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Module: 8

Environmentally Sustainable design

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What you’ll learn in this module:

8.1 Design & the environment

8.2 Environmental policy

8.3 Responsible sourcing of raw materials

8.4 Climate change

8.5 Health & safety

8.1 Design & the environment

The main focus of the interior designer is upon creating imaginative and creative schemes to

revitalize living and working spaces. The skills needed here are a firm understanding of the

composition of design, a great feel for color, a sensitivity to space and form and of course a

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wonderful eye for the best accessories and objects to finish off a look with panache. However aside

from the aesthetic aspect of design, there are a lot of other factors which all responsible designers

need to be familiar with. Choosing and selecting materials safely and ethically and working with a

responsible attitude to the environment are also vital skills and will be discussed in depth in this

module. The other area worthy of the designer’s attention is the matter of construction and

implementation of any design. Design may start out on paper or on the screen but it will eventually

be implemented and brought to life by skilled trade’s people. Understanding the safety aspect of

design and implementation is key to be able to successfully take a project through each one of its

stages.

Interior designers will find that the products they use for their work are sourced worldwide.

International trade means that increasingly lots of both everyday and unique items are manufactured

hundreds or even thousands of miles from where they will eventually have a home. We are all used to

looking in shops and online for what we want and what will look good in our living spaces, but do we

consider where these items have travelled from and how they were manufactured?

There is increasing pressure in the world of design to ensure that we are indeed able to prove that we

know these facts. The designer will need to be prepared to answer any of these kinds of questions:

Where was item x made and how was it transported?

Who made the item and what were the working conditions like?

Were there any processes used in production which were damaging to the environment?

Do the raw materials in the product come from sustainable sources?

Will I be able to recycle the item when I no longer need it?

Can I dispose of it safely?

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As you can see there can be a lot of complex issues for the designer to grasp. Fortunately there are lots of

governing bodies, environmental trade associations, quality commissions and the like which the interior

designer can turn to in order to validate products and to understand fully their background and

provenance.

One of the best ways of gaining reassurance about the ethical make up of any product is by referencing

the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO as it is most commonly known. The ISO was

developed to publish international standards for commerce.

One set of standards, ISO 14000, relates in particular to environmental management. Businesses who

sign up to these standards and pass the certification criteria will be able to prove that they have systems

in place to ensure that all of their production processes have the least negative impact upon the

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environment as possible. ISO certified suppliers will be continually striving to improve their

environmental performance. For the designer therefore, choosing a product or service for any of their

schemes from an ISO approved business, will have a fully verified reassurance that the best

environmental standards have been reached.

It is best practice in fact for a designer to incorporate ethical environmental practice into all of their

work practices. To do this rigorously and indeed to be able to prove to clients and suppliers of a sound

and considered approach to the environment, it is a good idea for a designer to have their own

Environmental Policy. This can be a simple document but it needs to be reviewed and revised at least

annually. It also needs to be available for distribution to clients. Putting the policy up on the business

website is a smart move.

The policy should act as a statement of intent and will prove that the designer has thought in depth

about this whole area of business practice. You will find a sample of the kind of Environmental Policy

which would be suitable for a designer to prepare below.

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8.2 Environmental policy

Interior Design Company X Environmental Policy Page 1

Interior Design Company X, a quality design business, was established in 2015. The business is

based in Y and employs Z people directly and works with a wide network of subcontractors. The

business provides quality interior design for the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

Our environmental mission statement:

We will aim to minimize the effects our activities have on the environment by giving thought to the

selection, procurement and disposal of the products we use and the way in which we run our

business. We will do this by developing a culture of environmental awareness, investigating all new

government initiatives, training staff, and using the hierarchy of reduce, reuse, and recycle. We

employ a cradle to the grave policy. We commit to the guidelines established in ISO 14000.

Interior Design Company X:

Is committed to providing a quality service in a manner that ensures a safe and healthy workplace

for our employees, and minimizes our potential impact on the environment.

Recognizes that we have social responsibilities that go beyond the provisions of the relevant Acts

and Regulations, and that we should support and contribute to protecting the environment through

all aspects of our work and practices. In so doing we will operate in compliance with all relevant

environmental legislation and we will strive to use pollution prevention and environmental best

practices in all we do.

