Manufacturers: Using the Common Ask & Common Give

Supporting Manufacturers: Using the Common Ask & Common Give

If you’re a manufacturer, you know the frustration: every customer, program, or project seems to want sustainability data in a slightly different format. It leads to duplicate work, inefficiency, and endless forms that rarely connect across systems. That’s exactly what the Common Ask and Give resources were built to solve.

Grounded in the Common Materials Framework (CMF), the Common Ask and Give Templates give you a consistent way to share your product data—once—and have it recognized across multiple programs. No more guessing what each architect, designer, rating system, and/or owner wants. No more filling out duplicative forms. Just clear, aligned requests and responses that save your team time and keep your data working harder.

Why Adopt the Common Give?

This isn’t just another form. It’s your first step toward a future where manufacturers, AEC/O teams, and programs work from the same playbook using the same language with aligned compliance.

Reduce Duplication: One response can fulfill multiple requests.

Save Time: Streamlined workflows reduce repetitive back-and-forth.

Enable Automation: Your sustainability investments and disclosures are easier to integrate into digital tools and platforms.

How to Share Your Sustainable Product Info & Data

To save time and reduce friction across the industry, mindful MATERIALS worked with Forum partners and industry leaders to develop standardized processes and data collection forms ready for anyone to use. You have the choice between three options. There is no one size fits all approach, so pick the Option that is best for you and your business at this time. However, our ultimate goal is to see this communication digitized into the future.

Option 1: Digital Questionnaire

Using a Digital Questionnaire option enables manufacturers to submit product sustainability information once and have it be recognized and/or checked against anyone's material program digitally across platforms. By considering a digital response, you will future proof your sustainability communications into the future.

Two digital options to consider:

BuildingEase's CMF Questionnaire
Coming Soon: HPD Builder CMF Module

Check back as these options will be updated as more become available in the industry

Option 2: Static Spreadsheet

For teams not yet ready for a digital approach, a manual spreadsheet is also available.

Download the spreadsheet.
Complete your version.
Share your link back as a response to all inquiring about your sustainability information.

Option 3: Data Management Solutions

To make your data as accessible as possible to your customers, work with your Technology Partner (make sure they’re an mM-Approved Tech Partner) to organize your information according to CMF Prioritization v1.0 and connect it into other tools.

Please see our Data Management Guidance for more insights on how to consider solutions.

Important Note: At this time, the industry is still needing an analog or ‘static’ version of the common ask and give templates to support in a transition period until the industry is fully digital in information exchange. As more firms and manufacturers digitize their data and materials assessment protocols it is likely the spreadsheet format of this ask & give will discontinue. It is only after the majority of the industry is digitized will this be a possibility.

Advocacy

This common way of communicating will only reduce duplicative requests if a majority of the industry is using the CMF and adopting these Common Ask and Give templates. If an AEC/O organization has not yet adopted the CMF (transitions take time!), there is an opportunity for you to advocate to them to consider its use. Sample language is available for you and your teams to utilize.