIA Member number to your ASID account profile so we can report your credit, or email education@asid.org to request. You can access your ASID account profile by clicking on your name in the top menu.
You must register to access.