Will promote environmental awareness among our employees and encourage them to work in an

environmentally responsible manner as well as train, educate and inform them about environmental

issues that may affect their work,

Will review and monitor our environmental progress on a yearly basis to ensure that we continue to

make a positive impact on the environment.

Interior Design Company X Environmental Policy Page 2

Will consider the environment with regard to:

Transport

Recycling of packaging materials and minimizing waste

Efficient use of water and energy

Use of biodegradable chemicals

Minimizing use of solvents and lead-based paints

Use of timber from sustainable (managed) forests

Minimizing noise disturbance to neighbors

Phasing out of CFCs and ozone-depleting substances.

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Waste

Where possible we will reduce, reuse and recycle. E.g. recycling leftover paint into community repaint

programs, upcycling existing furniture by reupholstering rather than always buying new

We will install the most environmentally friendly lighting where possible.

We will endeavor to reduce water consumption and waste in our kitchen and bathroom designs

All waste shall be separated where possible and disposed of in a timely fashion

Any building waste will be removed by skip companies who will provide waste transfer notices

Skips are to be packaged as fully and carefully as possible to maximize space

Procurement

Where possible we will source our products locally

We will try to use materials from the local area or region

We will choose paint with the lowest VOC content possible

We will choose water based paints where possible

We will endeavor to make sensible product purchases e.g. larger containers, bulk buys etc.

This policy is displayed on the Company Notice Board, on the company website and can be found in

the staff handbook.

8.3 Responsible sourcing of raw materials

There are indeed many ways in which a designer can have a positive impact on the environment

through the choices they make in their work. Key to running a successful environmentally aware

business is staying mindful at all times. Make sure that the systems and processes to run projects are

robust with regard to environmental issues in terms of both procurement and working practice. One

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area in which the designer can make a particularly positive impact is in how and where they source the

materials they use for their design schemes.

Here is a blueprint to follow to help reach those goals:

1. Lay down the ground rules – Make sure you think sustainable best practice at all times. Conserve

natural resources and make efficient use of materials, water and energy. Aim to use renewable materials

which meet the environmental criteria of their sector. For example use timber from an approved FSC

source.

2. Buy local – Start as close to home as possible and then begin to widen your search to the region and

country if necessary. The fewer miles your products have travelled will be best for the environment.

This will also have a positive impact on budget as shipping costs can be expensive.

3. Reclaim, reuse and recycle – Think laterally about your project. Do you really need to buy new? An

upcycled vintage armchair from the local flea market will have a limited environmental impact with the

added advantage of being unique and interesting.

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4. Lifetime cost – Think not just of the initial cost of what you are purchasing but all the way through

the lifecycle of that product. What processes were used to make it? How is it being transported? Will

it need resources to run it? How can it be eventually disposed of? This is a responsible cradle to

grave approach.

5. Green suppliers – Make sure that you carefully vet any suppliers. Do they in turn have environmental

policies in place? Are they making their products ethically with the highest regard to the natural world?

6. Built to last – Steer clear of using disposable items in a scheme and think that if you choose designs

e.g. with tableware which has a more classic design, then the need to replace them will be less frequent.

Procuring good quality products which last will also help here.

7. Innovation – Keep up with your industry news. New developments in sustainable products are

happening all of the time. Advances in material science can revolutionize the choices available to you.

8. Lighting – Remember that there are vast differences in the life time and energy usage of different

bulbs and source accordingly. Making use of dimmer switches and motion sensors – particularly in

commercial schemes – will keep energy bills down.

9.Curtains, shutters and blinds – Organic linen or other recycled fabrics are good choices here. Heavier

materials will help prevent heat loss from a room which will converse energy and the use of machine

washable fabrics will eliminate the need for dry cleaning and the chemicals needed for that process.

Natural fibers such as wool and silk are also more naturally fire retardant so will require less treatment

for fire prevention than certain synthetic materials, so again the use of the chemicals in this process is

reduced. For blinds and shutters ensure the timber comes from a sustainable FSC source.

