The air we breathe has a significant impact on our health, especially in indoor environments. In Sweden, however, the trend is moving in the right direction. The use of materials containing hazardous substances that affect indoor air quality has decreased by as much as 74 percent in recent years, according to a new report from Byggvarubedömningen.

In Sweden, we spend approximately 90 percent of our time indoors, making indoor air quality crucial to our health. One important factor in assessing indoor air is the level of so-called VOCs: chemical compounds that evaporate from certain building materials such as paint, adhesives, and flooring. The new report, "The Impact of Building Materials on Indoor Environments and Indoor Air Quality," from Byggvarubedömningen —a non-profit organization focused on promoting the use of sustainable building materials— shows that the number of building products with high levels of these hazardous substances has decreased significantly.

Between 2017 and 2023, the number of products classified as "to be avoided" due to high VOC levels dropped by an impressive 74 percent. The studies also show that the number of products with high emission levels —substances released from a material’s surface that can affect human health— has been cut in half during the same period.