A Reflection on Sustainability in Interior Design

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Previously titled: How to Be a New Millennium Interior Designer

Note: The following is from an essay I was required to write on sustainability at the end of my unit on materials in interior design school. I find it helpful to revisit what I learned, reminding myself to conduct my work according to these principles.

I also try to encourage others to do the same wherever possible.

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A Historical Perspective

Since the dawn of our species, shelter has been a fundamental need. Over time, we’ve sought better, safer, and more convenient accommodations, leading to many luxuries we now take for granted—from building materials like concrete and plastics to the engines that power our cars, blenders, and refrigerators.

Since the invention of synthetic polymer celluloid in 1862 by Alexander Parkes, humankind has continuously pushed the boundaries of science. Driven by the demand for materials with greater strength, elasticity, durability, and lighter weight, a world of plastics and composites was born.

This relentless innovation, fueled by Big Industry, has made our built environment—our homes, infrastructure, and cities—possible.

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Modern Perspective

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The Role of the Designer

Throughout a career that may span decades, an interior designer will be responsible for specifying and selecting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of products and materials from countless sources. These choices directly impact the spaces we create for human use and can significantly affect many lives. It’s crucial that these products are safe, foster health, and promote productivity.

Our spaces should nurture us, not harm us.

Every day, new products are introduced to the market. While many offer improvements over older methods of planning, designing, fitting, and building, their convenience must always be weighed against their impact on our fragile ecosystem and human health.

“First, do no harm” is a principle worth adhering to, even in the face of budgets, client demands, and time constraints.

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Interior Design: Industry or Service?

Though interior design falls under the ‘service’ category, the profession is closely tied to construction, especially in commercial and contractual projects where large quantities of materials are required.

Designers must take the problems and solutions of the construction industry seriously, as their choices can either benefit or harm the environment.

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Waste Management

In the UK alone, construction generates a staggering 70 million tonnes of waste per year, according to the Department of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough University. This amounts to nearly 24 kilograms per week for each person in the UK and accounts for four times more waste than a typical household produces.

The British government, like many other authorities, has put forth suggestions for managing construction waste.

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Best to Worst Practices for Construction Disposal

The hierarchy of waste management from most to least desirable:

1. Sustainable development	Prioritizing eco-conscious design throughout the design and building processes.
2. Prevention	Finding ways to avoid creating waste in the first place.
3. Reduction	Using less, designing with locally sourced products, and employing smart strategies to use all resources efficiently.
4. On-site reuse	Finding ways to incorporate existing parts of the design into the new.
5. On-site recovery	Repairing rather than discarding materials that could be recycled or upcycled.
6. Off-site reuse	Disposing of waste responsibly to allow for recycling once removed from the site.
7. Off-site recovery	Enabling restoration of items removed from the site through proper disposal.
8. Landfill	The worst-case scenario, where refuse and rubble sit for hundreds of years without decaying, polluting the environment.

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Looking at these points, it’s clear that interior designers can best effect change by prioritizing sustainable development.

Through thoughtful design that emphasizes sustainability, durability, and maintenance, designers can help avoid waste problems before they begin.

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The Natural vs. Synthetic Argument

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Eco-friendly design should minimize environmental damage at every stage, from sourcing to installation and beyond.

The idea that ‘natural is better’ is a common oversimplification in the sometimes controversial world of green design. It’s essential to be well-educated about the production of all materials, whether naturally sourced or manufactured.

For instance, plastic is demonized as a petroleum product, which, due to poor management and low costs, has become a global pollutant. It’s derived from oil, a finite resource. Meanwhile, raw cotton, a natural plant product, is widely considered sustainable and ethical for general use.

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Case Study 1: Synthetic Plastics

Despite their obvious drawbacks, plastics are indispensable in many areas of modern science and medicine. Their ability to be custom-molded into virtually any shape makes them invaluable. Without plastics, safety helmets, seat belts, flotation devices, airbags, bulletproof glass, and Kevlar wouldn’t exist. It’s also worth noting that plastics are being reinvented as biodegradable materials engineered from plants like corn, thanks to scientists developing bioplastics.

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Case Study 2: Natural Cotton

Cotton, on the other hand, is the most important textile globally, accounting for 48% of all textile production. The problem with this natural material is the massive amounts of water and pesticides required for its production. The amount of pesticide used equals the weight of the cotton produced, gram for gram. Shockingly, less than 1% of all cotton is organically farmed.

Unfortunately, ‘natural’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘better for the planet’. The issues are far more complex and nuanced.

We can’t make broad judgments about materials based solely on their fabrication or source. Often, it’s the production, procurement, and transportation of a material where the most significant environmental consequences arise.

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One important takeaway is that materials and products should be evaluated across their entire life cycle, including after their disposal.

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Solutions for Greener Design

From my studies, I’ve concluded that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution.

However:

-Designers must avoid prejudice or bias and adhere to a useful code of conduct.

-Each material should be evaluated, with the specific needs of the project weighed against the results of selection and installation.

-Designers must continue educating themselves.

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With more complexity of choice than ever before, we also have more information available to us and more incentive to be ‘green’. In addition to following local codes and regulations, designers can use online resources like sustainable materials databases.

Above all, sourcing quality products and services locally is one of the most critical ways to be “green” while also supporting local economies and communities. The use of vintage, salvaged, and reclaimed materials should also not be overlooked.

I believe that the future is green, and designers who ignore this will be left behind. There’s only one way forward: to choose sustainability. Integrating sustainability into the design-build process from start to finish is undoubtedly “the way of the future.”

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Do you agree with my old school essay? What do you see as good first steps to make positive changes in the design industry?

Comment below!

Happy design studying,

Von Sassy.

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