Responsible Specifying Toolkit

Facts

• Every year, around 405 million tonnes of paper and paperboard are produced, totalling roughly 13-15% of total wood consumption. (SOURCE).
• With demand for paper products increasing, global production could double by 2050 (SOURCE).
• Paper production sector is the fourth largest industry when it comes to energy consumption, and requires a significant amount of water, depending on the efficiency of the mill - using more water than other industries such as steel and petrol. (SOURCE).
• 80% of UK paper is made from recovered substances (SOURCE).
   

Key Points

Could recycled materials be used?

If it’s recycled paper what percentage is disclosed recycled content? Try to purchase the product with the highest proportion of recycled material.

Paper supply chains frequently lack the transparency found in timber

Which makes them more difficult to track and necessitates more rigorous questioning.

What’s the provenance? 

Wood pulp used in paper production might originate from forests lacking reforestation programs or from illegal logging.

If the paper is made from virgin material

Is it certified as coming from a sustainable forest? FSC, PEFC or the EU Ecolabel? If yes, ask for details of forest certification and supply chain information. 

Avoid FSC Mix 

Which is from simply 'controlled' rather than forest management certified sources.

Don’t buy it

If it doesn’t have a certification and the supplier is claiming it to be sustainable, ask for evidence as to what makes it sustainable. If a supplier can’t provide this proof, avoid buying from them.

Understand compliance

UK Timber Regulations and EU Timber Regulations (in Northern Ireland) apply to wallpaper and wallcoverings that contain timber or pulp/paper, as these are considered timber products under the regulations.  See TIMBER for more information on record keeping for importers and operators, and traders

Support good brands

That prioritise transparency and sustainable sourcing. Certification is not always accessible to smaller brands so use your discretion.

Use of paper as wallcovering

It has human and ecological health benefits.  Paper is vapor-permeable helping indoor air quality - and providing its pure paper and without toxic coatings or inks, it safely disposed of at the end of its life. In comparison, vinyl (PVC) wallcovering can release harmful chemicals during use and when incinerated at end of life and will not compost safely. Alternatives other than FSC-certified paper, are woven or grasscloth coverings (jute, sisal, seagrass, hemp), non-woven cellulose wallcoverings, and PVC-free performance textiles such as Xorel or its bio-based, sugarcane-derived version. For more information on PVC wallcoverings - see PLASTIC.

Look for wallpapers certified by health related schemes

Such as Greenguard, Cradle to Cradle Certified®, OEKO-TEX or EU Ecolabel often restrict toxic substances and VOC emissions. 

Look for products with transparency to enable informed decision making

Health Product Declaration® (HPD) is like an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) but focuses on chemical ingredients and associated health hazards of building products

Glass is ubiquitous in our lives and sometimes overseen. Globally 33 billion glass bottles are produced every year for wine production alone. Glass appears throughout commercial and residential interiors — glazing, splashbacks, partitions, mirrors, shelving, balustrades and decorative finishes as well as doors, windows and solar panels outside. Glass is valued for its clarity, durability and recyclability in principle, but the reality of its supply chain, energy intensity and end-of-life recovery is more complicated than ‘glass is infinitely recyclable’ suggests.

Within the glass industry, sustainability efforts have focused on production methods, minimising energy requirements, weight reduction, and cleaner transportation logistics. Core ingredients of glass are minerals - primarily silica sand (structural framework), soda ash (lowers the melting temperature) and limestone (stabiliser). Other additives are included depending on the type of glass being produced.  

Facts

• UK flat glass (used in windows, doors and partitions) has a recycling rate of just 11%, compared with 32% for container glass such as bottles and jars. Source: Business Waste, Glass Recycling Facts
• The UK glass industry produces 2.4 million tonnes of glass annually with an average recycled content of only 38%, and emitted 2.2 million tonnes of CO2 in 2021 — equivalent to 2.7% of the UK's total industrial greenhouse gas emissions. Source: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, ‘Glass Sector Deep Dive’
• Using 100% recycled cullet in place of virgin raw materials could reduce the embodied carbon of glass by up to 58%. Source: FEVE, 2016 (cited in CISL Glass Sector Deep Dive)
• Less than 5% of end-of-life flat glass in the UK is currently recycled back into new flat glass, despite around 26% being remanufactured in other ways. Source: ScienceDirect, Mapping Material Use and Embodied Carbon in UK Construction 

Key Points

Reuse

Before removing or recycling existing glazing, consider whether it can be upgraded in place: solar control film, low-E retrofit film or secondary glazing can improve thermal or acoustic performance without full replacement.

Upgrade

Secondary glazing is particularly relevant in period or listed properties, where replacing original glass isn't possible or desirable.

Low-carbon glass

Products using a mix of recycled content, alternative fuels and green electricity are increasingly available from UK manufacturers — ask whether one is an option for the specification.

Recycled content

Avoid virgin material mineral mining - give preference to glass with the highest proportion of recycled content (cullet) available; ask suppliers to disclose the percentage.

Soda ash 

This is one of the world's largest yet least-known commodities, serving as an essential component in glass manufacturing and numerous everyday items (detergents, chemicals, lithium processing, foodstuffs, and animal feed). As a mined or synthetic material ingredient of solar panels, soda ash also plays a critical part in the global energy transition. The industry lacks standards or verifications to guide responsible production.

