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HeartFelt® Achieves C2C Certified® Material Health Silver, Version 5.0

News |
  • 26 October 2026

HeartFelt® by Hunter Douglas Architectural awarded C2C Certified® Material Health Silver, version 5.0, making HeartFelt® a demonstrably healthy and safe building solution for use in healthcare facilities, educational buildings, and working environments. The thorough testing process confirms that more than 96% of all HeartFelt® system materials has been assessed for chemical safety, and that its composition contains no substances harmful to human health or the environment.

Hunter Douglas Architectural has achieved Material Health Silver under the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Product Standard Version 5.0 for its HeartFelt® Ceiling & Wall Systems, marking a successful transition from Material Health Bronze (v3.1) to Material Health Silver (v5.0).

What is Material Health?

While most sustainability certifications focus on environmental impact, Material Health asks a different question: are the materials in a product actually safe for both human health and the environment?

Material Health looks at all the chemicals and materials used in a product. It is based on a key Cradle to Cradle idea: everything should be able to become a resource for future use and cycling. To make this possible, it is important to know exactly what substances a product contains and whether they are safe for people and the planet.

The Material Health standard is managed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and is considered one of the most thorough product-safety standards in the world. It goes beyond legal requirements. Instead of only checking whether banned or restricted substances are absent, it evaluates every ingredient for its potential impact on human health and the environment.

HeartFelt® meets high safety standards with Silver

The Silver level confirms that the entire HeartFelt® system, including the felt panels, metal suspension components, and accessories, does not expose users to substances known to be carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction. The system complies with leading chemical regulations as defined in the Restricted Substances Reference Document, a predefined list within the Cradle to Cradle framework.

  • More than 95% of ingredients are independently evaluated for human and environmental health.
  • 100% of product materials are characterised by concentration and generic material type or category/name.
  • Compliance with leading chemical regulations (e.g. REACH, POPs) was verified.
  • HeartFelt® components meet PFAS, HFR and OPFR restrictions.
  • No substances of very high concern (SVHC) were identified within the certified scope, or exposure was shown to be negligible.
  • Low VOC emissions were demonstrated through testing.

For HeartFelt® Ceiling & Wall Systems, this means, among other things:

  • PFAS and PVC checked: These two substance groups, which frequently attract media attention, are still used in certain surface treatments and are increasingly recognised as substances of concern.
  • Low VOC emissions: The product releases very low levels of volatile organic compounds, helping to support healthy indoor air quality, as demonstrated by the Indoor Air Comfort gold certification it already carries.

For suspended acoustic felt ceilings and walls, this seems a logical but not self-evident achievement. The entire suspension system is evaluated together with the felt panels as the main component of the ceiling. Coated metal profiles and rails, which form part of the suspension system, may contain coatings, surface treatments, and alloying additives that potentially include substances of concern. The Silver certification provides verified evidence that these risks have been eliminated in HeartFelt® products.

What This Means in Practice

For architects, specifiers, installers, and end users, Material Health translates complex chemical assessments into practical, actionable insights. The certification is based on an independent, third-party review, providing trusted evidence that can be used directly to support material selection and project documentation.

  • Healthier indoor environments: verified healthy and safe building solutions are particularly important in sectors such as healthcare, education, and offices.
  • Support for sustainability certifications: a Material Health certificate provides measurable evidence that can contribute to sustainability building schemes such as BREEAM, LEED, and Het Nieuwe Normaal (HNN), a number of industry-wide frameworks for circular and sustainable construction.
  • Greater transparency and assurance: the comprehensive assessment provides clear insight into what is actually contained in the product, down to the substance level.

In short, Material Health gives project teams confidence that the materials specified are not only functional and durable, but have also been independently assessed for their impact on human health and the environment.

© 2026 Hunter Douglas Architectural. All rights reserved.