Press Release s25

PRESS RELEASE

HEALTH OF ONE AND ALL

Forbo Flooring Systems Environment Specialist, Mark Bauer, has become a member of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Task Group, which will focus on enhancing the health and well-being of people in the residential sector by compiling a ‘Better Homes for People’ report.

Findings from the UKGBC’s Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Offices (2014) report stated that buildings have a material impact on the health, well-being and productivity of occupants. As such the council’s mission is to radically improve the sustainability of the built environment by transforming the way it is planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated.

Mark Bauer, Environment Specialist at Forbo commented: “I am very pleased to be a member of the UKGBC Task Group and I look forward to collaborating with the other members. Indeed, it would be too simplistic to expect such a diverse group to focus on the issues that we face as a flooring manufacturer, but that said there area number of important outputs that should drive our future sustainable development.

“Focus will be centered on a number of aspects namely mental health, social interaction and comfort of people occupying a building, but understanding how products contribute both positively and negatively to these outputs is a key learning point.”

The body of the work that the UKGBC is developing complements Forbo’s new Committed to the Health of One (CHO) campaign. Forbo has always strived to create better environments by focusing on the sustainability of its products and supporting initiatives that reduce its carbon footprint.

PRESS RELEASE

Mark continues: “With most people spending 80 to 90% of their time indoors, there is a growing emphasis on the quality of our indoor environments and as such, sustainability is progressing away from products and more to the well-being of people.

“Floors are an important part of the indoor environment in which people live, meet and work. As such, we developed the CHO campaign to focus our commitment on designing and offering products that contribute in a positive way to the health and comfort of individuals in a building.”

The philosophy of the CHO campaign focuses around three pillars; Health and Safety, which refers to safe indoor environments; Health and Hygiene, addresses topics such as dust control and prevention of allergies and Health and Wellbeing which includes improved lighting, ventilation and access to nature.

John Alker, Campaign and Policy Director at UKGBC said: "This is a topic of growing significance for the property and construction sector. Quite naturally, people want to be confident that their home is supporting a healthy lifestyle, and that their workplace is enabling them to be happy, healthy and productive. The products we use in our buildings have an important role to play, and I'm delighted that Forbo are so engaged and supporting this agenda."

For more information please visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/CHO

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Image Information PRESS RELEASE

John Alker - Campaign and Policy Director at UKGBC PRESS RELEASE

Marmoleum Linear room shot. CHO campaign PRESS RELEASE