Consider salvage and reuse

Consider for architectural or decorative glass elements before specifying new.

Recyclability 

Be aware that coloured and coated glass (low-E, solar control, laminated or toughened) is harder to recycle back into flat glass, since coatings and interlayers must be separated before remelting — ask what coatings are present and how they affect recyclability.

Look for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

Some manufacturers now provide this to compare the lifecycle. While having an EPD doesn’t mean a product is necessarily environmentally good and healthier. But having the EPD means transparency and makes it easy to compare the life-cycle environmental impact of the product when compared to another.

Where full replacement is unavoidable

Ask whether the removed glass can be collected separately for genuine flat-glass-to-flat-glass recycling, rather than being downcycled into lower-grade uses such as aggregate.

Supply chain 

Glass manufacture relies on silica sand, one of the most heavily mined natural resources globally; ask suppliers about sourcing and whether recycled cullet reduces virgin sand extraction in their process.

Glass is heavier than comparable clear materials 

Materials such as acrylic or polycarbonate and can break easily in transit — specify appropriately, particularly for large panels, and consider whether a lighter-weight alternative is suitable for lower-risk applications.

Installation

The primary installation risks are cuts from broken glass or cutting tools, and manual handling injury from large or heavy panels — proper lifting equipment and trained handling reduce both.

Installer safety 

Edge-grinding, polishing or on-site cutting can generate fine dust; where this is required, extraction or wet-cutting methods and appropriate respiratory protection should be used in line with HSE COSHH guidance.

Occupant safety 

Specify appropriate safety glazing (toughened or laminated) in line with UK Building Regulations wherever glass is used at low level, in doors, or in high-traffic areas.

End of use

Ask whether the glass product can be collected for genuine remelting rather than crushed for low-grade uses such as construction aggregate, which forecloses future recycling.

Mirrors, laminated and coated glass

These are more difficult to recycle than plain float glass due to backing materials and interlayers — factor this into specification decisions for items likely to be replaced or discarded.

Alternative recycling 

Where flat-glass-to-flat-glass recycling isn't available, crushed cullet still has genuine secondary uses — glass fibre insulation, glass block and terrazzo aggregate all use recycled glass, and specifying these products supports demand for that recycling stream even if it isn't strictly closed-loop.

RESOURCES

• British Glass, trade association for the UK glass industry: https://www.britglass.org.uk
• Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Glass Sector Deep Dive: https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Glass and Glazing
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Control of Exposure to Silica Dust
   

Concrete is one of the world's most widely used construction materials and has become increasingly popular in interior design for floors, worktops, walls, furniture and decorative finishes. Its durability, thermal mass and minimal maintenance requirements make it an attractive choice for long-life interiors. However, concrete also carries significant environmental impacts, largely due to cement production, as well as important health and safety considerations during installation. Designers should carefully assess whether concrete is the most appropriate material for a project and, where it is specified, seek lower-carbon alternatives and maximise its lifespan. 

Facts

• Accounting for roughly eight per cent of worldwide CO2 emissions, the manufacturing of concrete relies heavily on aggregate materials, which comprise about 90% of its volume SOURCE
• Cement production is the third ranking producer of anthropogenic (man-made) CO2 in the world after transport and energy generation.  Portland cement (the most widely used) requires quarrying which can cause airborne pollution (toxic dust), followed by further pollution from kiln firing
• The production of concrete and the washing of aggregates are water-intensive. It takes approximately 150–300 litres of water to produce one ton of concrete  SOURCE

Key Points

When specifying concrete for interior applications, consider the following:

Consider the application and use

how long the concrete finish will be in place. Make use of concrete in long term schemes and avoid it in schemes where you know the product is likely to end up in landfill quickly. Concrete is highly durable, requires relatively little maintenance and can provide thermal mass, helping to moderate internal temperatures and reduce operational energy demand.

Challenge whether concrete is necessary

Depending on the application, alternatives such as hempcrete, timber, mycelium-based materials, recycled plastic products, Ferrock, AshCrete or Timbercrete may provide comparable performance with lower environmental impacts.

Hemp and lime

Or hempcrete—is a bio-composite building material made by wet-mixing hemp shiv (the woody core of the hemp stalk, often called hurds) with a lime-based binder (usually natural hydraulic lime or formulated lime mixes) and water. While not a load-bearing material like traditional concrete, it is a thermal insulator and moisture regulator due to its porous structure. The lime binder hardens over time, binding the hemp shiv into a lightweight, breathable composite.

Retrofitting/renovating/reusing

Reduces embodied carbon significantly rather than starting from scratch.

Concrete can be recycled

It can also be used as aggregate or as gravel for a wide range of applications. Larger pieces of concrete are often used to prevent erosion in streams or on shores.

Specify locally produced concrete

Also specify aggregates where possible to reduce transport emissions and improve supply chain transparency.

Consider lower-carbon concrete mixes

They incorporate supplementary cementitious materials such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), fly ash (where responsibly sourced), calcined clays or recycled aggregates.

Environmental impacts 

Concrete causes significant damage to topsoil, often through creation of hard surfaces which stop ground water absorption, creating water run off/ flooding and soil erosion.

