Sustainability in Design

As we mentioned several weeks ago, one of our events during Las Vegas Winter Market was an enlightening session titled “What is Sustainability in Design?” We were thrilled to have the program director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC), Angie Kenny, to speak about the Six Aspects of Sustainability—Circularity, Carbon, Waste, Water, Health, and Social sustainable practices in the home furnishings industry. Today, we’re going to dig a little deeper into this subject so those who were not able to attend can learn about this all-important subject.

What is Sustainability in Design?

SFC opens the discussion about the six aspects of sustainability with this reminder: “In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’” SFC takes a more granular approach as it relates sustainability to the home furnishings industry it serves, which means their model refers to the design, production, sale, and use of furniture to minimize negative environmental, health, and social impacts. This includes using eco-friendly materials, reducing energy and water consumption during manufacturing, ensuring product durability, and considering ethical labor practices throughout the supply chain.

So how does SFC explain the “Sustainability Six” mentioned above? Circularity Best Practices deal with things like material usage and reuse packaging. Carbon Best Practices relate to subjects like wood-sourcing transportation, energy usage, and public disclosure of company emissions. Waste Best Practices address zero-waste goals, waste inventory, waste reduction, and waste diversion. Water Best Practices deal with issues like monitoring production levels, the treatment of water after use, and addressing company-wide water usage. Health Best Practices include, among other things, elements the organization dubs the Hazardous Handful—flame retardant chemicals; fluorinated stain treatments; antimicrobials; vinyl; and VOCs, including formaldehyde. And last but not least, Social Best Practices aim to improve lives by considering living wages for domestic and international workers; flexible hours and benefits; equality for minority, women and LGBTQ workers; and company philanthropy and wellness programs.

SFC’s goals for the home furnishings industry is to have its movers and shakers demonstrate a significant and measurable reduction in the use of carbon, water, waste, and harmful chemical inputs; and to have them show a sizable increase in circularity practices by 2030. In a fascinating post on the SFC blog, guest contributor Erica Reiner of Eco Method Interiors, who is an SFC member, wrote about her reflections on 2024’s sustainability achievements and predictions for our industry. She believes we made noticeable strides last year. She called 2024 “a year of notable, gradual progress.” Reiner adds, “While the industry still faces challenges in scaling sustainability initiatives, 2024 brought some meaningful achievements. Companies, certification bodies, and governments have all contributed to the growing momentum around eco-friendly practices and safer materials. Starting with the retail sector, there are examples from small niche companies to big box stores.”

Reiner goes on to say, “At major industry events like the Ambiente Trade Fair, brands highlighted products made from upcycled and bio-based materials, reflecting a growing interest in resourceful design. Similarly, the Sustainable Furnishings Council’s presence at the High Point Market brought attention to actionable steps designers and retailers can take to reduce their environmental impact. Natural materials like hemp and bamboo have remained popular, alongside certifications like B-Corp, which continue to guide sustainable choices.” It's wonderful to see designers like Reiner specializing in eco-friendly interior design. And we thoroughly enjoyed the lively discussions in Las Vegas as we welcomed Angie Kenny into our showroom.

Sustainability as a Choice

After the conversations between Kenny and our own VP of marketing Jenny Heinzen York, a tour of the showroom took place to highlight the variety of eco-friendly materials and manufacturing processes we use. We have also made great strides during the past decade to be mindful of what it means to be acting in the best interest of the environment and those who value our products.