Category: Perspectives
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Awe Is a Design Tool: From Stardust to Specifications

Discover how curiosity, data, and stewardship turn materials decisions into lasting impact across buildings, portfolios, and communities. Read more
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Anchors in the Work: Mentorship, Growth, and Human-Centered Leadership in the AEC Industry

Matt Root reflects on the mentors and lessons that shaped his AEC career, and what they mean as he watches his kids begin their own paths. Read more
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Beyond the Blueprint: How Construction Decisions Shape Building Health

70% of products are chosen on-site, creating gaps between design intent and what gets built. Learn why bridging that gap is essential for healthier spaces. Read more
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Building Change: The Power of Advocacy in Materials Transparency

Strategic advocacy during materials vetting for Yale Divinity School’s Living Village transforms individual product choices into market-wide change—advancing transparency and healthier buildings. Read more
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Sustainability Without Judgment

Progress in sustainable building is evolutionary, not absolute. Learn why small, continuous steps in healthier materials matter more than perfection. Read more
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Six Years on the NESEA Board: What I’ll Carry Forward

After six years on NESEA’s Board of Directors, Matt Root shares what matters most: community, honest conversations, and mentoring emerging voices. Read more
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Though Ghost Chemicals Linger, Joining Forces for Safer Materials Is Crucial Today

Regulation lags behind reality. Here’s how AEC teams can close the gap—building transparency, accountability, and healthier materials now. Read more
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Process Over Perfection: The Real Path to Healthier Buildings

Listen to Charley Stevenson and Matt Root discuss the path to healthier, more sustainable buildings and smarter materials transparency. Read more
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From Inspiration to Implementation: The Next Phase of the Materials Movement

Turning vision into action, Materially Better empowers teams with expert healthier materials consulting—right here, right now. Read more
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Bringing Order to Innovation: How AI and CSI MasterFormat Are Shaping Red2Green’s Future

Red2Green applies AI and CSI MasterFormat to organize healthier materials data with greater clarity, consistency, and confidence. Read more
