Q&A with sustainability champion, Emily King

We are not very well equipped at present. We face a steep learning curve which requires training to understand all the data that we are now having to analyse, creating systems to assist us in our journey, and gaining as much information from industry experts as possible, so that we can start to take steps towards a net zero fit-out design.

Nevertheless, as interior designers, we are in a strong position to control change. By specifying only from companies that are taking control of their sustainability journey and transitioning from a straight to a circular economy, we can ensure we are using products that are cleaner, durable and timeless. In doing so, we have the potential to influence manufacturers and suppliers to play their part sooner rather than later.

I predict that we will need to be more informed and better trained to understand the various certifications and assessment data provided by manufacturers in relation to their products.

There will be far more transparency of information between disciplines, suppliers and design competitors, and in time we hope that more products will have a circular life. Interior design will be much more concerned with reviewing the existing environment - considering how to implement new adaptable furniture and work with existing finishes.

The future will also increasingly see designers draw on rented or refreshed demountable furniture. It’s about adjusting people’s perceptions of what is beautiful.

Maybe, in time, the government will bring out new, simpler legislation including taxes that align with COP26 targets and rewards for those actors driving positive change. Manufacturers will then have to meet this legislation, meaning interior designers can get back to designing rather than data collecting, assessing and report-making on all the science behind the specification of products.

I now tend to look at the options to reuse materials and furniture that exist on site. I also research manufacturers that have already taken steps to make big changes to their environmental and sustainability policies and specify products that are durable, natural, modular and timeless in their design.

At present, interior designers have a big mountain to climb as there are a lack of supporting systems to assess and specify net zero FF&E fit-outs. We are having to really interrogate manufacturers on the life cycle of their products, their direction of travel (particularly around EPC, circularity, logistics and community investment) and make sense of the certifications that some - but not all - have. There is an uneven playing field when trying to decide what finishes and furniture to specify. Therefore, interior design companies, including BDP, are trying to create their own customised approach to assess all products and manufacturers. The system looks similar to that used by architects and structure engineers, who have developed tools such as One Click LCA.

As an interior design team, we are working to assess potential suppliers on a product-by-product basis. This means looking at the selection that we would like to use on a project and considering the wider picture, including what that company stands for, how they regard sustainability in their production and policies, and what is going into the individual product we're looking at.

In our FF&E specification, we link back to the information in our question checklist, and it provides a traffic-like system that gives us a guide (and it is only a guide) as to whether this product is going to be beneficial in the biggest scheme of the project.

The process can then be used to measure the product against certain requirements, such as if the project needs to be carbon neutral, meet WELL credentials, have a large count of products with high recycled content, or meet a certain level of circularity. In many cases, these are requirements often put forward by the client. 

At this time, the final decisions around selection can only be guided by our core values.

It has become increasingly more important to me as I’ve become more informed. When moving from our old house, we decided to move into a new efficiently built property with solar panels, an electric vehicle plug in and a smart heating and water system. We are also investing in a further eight solar panels with a storage battery.

I also have a sustainable view of clothing. I either buy preloved items or new good quality clothes that are not fast fashion, made with sustainable materials and can be worn year after year. As a family, we try and walk or cycle around the area we live in and are conscious of ensuring that we recycle or reuse all items that can be sorted. My 10-year-old son, who seems to have become a planet guru, converted me to become a vegetarian a year ago and I am happy to have followed in his footsteps.

I have been part of the Sustainable Design Collective for the past 10 months and I have learnt, engaged and been inspired by all of the 24 members. The collective recognises that the quest for greater environmental responsibility and sustainability is a real challenge. We aim to collaborate, find solutions to the hurdles we are coming up against and accelerate the pace of change within our industry.

The group’s professionals include designers, suppliers, dealers, sustainability consultants, energy legals and project managers, all of whom are incredibly passionate, knowledgeable and wise. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with all of them.

With the help of our group debates and hearing the group speak at events, including Clerkenwell Open and Orgatec 2022, I now feel confident to share the knowledge I have learnt with others.

There are a lot of new products that are trying to break boundaries. However, I’m particularly interested in those that use innovative building materials.

Insulation panels made from mycelium are a great example of a new and innovative product that delivers good acoustic and thermal insulation. Moreover, where they’re made from an agricultural by-product that’s free from toxic resins and otherwise destined for landfill, they offer a healthier, safer and less wasteful alternative.

Beyond this, there is a growing interest in insulation options that draw on waste from the food production and agricultural sectors. From coffee chaff to orange peel and sugar cane, these formerly discarded materials are now being used to inform much-needed sustainable, biodegradable, vegan and renewable alternatives.