Working across industries to make Material Health matter 

Material Health is a key area of focus as one of Shaw Contract’s four Points of Ambition in its People Together, Planet Forever approach. Material Health has always been a fundamental pillar of the Cradle-to-Cradle Philosophy we work to as a manufacturer. But how else are we working to drive this forward? 

We are proud that our parent company Shaw Industries is a part of the ChemSec Business Group; it is the only flooring manufacturer in this Business Group. 

Hazardous chemicals can be found everywhere, from the world’s most remote locations to everyday products such as clothes, electronics and food packaging. Some increase the risk of serious illness. Others damage the environment. ChemSec decided to take action. 

ChemSec is an independent, non-profit organisation committed to the development of sustainable chemicals use through dissemination of knowledge, collaboration and practical tools. 

The ChemSec Business Group is a collaboration among companies working together to inspire concrete progress on toxic use reduction. It gathers market-leading companies, across a diversity of sectors, for the development of effective corporate practice in the substitution of hazardous substances. It also raises public awareness of companies’ efforts to be drivers on this issue. 


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ChemSec says: “These progressive companies [in the Group] have expressed either being positive towards stricter chemicals legislation and/or they are actively seeking to avoid hazardous substances in their production, regardless of legislative development, but rather as a response to consumer demand, risk management, and other responsible business priorities.”

The ChemSec Business Group has been actively involved in the development of the SIN List (Substitute It Now! List), a list developed by ChemSec containing Substances of Very High Concern in accordance with the criteria laid out in the EU chemicals regulation REACH.

Check out the list of major brands and international companies who are also part of this Group: https://chemsec.org/business-and-investors/chemsec-business-group/members/

The International Chemical Secretariat ChemSec is based in Sweden. You can read more about its activities here: https://chemsec.org/about-us/why-care-about-hazardous-chemicals/

We are living in times of urgent social and environmental change. As individuals, the design community and societies at large, we are questioning how we can create a better, fairer future. At the heart of Shaw Contract we design products and solutions with our customers in mind. Everybody counts.