How sustainable sample packaging can help suppliers win more projects
Interior Designers are acutely aware of the environmental impact of their work, and appreciate suppliers who can assist them with their ambition to work more sustainably. Antony Fuller from Swatchbox, the BIID's newest Platinum Partner and recently accredited CPD Provider, spoke to us about how they achieve that.
Tell us about Swatchbox and how it helps reduce packaging and waste?
Swatchbox is a free material research platform for discovering and requesting samples of building products. Founded and operated by architects, Swatchbox provides a key destination for building professionals to identify and source samples from leading building product manufacturers around the world. Architects, interior designers, contractors, and other professionals are able to browse samples from top manufacturers, organise them into custom palettes and collections, and request them to be delivered in a Swatchbox with free next-day and second-day delivery. Every box ships with instructions to sustainably return and recycle any materials no longer needed.
What feedback have you had from designers?
We recently met with an interior designer to discuss how they work with samples and what is important to them when working with suppliers. One of the talking points from the interview was sample packaging.
Their team orders hundreds of samples every month from different suppliers and it was clear that packaging was a big issue for them.
“As designers we definitely notice when manufacturers are sending out samples in conscious packaging. It’s something that, when we were all in the office, we would discuss and comment on. And then we also notice the manufacturers who don’t do that.
We still receive many samples that are wrapped in excessive tape which you can barely get them out of the packaging and you just think, really? Why are you still doing this?”
What are you doing differently?
For a start, well fitting, plastic-free packaging makes all the difference, but the sample waste issue goes beyond just a better box design.
We want to help educate the market; as outlined in our CPD, Sampling Smarter: A guide to working sustainably with samples, the construction industry is responsible for 27% of all landfill waste and 1/3 of that is some form of packaging waste. Designers are now starting to embark on new initiatives to reduce the amount of waste they are generating as part of the product selection process.
These initiatives include things like donating old samples to universities, engaging with recycling companies who can make use of old materials, being more selective with the suppliers they work with and using sample aggregation websites like Swatchbox.
Sample aggregation websites are rapidly growing in their popularity due to the consolidation benefits they can provide the interior designer.
For example, a designer would benefit from a 43% carbon saving by ordering 8 x samples in one consolidated box vs 8 samples delivered in 4 boxes which would be the case if ordering directly from the suppliers.
What is the next step for suppliers who want to reduce their packaging from samples?
We encourage them to get in touch with me us, they can email afuller@anguleris.com or call +44 (0) 203 375 6255, we can have a conversation about how we can support your organisation in becoming more sustainable with samples.