Grateful. That is the word that comes to mind as we conclude our 20th year. We are grateful for your partnership, support, and leadership in prioritizing safer products that protect the health of people and the planet. HBN is poised to forge ahead on the Next 20 Years of our critical work, together, with you.
2020 has been a year like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic and uprisings for racial justice have disrupted lives, communities and business as usual around the world. These crises have also shone a light on deeply rooted environmental injustices that we can not ignore. These inequities are visible in the industrial communities that supply our building and consumer products.
Data show that low-income Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals living in communities already disproportionately burdened with industrial pollution have also endured some of the most devastating COVID-19 impacts. For example, the New York Times, NBC, CNN and others have documented soaring rates of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in heavily polluted communities along “Cancer Alley” in Louisiana, home to scores of petrochemical facilities that manufacture the plastics, coatings, and fixtures we use every day.
At HBN, we have always been committed to supporting these communities in their struggle for environmental justice, as a key component to fulfilling our vision of a world where ALL people and the planet thrive in a world free of hazardous chemicals. All of our research, tools and recommendations account for the impacts of industrial production in fenceline communities. Just this year, we released new research on mercury emissions from drywall manufacturing with the goal of reducing its related effects on nearby communities and across the globe.
As we look forward to the next 20 years, we need your support to ensure we can grow and scale our work to achieve this mission. This means researching more materials, expanding our database of resources, and driving market change toward products that are safer and healthier at every stage of their lifecycle.
By joining our Leadership Circle or making a contribution today, you show your commitment to a safer, healthier future for our planet and the people who inhabit it. Together, we can advance human and environmental health by improving hazardous chemical transparency and inspiring product innovation.
Be a part of our Next 20 Years of research, education, and innovation!