Responsible suppliers

Suppliers of concrete should be able to provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for comparison and lifecycle information, information on recycled content and evidence of responsible quarry management.

Designers should seek products that:

• Maximise recycled aggregate content where appropriate
• Minimise Portland cement content through cement substitutes
• Source aggregates responsibly and legally
• Provide clear information on embodied carbon and water use

Concrete handling 

cutting, grinding, drilling and demolition generate respirable crystalline silica (RCS), which presents a serious health risk. Designers should ensure contractors follow appropriate dust control measures, including wet cutting techniques, local exhaust ventilation, suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and compliance with relevant health and safety guidance. See the BIID Stone and HSE guidance for more information on silica dust and silicosis risks.

Once cured

Concrete is generally considered an inert material with minimal impact on indoor air quality. However, any applied sealers, coatings or surface treatments should be assessed for volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and selected in accordance with low-emission standards where possible.

Comfort

The thermal mass of exposed concrete can contribute to improved indoor comfort by moderating temperature fluctuations when used as part of an appropriately designed building.  See also the BIID Energy guidance for information on thermal mass and operational energy performance.

End of Use 

Concrete should not automatically be regarded as waste at the end of a project. Where removal is unavoidable:

• Prioritise reuse of existing structural elements where feasible
• Recycle demolished concrete as aggregate for new construction
• Reuse larger concrete sections for landscape or erosion control applications where appropriate
• Avoid disposal to landfill wherever possible
   

RESOURCES

• Construction material pyramid - interactive web-based tool created by Centre for Industrialised Architecture, Royal Danish Academy - to compare and visualise the environmental impacts associated with the production of different material categories: https://www.materialepyramiden.dk/
• Construction dust HSE information sheet​: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis36.pdf
• Healthy Materials Lab - Hemp and lime: https://healthymaterialslab.org/tool-guides/hemp-lime-1  
   

Ceramics are one of humanity's oldest and most enduring materials, and when considered across their full lifecycle, they compare favourably to many modern alternatives. In the interior design industry fired ceramics and porcelain is used widely from sanitaryware, fire surrounds, tiles and pottery items including lamps.

A simple clay tile for example has an embodied energy of just 2.5 megajoules per kilogram, compared to 227 MJ/kg for aluminium, and when measured over a 75-year lifespan, ceramic tile has the lowest cradle-to-grave embodied carbon of any flooring category, outperforming vinyl, carpet, and engineered wood.

Crucially, ceramics are extremely durable, non-porous, with low-maintenance required and being resistant to fire, water and wear, meaning that a well-specified ceramic surface can last decades without replacement, reducing the long-term material and carbon cost of a scheme. Ceramic tiles are also one of the lowest off-gassing materials available. Fired at extreme temperatures, they are fully inorganic and emit no VOCs in use, making them a genuinely healthy choice for indoor air quality particularly for allergy sufferers.

That said, ceramics are not without impact: the kiln-firing process can exceed 1,000°C, and the global ceramic tile industry emits an estimated 19 million tonnes of CO₂ annually and the opportunity for interior designers lies in specifying ceramics thoughtfully: prioritising reclaimed, handmade, or locally produced options; understanding what goes into glazes and finishes; and planning for responsible end-of-life disposal from the outset.

Facts

• Energy consumption: Some ceramics, particularly those with glazes can require extreme temperatures to manufacture. Well-managed efficient kilns and non-toxic glazes can be chosen to ensure a more sustainable product. Around 80% of CO₂ emissions from ceramic tile production occur during the firing and drying stages.
• Production: Use of virgin materials and high-water usage during production add further environmental burden. With an average water consumption in ceramic tile manufacture around 20 litres per square metre produced
• Ethics: As with stone and other extracted materials, ceramics sourced from outside the UK and Europe may come from factories with limited environmental or labour regulation. Hand-painted and artisan tiles in particular can involve hidden supply chains where labour conditions are difficult to verify
• Animal derived content: Bone china contains between 25% and 50% bone ash by composition, derived from calcined animal bones, mostly cows. Bone char is also used in glazes as an opacifier, flux and colorant
• Ceramics extend beyond tiles and surfaces to sanitaryware, for example basins, WCs, cisterns and bathtubs. The same principles apply: ask about recycled content, manufacturing origin, and whether the supplier holds environmental accreditations
• End of Life: Ceramic waste sent to landfill cannot biodegrade and is classified as inert waste yet recycling rates for ceramics remain very low. Where tiles are bonded to plasterboard they must be separated before recycling can take place

Key Points

Look for recycled content  

Ask what percentage is post-consumer recycled content versus factory waste recycled content and aim for the highest proportion of disclosed recycled material. Pre-consumer recycled content refers to manufacturing waste such as offcuts and rejects from the production process that are fed back into new products. Post-consumer recycled content refers to material that has already been used and returned such as crushed ceramic waste, for example. Post-consumer content is generally considered the more valuable of the two as it diverts material from landfill. Aim for the highest proportion of post-consumer recycled content where possible.

Look for third party accreditations

There are accreditation schemes for ceramics such as Greenguard. This certification signifies the ceramic (floor, wall and porcelain) products meet the strict requirements for low chemical emissions in homes, businesses and commercial buildings.

