Maggi noodles by Nestle India are among the most preferred instant foods for many Indians. In 2015, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned the product due to an excessive amount of lead, resulting in a 22% decline in sales for the corresponding quarter. Social concerns can indeed have a significant impact on business. How Nestle India regained the confidence and trust of customers later became a separate business case study.

Relating this to buildings, lead paints have been identified as toxic building materials with a lasting negative impact on human health throughout a building’s life. Even after the end of the life cycle, lead continues to persist in the environment, further contributing to damage in the food chain. As of 2022, based on available literature, only 45% of countries had legally binding controls on lead paints. It’s crucial to recognize that lead is just one of the toxic materials used in buildings.

Reducing the use of toxic materials like lead and increasing the adoption of healthier alternatives is of paramount importance in commercial real estate. Why? To comply with health and safety standards and protect property values for potential buyers. This is also highly relevant to the increased awareness of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing.
To address this issue, design principles such as Building Circularity and Eco-friendly Design should guide us toward a sustainable future.

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