Interior Planning, Design and Management (IPDM) Furniture & Fabric Guidelines

IPDM strives to create a healthy environment for the citizens of Massachusetts by providing communities with sustainable, safe furniture and furnishings that increase opportunity for cost-efficiency while reducing the risk of exposure to dangerous chemicals.

To meet the need of our clients, we have aligned ourselves with the Massachusetts Decarbonization Initiative, the AIA Material Pledge and the mindfulMATERIALS (mM) Common Materials Framework. IPDM has been working with BuildingEase to formulate preferred criteria when selecting fabrics and has identified the mM Human Health and Climate Health buckets for our decision-making process. Green Science Policy Institute (GSPI) has identified chemicals of concern which have been identified as especially harmful to human health.  For this reason, IPDM is looking at fabrics that do not include Vinyl/PVC, VOCs or harmful chemicals.

IPDM Basic, Better, Best Guidelines

Fabric Selection Guidelines

Fabric Selection Guidelines updated September 2025

Fabric selections to be graded in or $50 or less

Categories	IPDM Basic Fabric Guidelines	Better Includes Basic + the following criteria and	Best Includes Basic + the following criteria and
General	No Priority Harmful Chemicals * Zero VOC (or low if present)	Made in a facility that doesn’t pollute wastewater and/or recycles wastewater.	Made in a facility that uses renewable energy
Fabric	No Vinyl or PVCs No 100% (Virgin) Polyester No Intentionally Antimony added No Priority Harmful Chemicals * Zero VOC (or low if present)	Uses Pre-Consumer Recycled Content Made in a facility that doesn’t pollute wastewater 100% Solution Dyed No Blending of Natural & Synthetic Material. Blending Materials makes it hard to recycle Manufacturer has reduced carbon process in place.	Uses Post Consumer content Biobased Content Made in USA Made in a facility that doesn’t pollute wastewater Product has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) for scopes A1-A3 Manufacturer has a Take Back Program for samples, unused material or at end of life
Finishes	No Harmful Chemicals* Zero VOC (or low if present)	Made in a facility that doesn’t pollute wastewater best if uses Biobased Materials	No Finish
Backing	No Harmful Chemicals* Zero VOC (or low if present)	Uses Pre-consumer or Post-Consumer Recycled Content Able to be separated for recycling No Blending of Natural & Synthetic Fibers Made in a facility that doesn’t pollute wastewater Made in USA Biobased Materials	No Backing on Wovens
Certifications	Includes at least (1) Certification	Includes at least (2) certifications	Includes at least (3) certifications with (1) being  third-party certified

List of Approved Certifications/Standards1:
California Prop 65 "Compliant"  - Requires Affidavit from manufacturer	Intertek Clean Air Gold
CDPH Standard Method V1.2-2017 Compliant	Living Product Certified (LPC)
Cradle to Cradle v3.1 or 4 (All Levels)	Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Declare (Approved or Red List Free)2	Manufacturer Affidavit3
EPD (Environmental Product Declaration)	NSF/ANSI 336 FACTS (All Levels)
GREENGUARD Gold	OEKO-TEX 100
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)	SCS Indoor Advantage Gold
GreenCircle Certified	USDA Certified Biobased Product
Health Product Declaration (HPD)	SCS Recycled Content

1. Third-party verification is preferred whenever possible. Where a certification is not listed, provide certificate for review.                          
    
2. "Declared" is not an approved option on the Declare Label.  Must be Approved or Red List Free Label                        
    
3. If a product has not been certified by any of the certifications listed although is able to confirm compliance to the IPDM standards, the manufacturer can provide a signed affidavit letter stating compliance on the company's letterhead.                         

*Priority harmful chemicals includes Antimicrobials, Antimony, Flame Retardants (unless required by code), PFAS, PVC and Phthalates, and Toxic Metals.  See Mindful Materials CMF for complete list of preferred class-based substance avoidance.  

*Non-Woven Recommendations, look for Vinyl Alternatives such as Polyurethane, Silicone, Tekloom and Xorel.  High Grade Polyurethane often indicates a better choice.

Furniture Selection Guidelines

Furniture Selection Guidelines updated October 2025.

If BIFMA Certification Level 1 or higher is met and furniture meets benchmark pricing no other requirements are needed.

Website Links

Ecomedes Find Sustainable Products
BuildingEase
Mindful Materials 
Gensler Product Listing
 

Category	IPDM Basic Furniture Guidelines	Better Includes IPDM Basic + the following criteria	Best Includes IPDM Basic + Better + the following criteria
General	Meets IPDM Benchmark Pricing Salvaged or reused furniture that's at least 1 year old is preferred Wood is FSC certified No priority harmful chemicals* Composite wood (plywood, particleboard, MDF) complies with EPA TSCA Title VI or CARB Tested in accordance with ANSI/BIFMA Standard Method M7.1–2011 (R2016 or newer) and complies with ANSI/BIFMA e3-2019e Furniture Sustainability Standard, Sections 7.6.1–7.6.3.	Contains pre-consumer recycled content Use of inherently non-emitting materials (no added coatings or finishes) Product ingredient disclosure at least 1,000 ppm Manufacturer has reduced carbon processes in place Composite wood (plywood, particleboard, MDF) complies with ultra-low emitting formaldehyde (ULEF)	Contains post-consumer recycled content Intended for disassembly, repair, retrofit or recycling Product ingredient disclosure at least 100 ppm Product has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) for scopes A1-A3 or product is carbon neutral Limited use of adhesives (fasteners preferred) Biobased Content Composite wood (plywood, particleboard, MDF) complies with No Added Formaldehyde (NAF) or Urea-Formaldehyde (NAUF)
Manufacturing		Sourced Locally within 500 Miles of project Made in a facility that doesn’t pollute wastewater and/or recycles wastewater Made in USA	Sourced locally within 100 miles of project Made in a facility that uses renewable energy
Certifications	Includes at least (1) Certification	Includes at least (2) certifications	Includes at least (3) certifications with (1) being third-party certified

List of Approved Certifications/Standards1
BIFMA LEVEL (All Levels)	Living Product Challenge (LPC)
Cradle to Cradle v3.1 or v4 (Silver or above)	Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)	Manufacturer Affidavit3
Declare (Approved or Red List Free)2	MAS Certified Green
Greenhealth Approved	SCS Indoor Advantage Gold
GREENGUARD Gold	SCS Recycled Content
GreenCircle Certified	SCS Certified Biobased Content
Health Product Declaration (HPD)	USDA Certified Biobased Product
Intertek Clean Air Gold

1. Third-party verification is preferred whenever possible. Where a certification is not listed, provide certificate for review.                     
2. "Declared" is not an approved option on the Declare Label.  Must be Approved or Red List Free Label.                  
3. If a product has not been certified by any of the certifications listed although is able to confirm compliance to the IPDM standards, the manufacturer can provide a signed affidavit letter stating compliance on the company's letterhead.                         
    

*Priority harmful chemicals includes Antimicrobials, Flame Retardants (unless required by code and excluding electrical components), Formaldehyde, PFAS, Phthalates, PVC and Toxic Metals.  See Mindful Materials CMF for complete list of preferred class-based substance avoidance.