Last Updated on October 21, 2024
Flex Design Studio emphasizes using sustainable materials whenever possible to aim for a lower carbon footprint. Having an eco-friendly approach doesn’t negatively affect a design.
In fact, with a little creativity, adding materials like reclaimed wood, recycled glass, natural stone can put a unique flair into your design. Choosing these materials will lower the carbon emissions related to transporting and producing building materials.
4 Essential Characteristics of Eco-Friendly Materials:
Eco-Friendly materials in design are products that reduce the consumption of natural resources. They have a minimal impact on the environment throughout their lifecycle. From creation to the finished product, they’re sourced and created more efficiently than traditional options. Some of the things we look for in a material are as follows.
1) Renewable: Renewable materials are materials that regenerate naturally. They’re harvested sustainably from areas where they can easily regrow. Plants like bamboo are the fastest-growing plants in the world. Because of their grass-like qualities, they require minimal water and minimal deforestation to source. Other materials like cork, natural stone, and recycled glass are highly renewable resources and great to use for any interior design project.
2) Recyclable: Materials that are easily recycled or repurposed can greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Rather than needing to buy a new window or to use harshly treated products like those that include plastic, choosing to use recycled or repurposed materials is a sustainable way of reducing excess waste. Aluminum and glass are two materials that are easily recycled and easy to add into any project.
3) Non-Toxic: We’ll dive deeper into this below, but the choice of using non-toxic products like VOC-free paints or adhesives wherever you can is crucial to our health and the health of our planets. Many products like industrial paints release toxic fumes like VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds that are harmful to people. These paints can seep into the soil and their toxic fumes can be released into the ozone layer. Going with a non-toxic alternative is a great step towards protecting yourself, your clients, and the planet.
4) Durability: Durable materials like stone, recycled steel and glass, and reclaimed or repurposed wood are a great addition to extend the life of previously used materials. The Colosseum has been around for over 2,000 years and was constructed almost entirely out of stone.
Sustainability in design doesn’t need to sacrifice quality or style. It simply means putting an emphasis on selecting energy efficient or easier renewable materials. There are various sustainable materials that can be used in interior design, including bamboo, reclaimed wood, non-toxic paints, glass, and natural stone. Other things not mentioned like recycled aluminum, cork, and polished plaster are also great sustainable design materials that offer durability and an eco-focused process. Because interior design is inside, indoor air quality is a major factor in choosing materials that don’t emit harmful chemicals.
Sustainable Material Choices for Everyday Use
Bamboo: Bamboo’s durability and lower eco-footprint makes it a sustainable alternative to industrial woods and plastics. Technically a grass-plant, it requires lower water and lower maintenance to be harvested. Bamboo can also be used as a border to add depth to a tray ceiling design.
Cork: Cork is a resilient and durable material harvested from the bark of oak trees. Since these trees easily regenerate their bark, cork is a highly sustainable material with lower carbon emissions.
Natural Stone: Natural stone is long-lasting, can be locally sourced, and has a long lifecycle, making it a high impact alternative to industrial treated stones.
Terrazzo: Terrazzo is made by mixing shards of broken glass and broken stones with concrete and an epoxy-type finish. By recycling materials that would otherwise be discarded, terrazzo extends the lifecycle of these other materials and reduces waste.
Repurposed Wood: Repurposed wood is wood that’s taken from old buildings or leftover materials from other design projects and reused rather than thrown away. By reusing the wood, it lowers carbon emissions, the need for production and transportation, extends the life cycle, and reduces waste. Repurposed wood is durable and recyclable and a great alternative to purchasing new industrial lumber.
Glass: Glass can be recycled endlessly without losing its quality. It’s referred to as a permanent material because of its near-infinite ability to be recycled over and over. Broken glass can be used in artistic projects like crushed-glass countertops or wall patterns in interior design.
Local and Social Impact of Sustainable Materials
Choosing sustainable materials directly supports companies that are implementing safe practices to protect the local environment and create well-paying jobs for locals.
Lifecycle of a Product
The lifecycle of a product or building material plays an important part in waste reduction. Choosing products that are more durable and locally sourced like natural stone or reclaimed wood directly contributes to lower emissions because these materials don’t need to be replaced as quickly. Interior designers who choose to use longer lifecycle materials are playing a significant role in preventing excess waste and carbon emissions.
Sustainability in Interior Design
It’s not as difficult to use sustainable materials in construction or interior design as you might think. Whether you’re using bamboo as an alternative to traditional lumber, or choosing the best eco-friendly paints, sustainable interior design materials are a rising trend for good reason. Making simple changes to which materials you use can have a lasting impact on the environment without compromising quality. A little goes a long way. Even small changes like choosing to use recycled materials for just one facet of the project is a step towards creating a healthier planet. Using VOC-free paint can help to protect your customers and their well-being. Many of these changes can lower material costs, just by using the materials you have available to you.Â