Ask whether the factories producing the ceramics have any accreditation 

Look for ISO14001/2, EMAS, LEED or Ecolabel. If the factories have  these certifications it is likely that they have systems in place to reduce their environmental impact such as recycling production water, recycling waste energy from kilns or using renewable energy in factories. 

Ask for an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

An EPD provides transparency and makes it easier to compare the lifecycle environmental impact of one product against another. EPDs are still relatively rare among UK tile manufacturers, though the picture is improving. Having one doesn’t mean the product is good - it means the product is transparent and easier to compare to another product with an EPD. 

Consider glazes  

While they may extend a product's life, they can prevent recycling. Broken tiles need not be wasted, fragments can be used in mosaics, terrazzo, or as drainage material in planters.

Handmade clay tiles  

Typically fired at lower temperatures and produced in smaller batches, carry a lower carbon footprint than mass-produced porcelain and support traditional craft skills. Look for locally-made options to minimise transport emissions.

Crystalline silica

Ceramic and porcelain contains levels of silica, which can cause silicosis, a serious, irreversible and incurable lung disease. Designers should specify wet-cutting methods in their specifications and ensure contractors follow current HSE guidance on silica dust control.

Think local 

Sanitaryware is significantly heavier and larger than tiles, meaning transport emissions are proportionally higher, favouring locally manufactured products where possible. 

Encourage reuse

Encourage clients to retain and refurbish existing sanitaryware where possible, and consider specialist reclamation suppliers.

Is this the right material? 

Consider whether ceramic is the right material for each surface before specifying.

Order accurately 

Accurate ordering reduces wastage on site: overordering is common with tiles and surplus stock rarely has a clear route to reuse.  

Use a recycling scheme where possible

UK companies including Fresh Start Waste Services and Geocycle offer commercial ceramic waste collection and recycling. For smaller quantities, architectural salvage companies and Freecycle are viable options. 

Indoor air quality

Traditional tile adhesives, grouts and sealants, particularly those with acrylic additives, epoxy resins, or solvent-based sealers, can off-gas during and after installation. For more information on grouts and adhesives refer to Paint, varnish, coatings, grout, glue and adhesive section.  

RESOURCES

• Construction dust HSE information sheet 
   

Metal features throughout commercial and residential interiors — structural steel, aluminium framing and joinery, steel, brass, copper and bronze ironmongery, chromed fittings and furniture and accents. Metals are among the most genuinely circular materials available to specifiers, but that potential is only realised when recycled content, coatings and finishing processes are properly considered at the point of specification.

Facts

• 96% of steel used in construction and infrastructure in the UK is recovered and recycled (Source: UK Steel)
• The UK's Steel Strategy (2026) sets a target of 50% UK-made steel, up from around 30% currently, backed by a shift to Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) production using recycled scrap rather than virgin iron ore (Source: UK Government, The UK Steel Strategy).
• Recycling aluminium uses around 95% less energy than producing it from raw bauxite ore, and aluminium can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality — nearly 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today (Source: International Aluminium Institute / DEFRA).
• Bauxite mining for virgin aluminium is associated with deforestation, habitat disruption and waterway pollution in producing regions.
• Community impact. In 2009, a UK High Court ruling found Corby Borough Council negligent in its handling of toxic steelworks waste, the first time a UK civil court linked birth defects to mismanaged industrial waste; more than 100 further cases have since come forward.
   

Key Points

Specify recycled content

If specifying aluminium, use recycled content wherever possible - unlike many materials, aluminium loses no quality through repeated recycling, so there's no functional reason to default to virgin material.

Ask for the percentage of recycled content

And whether it's post-consumer or pre-consumer (factory) recycled material; specify the highest disclosed proportion available.

Coatings

If the metal is coated with any other material, confirm what it is and whether it renders the product incompatible with standard recycling — ask if any contaminant material is confirmed to be below 5% by weight, the general threshold below which recycling remains viable.

Anodising (common on aluminium)

Uses a sulfuric acid electrolytic bath to grow a protective oxide layer on the metal surface. Standard sulfuric acid (Type II) anodising is comparatively low-impact and the anodised layer itself is inert and recyclable, but older chromic acid (Type I) anodising processes carry the same hexavalent chromium concerns as chrome plating below — ask which process was used.

Chrome plating 

Durable and widely specified for fittings and hardware, but the plating process uses hexavalent chromium (Chromium VI), a substance with serious toxicological effects, alongside cadmium and cyanide in some processes. Ask whether chrome plating can be avoided, or whether a trivalent chromium (Chromium III) process — a less hazardous alternative — has been used instead.

Solder

If solder is used in assembly or fixing, confirm whether it contains lead or other heavy metals.

Heavy metals 

Particularly lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium — have severe toxicological effects on human health and, once released into the environment, are persistent and can biomagnify through food chains.  These substances are relevant both to finishing processes (plating, some pigments) and to certain older or lower-grade alloys — ask suppliers to confirm compliance with UK REACH restrictions on heavy metal content.

Supply chain

Ask whether production operations exceed relevant local legislation for pollution prevention, waste management and environmental protection — this is particularly relevant where plating or anodising is carried out overseas under less stringent regulation than the UK.

