Pioneering a New Era of Sustainability in Interior Design

As a whole, society has become more and more aware of the rising environmental issues across the globe. Melting ice caps and rising temperatures are merely a small portion of the consequences we are going to face in the coming years. Recycling plastic and reducing carbon emissions is a great start in caring for our environment, but we have to think bigger and do more.

Having grown up working for my family’s business, Aquafil, a leading producer of synthetic fibers, I’ve always been around innovative design. In 2007, as chairman of Aquafil, I took on a new challenge of creating a more sustainable fiber, and in 2011 ECONYL® nylon was the result. ECONYL® regenerated nylon is made hundred per cent from waste that is infinitely recyclable and does not restrict designers’ creativity in any way. Now,

When I see landfills and waste, I see an abundance of opportunity.

This technology uncovered a global demand for eco-friendly products. I love the beauty of the world and I want to do good work that preserves that beauty. Similarly, I urge leaders across industries to think about the implications of their work, the resources they consume, and the process undergone to dispose of those resources in their final stages of use.

Together, we have a huge opportunity to transform the way we view waste and inspire change. 

I believe the interior design industry and the fashion industry can be of valuable influence on one another. Both industries are using fibers and sourcing raw materials to make a finished product that is consumed and used as an extension of one’s personality. Both add beauty and style to the world. And, both industries have the capacity to transform relationships between consumers and suppliers to create a greater demand for sustainable products, and less of a desire for wasteful materials. When designers and architects support suppliers that ethically and sustainably extract their materials, they are creating a chain reaction by allowing suppliers to continue their good work.

In recent years, the fashion industry has made remarkable strides in sustainability. Leading brands and designers have worked hard to foster change in the industry by designing with the end in mind; paying close attention to the fibers and materials they use, the production process and how to dispose of the clothing item at the end of its life. Sustainable fibers like ECONYL® regenerated nylon are pioneering closed loop regeneration processes and delivering sustainable products both in the fashion and the design industries. 

Imagine if some of these sustainable trends and design methods were emulated in interior design, the potential for positive change would be infinite! Much like fashion, interior design impacts nearly every person in the world. Interior design in particular has a capacity to make a large-scale impact using some of the same principles used in the fashion industry today. 

According to Lance Hosey, FAIA, LEED Fellow and Design Principal & Chief Impact Officer at HMC Architects, studies show that

Designers and architects can impact up to 90 percent of a project’s eventual impact based on the earliest design decisions.[1]

For designers of all kinds, it’s important to think through what kind of design you’d like to implement and what resources would be needed to make that design possible all before you even begin the project. There are several key design tips from the fashion industry that can be transferred over to interior design to help achieve greater sustainability. 

Buy eco-friendly materials. Materials are incredibly powerful! They are key when it comes to fashion, and similarly, they are key when it comes to sustainable interior design. Sustainable materials add a great deal of beauty, creativity and dimension to a space, while caring for the earth’s nonrenewable resources and having a low environmental impact throughout its lifetime. Examples may include fast-growing bamboo, veneer cork for flooring, regenerated fibers like ECONYL® nylon for carpets, and drapes and recycled steel and wood. Beautiful, breathtaking designs can also be sustainable!

Credits: Punto e Filo

Design for waste reduction. Be sure to consider how these products will be disposed of when they are discarded and try to choose materials that were made from waste and can be renewed/recycled at the end of their life cycle. My personal motto is to

Design with the end in mind.

It’s inspiring for me to see so many admirable designers already doing this and designing with future generations in mind. 

Credits: noho

Shop mindfully. Be sure to shop mindfully by sourcing decorative pieces and materials from trusted eco-friendly vendors. Many fashion brands have become more and more transparent with their supply chain methods, openly disclosing information about their suppliers and materials. This is something I think interior designers could do as well. Do your research and source products from companies that take a sustainable approach and use their resources wisely. Not only is this a more sustainable approach, but it also establishes trust with your consumers when you allow them insight into your supply chain process. 

Refinish and upholster existing pieces. Gently used objects can be reupholstered and refinished for long term use. Repurposing an object that already exists means less energy and resources are required to make something brand new. 

Consider longevity of objects. Think about the lifespan and life cycle of the materials you plan to use from extraction, production, transportation and processing, all the way to how they are discarded after use. It’s important to design durable pieces, especially pieces that may typically undergo wear and tear, like flooring. For example, consider using modular products like tiles that are easier to replace. In the event of wear and tear or stains, it’s much easier to swap out the one affected tile versus the entire floor or carpet. 

There are several fashion brands leading the way in sustainability through their design process and careful selection of materials. Top brands include Stella McCartney, Prada, Patagonia, Allbirds and Eileen Fisher. Now the question that emerges is: Who will be the leaders in interior design and textiles? 

Sustainable manufactures do exist, and they’re committed to practices that protect our environment. Interface, Ferreira de Sá, Punto e Filo, and noho are just a few of the manufactures committed to sustainable practices. The time has come for interior designers to seek them out, use their materials and demand sustainably made textiles for your designs, and to appeal to the next generation of clients who care about the sustainability of our planet as much as they care about the beautiful spaces they’ve asked you to create.

Join the movement; www.econyl.com

[1] Hosey, Lance. “Toward A New Consilience”. Gensler.com, 7, Oct 2019.