Why Every Line, Every Choice and Every Specification Counts
When it comes to sustainable furniture planning and specifications, it’s all about the materials. The choices we make at the beginning of the furniture life cycle ripple through its entire existence, impacting everything from production emissions to end-of-life recyclability. That’s why understanding what’s in your products is the key to making responsible, impactful decisions.
Take a moment to consider this: according to the EPA, a staggering 17 billion tons of office furniture end up in U.S. landfills each year. That’s an enormous missed opportunity for those of us in the industry to embrace sustainability. But change is possible, and it starts with knowing what materials are going into our furniture and the certifications that hold manufacturers accountable. Let’s get into it.
Decoding Material Transparency
Material transparency isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. It provides facility managers, designers, and project teams with clear insights into the environmental and health impacts of the products they choose. In an era where clients and end-users increasingly demand sustainability, incorporating transparent materials into furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) strategies is more critical than ever.
At a recent kimiko green Roundtable, Lisa Adams, sustainable design leader and principal at HKS, said material transparency goes hand in hand with thoughtful specifications that prioritize the future needs of a project — not just immediate solutions. “Our choices matter,” she emphasized. Selecting the right solution ensures sustainability and adaptability over time, reducing waste and extending the lifespan of materials. Adams highlighted several key considerations to guide decision-making:
Reuse: Start by assessing what already exists and can be incorporated into the project.
Durability: Choose materials and products built to last rather than quick fixes for short-term needs.
Carbon Sinks: Prioritize natural materials that sequester carbon and contribute to a project’s overall sustainability.
Design for Reuse: Opt for designs that extend the life of products, such as furniture that can adapt to future needs, versus built-in, single-purpose solutions.
Selective Selections: Leverage certifications like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Health Product Declarations (HPDs), and Cradle to Cradle to ensure informed, responsible choices.
“Each line we draw, each specification, has an impact,” said Adams. By embedding these principles into FF&E strategies, project teams can create spaces that align with their sustainability goals while supporting occupant health and well-being.
The Role of Certifications
Certifications like BIFMA’s LEVEL serve as a comprehensive industry benchmark for evaluating the sustainability of furniture. LEVEL certification assesses products across multiple criteria, including environmental impact, health and wellness implications, and social responsibility.
“LEVEL provides a roadmap for manufacturers and a trusted guide for buyers,” said Steve Kooy, program manager at BIFMA. “It takes the guesswork out of selecting sustainable furniture.”
As one of the most rigorous certifications available, LEVEL empowers manufacturers to meet high sustainability standards while giving buyers confidence in their purchases. Evaluating products across environmental, health, and social criteria ensures they meet high standards of transparency and responsibility. Paired with tools like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs), LEVEL certification helps organizations align their furniture choices with broader sustainability and occupant well-being goals.
Anxious to start applying some of this new knowledge in your day-to-day? We believe the best place to start is always with Just One Thing, which we lovingly refer to as JOT. Here’s JOT you can do today: Request and review material transparency and product certification from your vendors.
Avoiding Living Future’s Red List Chemicals
As part of sustainable material planning, one simple yet impactful action is avoiding Living Future’s Red List chemicals. These are substances known to be harmful to human health and the environment. Living Future’s Red List includes notorious offenders like asbestos, formaldehyde, lead, mercury, phthalates, flame retardants, PVCs and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
By steering clear of these chemicals, teams can significantly reduce the negative impacts of their furniture selections. Designers and facility managers can use resources like Living Future’s Red List to vet materials and push manufacturers toward safer, more sustainable practices.
“Living Future’s Red List is more than just a catalog of harmful chemicals. It’s a tool for transformation,” said Mike Johnson, senior director, materials at Living Future. “By identifying substances that jeopardize human health and the environment, we empower designers to make informed choices that align with their sustainability goals. Incorporating Red List-free materials into projects reduces toxicity and pushes manufacturers to innovate, creating healthier spaces and a more sustainable built environment.”
Real-World Impact
In the quest for sustainability, some of the most impactful strategies are also the simplest. Adams emphasizes the significant role furniture reuse plays in reducing carbon footprints.
“In a series of pilot projects, reducing and reusing furniture was about 10 times more impactful to carbon reduction than all of the other initiatives from our study combined,” she said.
To put this into perspective, consider the potential for carbon savings. According to industry studies, manufacturing a single office desk can generate as much as 90 kilograms of CO₂ emissions. By reusing furniture instead of purchasing new, organizations can avoid these emissions entirely, not to mention reduce the environmental impact of raw material extraction, production and transportation.
Moreover, extending the lifespan of existing furniture by just five years could decrease its lifetime carbon footprint by up to 30%. These findings underscore the importance of designing for longevity and adaptability. By prioritizing furniture reuse, organizations can not only reduce waste but make strides toward their carbon reduction goals, and support a more circular approach to resource management.
Just One Thing
Remember, sustainability doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Sometimes, JOT can make a difference. Are you ready: Take a closer look at the materials in your next furniture project and commit to avoiding Living Future’s Red List chemicals. By prioritizing transparency and leveraging certifications like BIFMA’s LEVEL, you’ll take a meaningful step toward a more sustainable furniture life cycle.
For more information about Living Future’s Red List chemicals and how to avoid them, click here, and dive into more about BIFMA’s LEVEL certification here.
Editor’s Note: Just One Thing is a five-part series written by Dianne Murata, OG Furniture Nerd at Kimiko Designs and accidental environmentalist leading kimiko green, a collaborative forum for industry professionals. This series will walk you through five key pillars of sustainable furniture planning. From digging into material transparency and vetting manufacturers to embedding sustainability into FF&E specifications, RFPs, and long-term habits. Together, we’ll cut through the fluff and get straight to actionable change. Meet kimiko green. Connect with Dianne.