For virgin aluminium

Ask about the source of bauxite and whether the producer discloses environmental and social safeguards for mining operations.

Cutting, grinding or welding metal

On site can generate metal fume and fine particulates; extraction and appropriate respiratory protection should be used in line with HSE COSHH guidance.

Plating and anodising 

Should only be carried out by facilities with proper effluent treatment, since both processes use hazardous liquid chemicals (acids, cyanide-based solutions in some chrome processes) that require controlled disposal.

Favour mono-material or easily separable metal assemblies 

A chromed steel fitting bonded to a dissimilar substrate is harder to recycle than a plated component that can be mechanically separated.

Confirm take-back or recycling routes exist

For the specific product at end of life, particularly for composite or multi-material metal items.

RESOURCES

Recycling schemes

• UK Government, The UK Steel Strategy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/steel-strategy/the-uk-steel-strategy-web-version
• UK Steel, industry statistics: https://www.uksteel.org
• International Aluminium Institute: https://international-aluminium.org
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE): COSHH guidance: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh 
  
   

The substances found in building materials have a major influence on air quality indoors, the wellbeing of those installing them, and the health of the final occupants. For interior designers, getting to grips with toxic chemical content, pushing for transparency from manufacturers and using certification is important for making responsible and informed specification choices.

This section highlights the most pressing chemical issues and transparency tools available to support sustainable material specification.

Facts

• Pollutant levels can be 2–5 times higher indoors than outdoors  Most enclosed spaces have a wide range of indoor emissions including from buildings materials, furnishings, the use of combustion appliances such as gas and solid fuel cookers, boilers and stoves, the consumption of solvent-containing products, and the use of consumer products (e.g. cleaning and personal care products) (SOURCE)
• Up to 30% of the weight of the foam in our furniture can be chemical flame retardants. Many of the chemicals currently used as flame retardants are hazardous to both wildlife and humans, contributing to the growing chemical pollution crisis.  (SOURCE)

Key Points

The Green Science Policy Institute has grouped chemicals used in products we use every day to understand chemicals of concern, avoid their use and prevent a cycle of ‘regrettable substitution,’ whereby a phased out harmful chemical is replaced with a closely related ‘chemical cousin’ which is likely to cause similar harm.

1. PFAS Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of over 10,000 industrial chemicals used in many everyday items that now pollute air, soil, and water around the world. These ‘forever chemicals’ build-up along food chains, causing harm to both people and wildlife.
2. Antimicrobials associated with developmental, hormonal, and reproductive problems and can be found in some paints, textiles, worktops, flooring. Avoid products that are advertised as ‘antimicrobial’, ‘antibacterial’, ‘antiviral’ or ‘anti-odour.
3. Flame retardants  Outdated and ineffective fire safety regulations mean furniture sold in the UK contains some of the highest levels of chemical flame retardants anywhere in the world. These standards are currently under review.
4. Bisphenols and Phthalates are hormone disrupting chemicals found in some adhesives, caulks, vinyl flooring, PVC pipes. Try to opt for inert alternatives. Tell regulators and manufacturers that you want products without bisphenols and phthalates when possible. Some solvents used in consumer products are linked to neurological problems and increased cancer risk. These solvents can be found in some adhesives, wood finishes, paint strippers, oil based paints, sealants, cleaning products
5. Certain metals such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead present still in old paint or lead windows can cause health harm. Renovations, repair jobs and paint jobs in pre-1978 homes and buildings can create significant amounts of lead-based paint dust. In these homes, contractors should be trained in lead-safe practices.

RESOURCES

• Six Classes. Green Science Policy Institute, 2022. https://www.sixclasses.org/
• FIDRA - environmental charity working to reduce plastic waste and chemical pollution
  Sustainable fire safety: https://fidra.org.uk/projects/sustainablefiresafety/ 
  PFAS Free: https://fidra.org.uk/projects/pfas/
• Healthy Materials Lab, Parsons School of Design: https://healthymaterialslab.org 
  Material Collections: https://healthymaterialslab.org › material-collections   
• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute - circularity and material health guidance: https://c2ccertified.org
• Red List: https://living-future.org/red-list/
• Plastic Detox https://www.ecosia.org/search?addon=opensearch&q=plastic+babies+tv+netflix 
   

Operational energy 

Operational energy is the energy used to heat, cool, light and power a building. While embodied carbon in materials is increasingly discussed within the design industry, operational energy often represents the largest environmental impact and can significantly influence running costs. Embodied energy within materials and products also contributes to a building's overall environmental footprint.

Energy efficiency 

Energy efficiency is influenced by many factors, from building fabric and insulation to the systems, appliances and controls specified within it. Small decisions made throughout the design process can collectively have a significant impact on long-term energy consumption.

Facts

• Heating and hot water account for approximately 80% of household energy use in a typical UK home
• Appliances account for around 40% of household electricity consumption.
• Lighting controls that dim or switch lights in response to daylight levels can reduce lighting energy consumption by between 20–60%.
• Air Source Heat Pumps can typically produce three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed.
• Household consumption is responsible for 72% of global greenhouse gas emissions (SOURCE).
• The UK’s housing stock is among the least energy-efficient in Europe, with homes losing heat up to three times faster than those in continental Europe, contributing to higher energy costs and colder homes (source).

