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Healthy Homes: Combating Indoor Pollution in Urban Living

Whilst it is well known that the cramped and polluted conditions caused by urban sprawl is causing more consumers to consider the negative effects this has on their health there is also a growing awareness of the damaging effects of pollution within the home.

Poor indoor health quality due to pollution from outside is currently the focus for most solutions, with various affordable and easily obtainable devices and apps on the market that alert users to poor air quality, prompting them to take action such as shutting their windows. For a larger investment financially and size-wise, filtering and improving poor air is a choice some consumers are able to make.

The increasing concern is the effect of the amount of toxins being released within the home mixing with VOCs and impacting health in ways ranging from respiratory issues, cancers and in extreme cases, death. Toxic Home Syndrome is a recognised problem and the UK government has proposed in a white paper a Healthy Home Certification system for new build houses to address materials used in construction.

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Image: Dyson

Common household culprits include candles, fabric softeners, PVC shower curtains, carpets, cleaning products and laminate worktops but the list is enormous and as a result, the sale of Formaldehyde sensing air quality monitors and filters is set to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% between 2024 - 2030.

As these toxins have begun to see more exposure online and through influencers, the demand from shoppers for transparent product information from brands has risen to 76% according to Nielsen. In the same survey, 45% of consumers reportedly actively look for non-toxic ingredients when shopping for household goods.

Brands that are clear about their use of non-toxic materials engage with consumers at the deepest level - their health and wellbeing.

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Image: Chris Jarvis

Indoor health in the future will be as important to people as avoiding pollution outdoors. Smart air quality filters could become mandatory to improve the physical health of the population. It is anticipated that consumers will switch to brands that support them by using clearly labelled safe materials as the desire to stay healthy takes precedence over brand loyalty.

Our work in this sector informs all our choices when designing products and services for our clients. We know that consumers want designers and manufacturers to make the right choices on their behalf and we see great innovation and opportunity in doing so.

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