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10. Paint choices – The production of synthetic paint creates a lot of waste water and there is a

considerable issue regarding the safe disposal of the paint containers after use. Also for oil based

paints strong chemicals will be needed to clean brushes and so on. To minimize the environmental

impact of your paint choices adopt the following strategies:

Choose water based paints where brushes can be washed without the use of chemicals.

Choose Eco branded paints which have a low VOC content.Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are

chemicals which when they evaporate easily into the air and often give a distinctive smell and contribute

to air pollution.

Choose paints which have vegetable dyes and low levels of toxicity.

Select paints which have the most environmentally friendly packaging for easier disposal

11. Think about your color choices - It will take more coats to paint a lighter color over a dark surface

thereby increasing the amount of paint neededso choose your color scheme wisely.

12. Flooring – Choose materials from sustainable sources which use fewer strong chemicals in the

production process. Cork, vinyl and wood are worth considering as are stones and natural slate which

have the added advantage of being long lasting so will need to be replaced less frequently.

13. Fabrics – Natural fibers are the best choices here. Synthetic materials such as nylon for example

can take up to 40 years to decompose. Organic undyed cotton is a great product to select. Avoid

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cotton which has been bleached as this process produces a lot of waste water and releases harmful

chemicals into the air. Hemp, bamboo and recycled PET are good alternative materials to use.

Carefully investigate the working conditions of where the fabrics are produced. The textile sector in

certain countries has a particularly poor record in terms of child labor and unsafe working conditions.

8.4 Climate change

Climate change is of concern for everyone. Extreme weather conditions such as flooding, heat waves,

hurricanes, typhoons and dramatic rain and snow falls are occurring all the more frequently. In fact in

the last decades the number of natural weather linked disasters has almost doubled. The effects of

climate change can be devastating from lost lives and workplaces to destroyed homes, food crops and

habitats for wildlife. For the designer the impact on the built environment could be extreme. Many of the

more dramatic events are less likely to occur in the more temperate UK, there could well be an impact

on the supply chain.

Mark Snow and Deo Prasad, two leading environmental experts, summarized the potential impact on the

built environment in the eventuality of different climate change occurrences. Whilst not all of these are

likely in every geographical area, it is vital for the designer to be aware of these issues in particular

when it comes to the buildings they are working in. It is the responsibility for all involved in developing

the built environment from the town planners and architects to the designers and builders that

consideration is given to climate control. Every effort needs to be made at the construction and design

stages of a project that the potential effects of climate change have been considered and any impact

mitigated as far as is possible.

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8.5 Health & safety

There are three major times at which the interior designer will need to pay particular heed to

maintaining high health and safety standards and to abide by current legislation:

1. When a designer is in an office environment it is important that consideration is given to any work

hazards which may occur in that kind of setting. These can range from ensuring the work area is

correctly lit to reduce eye strain to taking breaks from working at a PC or laptop to prevent RSI. The

office space will need to be kept neat and tidy to prevent slips and trips and all users will need to be

trained in manual handling. When employing staff there are further elements of health and safety

legislation which also need to be implemented. Office based health and safety risks are low but they

do need to be factored in to the designer’s training.

2. Many projects undertaken by an interior designer will involve visiting buildings which may be under

construction or refurbishment. In this environment there are likely to be more significant risks for the

designer to consider. There may be incomplete flooring areas which could give rise to a fall from height,

there may be exposed electrical cables, and there may be scaffolding or temporary staircases to

negotiate. A site of any size should have a dedicated health and safety officer who will have provided a

risk assessment and a plan for safe working on that site. The designer needs to make sure that they have

read and understood all of these documents and to heed by their recommendations.

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3. Whilst some design work will finish at the presentation stage when the creative scheme has been

finished and submitted to the user, other schemes will require the designer to project manage the

scheme through to its physical completion. This will involve the designer in having to organize and

direct the various trades such as electricians, plasterers, plumbers, decorators and so on. It is vital

that the designer is aware of the health and safety implications of these trades and to ensure that

best practice is followed at all times.

