Reduce Reuse Recycle

Reduce reuse recycle � How this relates to eco interior design?

What is important is that the best possible interior is created which has your lifestyle and environmental preferences at heart.

Overall it is achieving the best design solution in terms of aesthetics, function and cost whilst using less resources and leaving a smaller carbon footprint.

Reduce Reuse Recycle - Key eco interior design concepts

* Materials & Products
It is better to reduce the amount of virgin & non renewable materials used with simple designs, keeping levels of embodied energy low, reducing the amount of waste and lowering the demand for consumerism. Low impact, recycled content and renewable content materials alongside salvaging and renovating of materials and products are the best solutions. Materials should be non toxic so that human health is not affected.

* Certification
Materials & products that meet certain ecological and environmental standards and regulations. There are 3 types of certification; a) manufacturers who certify their own materials & products, b) industry association certification for specific sectors or groups and c) third party certification by an independent organisation.

* Indoor air quality
Reducing toxic emissions (e.g. volatile organic compounds; VOCs) is imperative to a healthy living environment. Maintaining high levels of indoor air quality can be achieved through eliminating the amount of plastic and synthetic substances in your home, opting for natural finishes and constant fresh ventilation.

* Energy Efficiency
Did you know that your home has more of a negative effect on the natural environment by the energy consumed over the whole lifecycle - than for any other part of the build process? The use of natural light for resource reduction, renewable resources such as solar power, energy efficient appliances and a well insulated home benefit both your outgoing expenses and the natural environment.

* Lifespan
Interior structures, materials and products should designed with durability as the priority so that you are able to renovate, refurnish, maintain, repair and make the most out of the them. This encourages a sustainable lifestyle and turns away from all things disposable, low quality and with a short lifespan

* Flexibility
Interior structures, materials and products should be designed so that they are flexible to change when their demand ceases or alters in the future. Change could be reusing, renovation, recycling, re-manufacture, restoration or repair.

* Water
Efficient plumbing methods and sanitary ware which save water consumption help reduce the negative effect on the natural environment.

Know where materials and products come from, how much shipping & transportation brought the goods to your door? * Location / Manufacturer / Transportation
Where do these materials and products come from? Local sourcing, production and delivery of interior products and materials help reduce eco footprints dramatically over products and materials that come from overseas. When evaluating a green product from overseas, it may be 100% eco-friendly however transportation will increase the eco footprint. It may be the case that a local green product which is 85% eco-friendly is bought instead to reduce the environmental damage caused by transportation. Does the manufacturer hold a sustainable production policy including waste reduction and environmental initiatives?

* Waste
What happens to a product that has come to the end of its lifetime? How much packaging was provided? Can it be recycled? Is it biodegradable? Can it be reconditioned and used again? Will it be thrown into landfill sites? Does the original manufacturer allow you to return the product for recycling? We generate a huge amount of waste and must be mindful of how we dispose of everything we use.

Go back to the Eco interior design main page

Return from Reduce Reuse Recycle to the homepage

Ldmstudio Directory