Appliances 

Energy-efficient appliances, combined with good maintenance, repairability and long product lifespans, can reduce both operational energy use and waste.

Choose efficient, durable appliances 

Appliances account for a significant proportion of household electricity consumption, making specification an important factor in operational energy performance. High energy-efficiency ratings, good repairability and readily available spare parts can reduce environmental impacts and extend product lifespan.

Maintain appliances properly 

Appropriate installation, ventilation and regular maintenance can improve performance and help appliances operate efficiently for longer.

Consider the whole lifecycle 

When specifying or replacing appliances, consider how they can be reused, repaired or recycled at the end of their life.

Building Maintenance and Longevity 

Regular maintenance, accessible systems and whole-life thinking can improve performance, extend building lifespan and reduce resource consumption over time.

Make maintenance easy

Accessible systems, regular servicing and clear maintenance information help buildings perform as intended, particularly where mechanical systems, smart technologies and renewable energy equipment are involved.

Consider whole-life costs

Looking beyond installation costs alone often delivers better environmental and financial outcomes. Flexible spaces, adaptable layouts and durable materials can also reduce the need for future alterations and associated resource use.

Heating and Cooling

Heating, cooling and hot water systems are among the largest consumers of energy in most buildings, making building performance and system efficiency key considerations. Heating, cooling and hot water systems are among the largest consumers of energy within most buildings. Insulation, airtightness, glazing, solar shading and ventilation all influence heating and cooling demand. Maintenance, system upgrades and major renovations can create opportunities to improve efficiency. Maintenance and upgrades to existing systems can often improve efficiency, while major renovation projects may present opportunities to adopt alternative heating and cooling strategies.

Home Automation and Smart Controls

Smart technologies can optimise heating, cooling, lighting and shading systems, helping buildings operate more efficiently and reducing unnecessary energy use.

Automate building systems 

Heating controls can respond to occupancy patterns and weather conditions, while automated blinds and presence sensors help reduce unnecessary energy use.

Integrate controls and monitoring 

Whole-house automation systems can coordinate heating, cooling, lighting and shading controls, while smart monitoring can identify maintenance issues before they affect performance. 

Lighting

Maximising natural daylight and specifying efficient LED lighting, sensors and controls can reduce electricity consumption while improving occupant comfort and wellbeing.

LED lighting is now the preferred solution for both new-build and refurbishment projects following the UK phase-out of most halogen and fluorescent lamps. LEDs use less energy, last longer and contain no mercury.

Longevity and repairability of fittings are important considerations, helping to reduce waste and replacement cycles over the life of a project (SOURCE).

Reducing Energy Demand 

The cleanest energy is often the energy that is never used. Improvements to insulation, airtightness, glazing, ventilation and solar shading can significantly reduce a building's energy requirements. A fabric-first approach focuses on insulation, airtightness, glazing, ventilation and solar shading to reduce heating and cooling demand before renewable technologies are considered. Energy surveys can help identify heat loss and target improvements where they will have the greatest impact. Retaining and upgrading existing buildings can often be more sustainable than demolition and rebuild, preserving embodied carbon while reducing waste.

Renewable Technologies 

Technologies such as Air Source Heat Pumps and solar photovoltaic panels can help reduce operational carbon emissions, particularly when combined with a fabric-first approach.

Renewable technologies 

Can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower operational carbon emissions.

Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) 

Are becoming increasingly common in UK homes. They extract heat from the outside air and transfer it into the building's heating and hot water systems. Their performance depends on factors such as insulation levels, heating systems and external temperatures.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels 

Convert sunlight into electricity and can continue generating power even on overcast days. Performance is influenced by roof orientation, shading and available surface area, while battery storage can help maximise on-site use.

A fabric first approach 

To renewable technologies that prioritises insulation, airtightness, shading and efficient building performance is the most effective. Installation costs can be significant, although government grants and incentive schemes may help reduce upfront expenditure.

Renewable electricity tariffs 

Can provide an alternative route to reducing operational carbon emissions where on-site renewable generation is not feasible.

Use Sustainable Building Frameworks

A number of recognised frameworks provide guidance and benchmarking for sustainable building performance. These include UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, SKA Rating, BREEAM, WELL Building Standard, Zero Energy Certification and Passivhaus certification.  Sustainable building frameworks provide useful benchmarks for improving environmental performance. While each system has a different focus, all encourage a more holistic approach to building performance, occupant wellbeing and resource efficiency.

Water Use

Reducing water consumption also reduces the energy required to heat water. Low-flow fittings, aerators and leak-detection systems can help minimise waste. Water-saving fittings can reduce both water consumption and the energy required to heat water. Water consumption and energy consumption are closely linked, particularly where hot water is concerned. Low-flow taps, aerators, efficient shower fittings and dual-flush toilets can significantly reduce water demand without compromising user experience. Smart controls, leak-detection systems and water monitoring technologies can further improve efficiency and reduce waste. Embodied water use should also be considered, as some materials, such as uncertified cotton, can require significant quantities of water during production.

