NeoCon, the premier event for the global commercial design industry, once again provided an unparalleled platform for industry professionals to connect, innovate, and shape the future of the built environment.
It was an honour to participate in the event to share our expertise on healthy indoor environments with the design industry. For us at ASL, it was an opportunity to engage with existing clients, such as Benjamin Moore, and establish connections with potential new clients, while highlighting the significance of materials that promote healthy indoor air quality.
“The demand for healthier indoor environments has increased, and design professionals now recognize the importance of materials that have a positive impact on indoor air quality,” said Dr. John McKeon, CEO of ASL and Principal of the Indoor Air Innovation and Research Institute (iAir Institute). “Our certified science-backed products cut through generic marketing jargon and provide clear, trustworthy verification for consumers. We are thrilled to bring our expertise to NeoCon to help shape the future of healthier indoor environments.”

L-R: Dr. John McKeon, Tanja Kern
As part of the Design Days event, Tarkett, a worldwide leader in sustainable flooring solutions, hosted design professionals in its Chicago Fulton Market showroom to showcase its innovative approach to design and unveil its latest flooring collection. Certified asthma & allergy friendly® flooring, including Tarkett’s iQ® Granit™ collection and the new Powerbond® RS flooring- the world’s first CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® soft surface flooring– has undergone rigorous testing to achieve the certification.

L-R: Benjamin Holsinger, Ren DeCherney, John McKeon, Roxane Spears
During the Design Days event, our CEO, Dr. John McKeon, presented on the topic of “The Impact of Materials on Social Equity and the Health of Communities” where he shared the stage with Ren DeCherney of Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and Benjamin Holsinger, Global Director of Resilience, Product Development, Gensler. The presentation shed light on the disproportionate effect of respiratory illnesses on vulnerable and disadvantaged populations and emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to product selection and building materials to ensure social equity.
As consumer demand for products that support health and well-being continues to grow, it is crucial that product health claims are backed by science. Our asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program provides credibility and assurance to consumers, and CERTIFIED products align with USGBC LEED credit requirements for low emitting materials.
Key Words
Indoor air quality, trade show, healthy homes, design industry, certification, NeoCon, Design Days, asthma, allergies, standards, third party certification, health and well being, indoor environment, asthma & allergy friendly®, Tarkett, flooring, paint, insulation, HVAC filters.
References and further reading