title: [Chemistry for sustainable construction: 20 years of progress].
abstract: Sustainable development is based on three pillars, economic, social and environmental development. Sustainable products can be developed only by companies that grow on these pillars, but in building sustainability is often identified only with the reduction of dangerous synthetic substances. From this point of view, the efforts of the construction chemicals industry have focused on reducing emissions, dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), replacing, if technically possible, the most dangerous components, such as formaldehyde, phthalates, and chlorinated or aromatic solvents, and developing water-borne products with very low VOC emissions. Differences in the definition of VOC and in the methods of measurement of emissions, however, make it difficult to choose the safest product and grows in the construction industry the need to reference trusted standards and product certifications to guarantee users. At present, products labeled "bio", "eco" or "solvent free" do not necessarily mean safe products.
authors.affiliation: Mapei S.p.A., Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leoni
mesh_terms: D062067:Chemical Safety; D060389:Construction Industry; D003252:Construction Materials; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D013997:Time Factors