Resources

• CEDIA -  provide guidance and training on integrated home technologies and energy-efficient building systems.
• Energy Saving Trust
• Future Homes and Building Standards (FHBS) Regulations come into force 24 March 2027- with higher-risk buildings enforcing on September 24, 2027. The regulatory changes are set out in: Approved Document L (Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions) Volume 1: Dwellings 
  Approved Document F (Ventilation) Volume 1: Dwellings.
• CIBSE
• Passivhaus Trust
• BREEAM
• WELL Building Standard
• SKA Rating
• UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard
• Zero Energy Certification
• CIBSE Energy Benchmarking
   

Carpeting remains a staple of interior design for its acoustic benefits, thermal comfort, touch and aesthetics. However, the sector faces significant scrutiny regarding its environmental footprint, particularly concerning low recycling rates and the high volume of waste sent to landfill. 

Ethical concerns also persist, specifically regarding hidden labour practices in global supply chains, difficult to recycle materials and animal welfare in wool, angora, silk production. Responsible specification requires moving beyond aesthetic selection to rigorous due diligence on material health, social equity, and end-of-life circularity, ensuring that comfort does not come at the cost of human or planetary wellbeing.

Facts

• 467,000 tonnes of carpet and textile flooring waste was generated in the UK in 2020, of which only 65,500 tonnes (14%) was sent to destinations other than landfill or combustion. There are many difficulties in finding alternative cheap, scalable, and environmentally friendly end-of-life routes for carpet, as it is a long-lasting, hard-wearing composite material. SOURCE
• Carpet is found in approximately 90% of British homes, representing a widespread and constant stream of both domestic and commercial waste SOURCE

Key Points

Buy quality  

Encourage clients to buy quality, long lasting carpets and rugs. Many rugs have a resale value. Consider sourcing preloved rugs.

Durability

A darker or patterned carpet may hide stains or wear more easily and therefore have a longer life span. You may wish to consider mothproof treatment, although this can introduce chemicals/toxins to the product which may impact indoor air quality. Ask about toxic chemical levels used. Thorough and regular cleaning can help prevent a moth infestation. Ensure the carpet can be easily maintained and will last as long as possible- where possible get the manufacturer to provide maintenance details/ cleaning kits. Carpets can be easy to damage and difficult to patch repair, therefore are often replaced quickly.

Consider material and usage 

Coir, sisal and seagrass work well in high traffic areas.

Who are the users? 

Loop carpets are best avoided for clients that have cats and dogs or that frequently wear shoes such as stilettos.

Potential toxic chemical content 

Carpets can contain toxic chemicals within their composition such as benzene and other VOCs in the adhesive, ortho-phthlates in PVC backing and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are sometimes present in stain resistant coatings.

Low VOC Emissions  

Look for Indoor Air Comfort Gold certification or Cradle to Cradle Certified. These certifications can indicate that products will have minimal off-gassing of harmful chemicals.

Use and reuse 

Preloved, lightly used carpets tiles can be relaid for a new useful life.

Use third-party certification schemes 

Use third party certification schemes but exercise caution. Sometimes they can be little more than a tick-box or self-certification with no independent authority and no remediation. You may need to do your own due diligence and research. Ask for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for transparent comparisons - but don’t depend on them qualify a product as good.

Materials passport 

Does the product have one? A materials passport acts as comprehensive digital log for further uses of a product.  These passports catalogue product specifications to keep products at their highest reuse value. They include manufacturer details, production sites, product codes, lifespan, material composition, whole-life carbon footprint, recycled content and end-of-life recyclability.

Child labour

Child labour and forced labour is present in some carpet production. Many rugs are hand-made (knotted, tufted, woven) and these rugs are typically not produced by the exporter but by sub-contractors and home workers.

• These informal workers are hidden from view, unprotected and exploited.
• The use of child, forced and bonded labour is widespread within these hidden supply chains.
• The use of child labour (under 14 years old) is illegal in most producer countries.
• Child labour prevents children from attending school & getting an education.
• Children are often forced to work up to 16 hours per day for little, if any pay. This practice perpetuates extreme poverty, poor health & shortened life.
• Forced & bonded adult labour traps adult workers into inflated debt & exploits them.

When buying from countries where child labour is known to exist e.g. India, Nepal, Afghanistan, insist all rugs are independently certified and labelled by an independent scheme such as GoodWeave. Doing so will provide the best assurance that no child or adult was exploited in the production of your product.

Hybrid carpets

Be wary of so called 'monstrous hybrid' carpets. An example would be where a PVC-backed carpets where nylon or wool fibres are fused onto polyvinyl chloride (PVC) backings. This synthetic backing cannot currently be safely separated from the natural top which means that the entire carpet cannot be recycled.

High recycled content 

Consider using carpets that include recycled post consumer PET or fishing nets.

Compostable biobased fibres

Consider using carpets made of jute, sisal or coir which are renewable and have a lower carbon footprint than synthetics.

Wool

Wool is used frequently for carpets and rugs and may come from sheep that have been mulesed. Surgical mulesing is a controversial procedure which removes wool bearing skin from a sheep to prevent blowfly strike, causing pain and tissue injuring on the animal in the proess. Wool from South Africa, New Zealand, China and South America is considered lower risk as these sources suffer much lower incidents of blowfly and mulesing is not commonly used. 

