We are pleased to announce that SOM has signed the AIA Materials Pledge—a step that furthers our ongoing commitment to choosing healthy and sustainable materials in our design projects. As a complement to the AIA 2030 Commitment, which focuses on operational carbon, the Materials Pledge addresses the impact of building materials, a key factor in whole life carbon impact. The pledge centers on preferring materials with high performance in five key sustainable impact areas: Human Health, Climate Health, Ecosystem Health, Social Health and Equity, and Circular Economy. As a signatory, we have committed to reporting our annual progress toward aligning our practice with these principles.

SOM has a history of materials research and innovation—from developing bio-based construction materials to implementing a comprehensive program to decarbonize and de-chemicalize specifications across all of our projects. We have voluntarily disclosed embodied carbon on our projects to the AIA for the past three years. The Materials Pledge builds on this work by advancing industry-wide consistency and transparency, improving Life Cycle Analysis integration, and providing higher-quality data for reporting and optimization. By standardizing how firms consistently assess, select, and specify healthier, lower-carbon materials, the pledge gives manufacturers clearer signals and improves the quality of information available to design teams. Together with the 121 firms that have signed the pledge to date, SOM is helping to push the industry toward a low-carbon future.