It is essential that any designer who will be working on a site has prepared (or had prepared for

them) a risk assessment for that site. It is also very important to ensure that all safety elements of a

site are properly considered with a formal health and safety policy. Any contractors on site must

agree to abide by the rules of the policy. It is a serious consideration that the health and safety

policies are communicated effectively to everyone involved on a site.

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8.5.1 Risk assessment

RISK ASSESSMENT Interior decoration and repairs

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8.5.2 Health & safety policy

Construction Health and Safety policy

Our statement of general policy is

To provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities

To consult with our employees on matters of their health and safety

To provide and maintain safe plant and equipment

To ensure safe handling and use of substances

To provide information, instruction and supervision for employees

To ensure that all employees are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training

To prevent accidents and cases of work related ill health

To maintain safe and healthy working conditions and

To review and revise this policy at regular intervals

To abide by The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other relevant legislation

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Responsibility

The Health and Safety Manager is responsible for overall Health and Safety but all employees and

contractors are responsible for ensuring the safety of themselves and others when at work and must

co-operate with their manager on matters of Health and Safety. Employees must not interfere with

anything that is provided to safeguard their Health and Safety. All Health and Safety concerns

should be reported to the Managing Director.

Risk Assessments

Risk Assessments will be carried out. The results will be recorded and any actions undertaken with

the approval of the Managing Director who will check that implemented actions have

removed/reduced the risks identified.

Consultation

Consultation will be provided by the Managing Director who will consult with a nominated contractor

representative. This will take the format of regular staff meetings, although an ongoing ad hoc

dialogue is actively encouraged outside of these meetings as and when safety matters arise.

Safe Plant & Equipment

The Managing Director or a nominated person is responsible for identifying equipment and plant

needing maintenance. Their responsibilities include ensuring effective maintenance procedures are

drawn up; ensuring that all identified maintenance is implemented, reporting all problems and

checking that any new plant or equipment meets Health and Safety standards before it is purchased.

A to Z of Health and Safety procedures

Accidents, Incidents, First Aid and Emergencies

A fully stocked first aid kit and a fire extinguisher are provided in all company vehicles and in the

storage area for use on site. Any accidents or incidents are recorded in an accident book.

Alcohol, drugs and smoking

Alcohol and drugs are not permitted and there is a no smoking policy in all vehicles and on all sites.

Asbestos

If asbestos is suspected a qualified asbestos inspection will be made. Contractors are trained on

how to spot asbestos.

COSHH Assessments

COSHH Assessments are made of all hazardous substances/processes used on site. The safest

forms of materials are sought wherever possible. Appropriate PPE (e.g. gloves/masks/eye

protection) is provided. Good ventilation on site is maintained wherever possible.

Electrical and Gas work

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All electrical work is undertaken by a NICEIC qualified Electricians and Gas work by Gas Safe

registered contractors.

Emergency Procedures

An emergency plan is prepared for all sites and regular fire drills will take place.

Insurance

There is in place Public Liability insurance to the value of £5 million and Employer’s Liability

insurance to the value of £10 million. There is also Professional indemnity insurance in place and

insurance for all company vehicles.

Manual Handling

All staff will receive basic training on the best ways to lift and carry the usual materials they use on a

daily basis. Wheelbarrows and other lifting aids will be used where appropriate.

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE (personal protective equipment) such as gloves, eye protection, safety helmets, masks and

appropriate footwear for all staff to use are provided as needed.

Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are conducted by competent and experienced staff. They ensure that for all

works, hazards and significant risks are identified and that statutory provisions are complied with.

Safe Plant, equipment and appliances and Portable Electric Tools

All portable electrical equipment is PAT tested and records are kept. Where necessary risk

assessments are undertaken.

Staff training and consultation

Induction training and ongoing training is given for all staff covering the issues in this Health and

Safety document. Regular staff safety consultations take place.

Vibration

When using hand held power tools such as sanders and drills frequent breaks must be taken.

Waste and the environment

Where possible all waste must be separated and recycled. All waste removal contractors must hold

a Waste Certificate of Registration and provide waste transfer notes.

Working at Height

Falls from height present a high risk. Therefore full training is provided for all staff. Ladders and

access platforms are regularly checked.