When specifying wool carpets and rugs you could also ask: 

• Is it Responsible Wool certified? Has the wool come from farms with the highest animal welfare practices to protect sheep?
• Is it recycled wool? What percentage is recycled content, post consumer recycled content and factory waste recycled content? Try to purchase the product with the highest proportion of recycled material.

Shearling 

Sometimes used in rugs and carpets, made from the skin of lambs with wool still attached. Sheepskin is more common.

Silk 

Commonly found in rug manufacturing. Produced by boiling silkworm cocoons  killing the larvae inside. Silk is often sourced from countries with limited labour and welfare regulation.

Angora 

Mostly produced in China, where fur from Angora rabbits is harvested (plucked) from the live animal. This method is widely reported to cause pain and distress and rough handling is common.

Cruelty free alternatives

Consider high-quality plant-based (e.g., jute, sisal, cotton) or recycled fibre alternatives that offer similar aesthetics and performance without animal exploitation

Carpet Tiles: Modular and low-impact solutions 

Where possible, specify carpet tiles over broadloom. Tile format allows for easy replacement of damaged areas rather than full-room re-carpeting, therefore significantly reducing waste. If using carpet tiles, consider a glueless system or loose lay that allows easy removal, reuse or recycling of materials.

Recycling schemes 

Old carpets can take decades to break down in landfills. Work with suppliers who offer take-back or recycling schemes for old carpets.

RESOURCES

Recycling schemes

• Tarkett operates ReStart take-back schemes for post-installation offcuts and clean tiles, turning them into raw nylon yarn: https://www.tarkett.co.uk/
• Interface uses a ReEntry program to reclaim and process tiles: https://www.interface.com/GB/en-GB.html  
• Innovate Recycle operates a £5m recycling plant in Northamptonshire to recapture polypropylene and calcium carbonate from waste carpets:  https://www.innovaterecycle.co.uk/
• Commercial collection services: FloorLoop, provides 1.5 m³ bulk bags for waste before booking a free UK-wide collection: https://www.floorloop.co.uk/
• Charity donations: If your old carpet is clean and in great condition, Spruce Carpets will find new much needed homes: https://www.sprucecarpets.org  
• Local animal shelters often accept carpets and rugs for animal bedding
   

Welcome to our new and improved hub for green skills to support the sustainability journey for our industry

Interior designers can help their clients make more environmentally and socially responsible choices, while demonstrating that sustainability need not come at the expense of beautiful design.  As the professional body for interior designers, the BIID believes this responsibility is fundamental to the profession, which is why promoting sustainable, ethical and inclusive design is one of our four strategic aims.

• 42% of the UK’s entire carbon footprint is controlled or influenced by the built environment (source)
• 62% of the UK’s total waste can be attributed to the construction sector (source).
• Globally the construction industry contributes to 50% of all climate change, 40% of drinking water pollution, 23% of air pollution and 50% of landfill (source). 

Whilst the wider public does not always see interior design as part of the construction sector, the choices interior designers guide their clients on very much contribute to this overall statistic. Interior designers have a vital role to play in creating a more sustainable future.

This toolkit is intended to provide designers with an overview of sustainability issues associated with specifying products, materials and technologies. We hope it can contribute towards interior designers feeling empowered to collaborate with their clients on making each project more sustainable. It is a living, open source guide written by our members, for our industry.

The toolkit includes an overview of supply chain and lifecycle considerations rather than a list of specific products or suppliers.  We have also provided a series of useful questions that can be used in conversations with your own suppliers and project implementation teams, to encourage them to offer or facilitate lower impact solutions.

The goal of this toolkit is to encourage the industry as a whole to review its impact and where possible make improvements. This can be achieved by learning and sharing knowledge of:

• Where products and materials come from and how they are made
• What impact they have on their immediate and wider environment and communities
• The lifecycle of products and materials.

This toolkit represents an evolution of our Sustainable Specifying Guide, first published in 2021. We reviewed, revised and updated that content to create the toolkit. We have structured this toolkit so it covers material types and considerations when specifying, as well as providing inspiring case studies which show the theory in practice.    

Each of these issues map to the Design Council’s Skills for Planet Blueprint which is a wider practical framework outlining core green skills that designers need to support sustainable and environmentally responsible design practices.  In their research the Design Council found designers across the whole design industry very much wanted to design for planet but that many felt that a skills gap prevented them from achieving this.

Our vision is that ‘green design’ becomes so interwoven into design practice that it simply becomes part of what we mean by ‘good design.

 Cat Drew, Chief Design Officer, Design Council

This guide is broken down into four sections: 

1. Materials: An overview of what to consider when specifying various different materials on a project.
2. Considerations: Key concepts such as circular economy, energy, regenerative design, social impact, traceability, water and animal welfar.
3. Case Studies: case studies of domestic and commercial interior design projects showcasing how working designers integrate sustainability into real life spaces.
4. Resources: a list of useful guides, websites and resources.

We hope you find the guidance helpful. 

Special thanks

The BIID would like to thank Chloe Bullock for spearheading the revision of the original Sustainable Specifying Guide and the following contributors: Helen Gordon, Alison Scheurer-Dewar, Susanne Conway, Jo Chrobak, Jo Ahmedzai, Clare Winspear, Pia Pelkonen, Natasha Gupta, Liz Bell.

Version Updated: September 2026