Top 7 Sustainable features to include in your office Fit-out in 2021
As we start to understand that our future development is dependent on our actions, sustainability seems to be a popular topic on everybody`s agendas.
As an eco conscious company, our planet, our health and our future are at the heart of our design and build practices. Now more than ever, the environment is a big concern and focus for many people and as we are looking to make a positive difference, we are trying to do things the right way.
We’ve seen a rise in the number of environmentally-conscious clients approaching us, and it’s been a great opportunity for our designers to source and find some great sustainable materials to specify in their interior design schemes. As we are looking to deliver environments built to last and include materials that won`t affect our planet, we have partnered with suppliers that share the same values.
“In the long run, businesses and business leaders will be judged not by their profits or their products, but by their impact on humanity.”
Keep reading for some examples of sustainable materials for interiors.
Environmentally-Friendly Flooring Options
Interface’s ‘Net Effect’ flooring made from recycled fishing nets
Many leading flooring manufacturers and suppliers are promoting more sustainable and eco-friendly flooring materials, innovating fully recycled options or introducing recycled contents into their ranges.
For example, flooring manufacturers Interface and Forbo have constructed tiles out of recycled fishing nets. They’ve transformed unwanted materials to construct unique, textured and sustainable flooring, whilst simultaneously supporting local fishing businesses across the world. It’s a fantastic initiative from all angles!
In addition to this, there’s a good selection of flooring materials made from partially-recycled contents on the market, helping companies like yours to invest in a more eco-friendly office fit out.
Not forgetting, of course, stone and wooden flooring options too. Stone is a natural and eco-friendly material, and renewable forests containing sustainable wood offer great options too. Additionally, some flooring options are made out of reclaimed wood, such as Havwoods’ ranges.
2. Sustainable Fabrics
Your office fit out can contain sustainable fabrics, too. Many commercial fabric suppliers have created sustainable ranges either completely or partially constructed from sustainable or recycled materials, and they don’t compromise on quality and finish.
For instance, all Agua products are phtalate free and all fabrics are fully recyclable at the end of their life cycle. Their processes are non-toxic and the methods used during manufacture and finishing ensure that potentially hazardous accidental cross contamination is minimised to the greatest degree possible.
Ocee Design are also continually researching new materials and methods to make their products more sustainable throughout their life cycle. For example, they focus on using components and materials that do not contain chemicals harmful to human health or the environment, adhering to low VOC emmissions.
To help you on your quest to source sustainable materials for your office fit out, we’re happy to chat to you and recommend some great sustainable ranges to you. Get in touch!
3.Eco-Friendly Acoustic Panels
Acoustic panels are often featured in office spaces for their fantastic acoustic benefits, unsurprisingly. But what’s even better, is that you can opt for eco-friendly acoustic panels too. AgileAcoustics, for example, construct their panels out of recycled Polyester, deriving fibres from recycled materials such as plastic bottles, as opposed to using glass or foam-based alternatives. This offers a great option for companies like yours who are looking to invest in an environmentally-friendly office fit out!
4. Recycled Ceiling Tiles
That’s right, even your office ceiling tiles can be environmentally-friendly! Leading the way with this is Armstrong, who create ceiling tiles made partially from recycled content, and are completely recyclable themselves too. They also run an Armstrong Ceilings Recycling Programme to help businesses recycle their own ceiling tiles and avoid sending unwanted tiles to landfill. Investing in environmentally-conscious products and companies like Armstrong can really help you to invest in a more sustainable office fit out.
5. Environmentally-Friendly Wall Options
Eco-friendly wall materials may not be the first thing to spring to mind when considering sustainable materials for interiors, but innovative brands such as Innerspace are leading the way in sustainable and environmentally-friendly wall options. Innerspace’s WOOLLYWALL material is a great example of this, made from wood, cement and water, and is painted with natural clay paints. The result is a fire- and water-resistant material boasting a unique texture and creating an interesting wall feature!
Dulux Trade Paint also offer paint options with lower environmental impact in comparison to alternative options. For example, their water-based paints have low VOCs in comparison to alternatives. They’ve gone one step further than this though, with their Evolve Matt paint in white, which is made from 35% recycled paint content. With a matt finish and great coverage, this eco-friendly paint is a great option for office spaces, particularly as white is a popular colour for many commercial interiors!
Focusing on environmentally-friendly materials brings an opportunity to get a little creative, too. Chipboard, for example, is made of up to around 70% of recycled materials and can act as an alternative partition material. Our fit out team constructed the space for The Data Shed in Leeds, who incorporated chipboard into much of their office space, from wall partitions to table surfaces and auditorium seating - all whilst creating a unique and standout interior!
6. Sustainable Furniture Items
Commercial furniture can also feature environmentally-friendly materials. From ocean to office, Humanscale have launched a sustainable office chair made out of recycled ocean plastic, named Smart Ocean. It’s comfortable and sustainable, so a great office task chair if you’re looking to shape a sustainable office space!
Our friends from Herman Miller also came with a great initiative, called the rePurpose program, in an attempt to help you give new life to things your organization no longer needs by sending used furniture and other assets to deserving nonprofits. Since they started the program in 2009, they have managed to divert more than 27,000 tons of products from landfill and generated $18 million in charitable, in-kind donations.
Having an indication and understanding of what sustainable materials are available on the market is a great step towards your sustainable and eco-friendly office fit out. For example, including rattan furniture is an extraordinary choice as rattan is an exceptionally sustainable wood, being the quickest developing tropical wood that renews in only 5-7 years. More than that, rattan furniture is low tech, not requiring production facilities that pollute the environment.
To help you source the right environmentally-friendly materials for your project, we can find the materials and options suitable for your needs, budget, and your environmental focus. Chat to us to start the process!
7. Biophilic Features
Our desire to live more healthily has also resulted in an increase in the number of offices with biophilic design elements.
Architects, designers and engineers as well as homeowners are placing the health and well-being of the inhabitants into focus and in doing so, an entire industry is encouraged to implement biophilic design features and to integrate as many natural elements as possible.
The sight of nature in offices is supposed to help slow things down and supports attention and concentration.
The integration of biophilic features has further benefits on:
Physical health
Plants within an office improve the quality of the air as they absorb mould, harmful substances and toxins. They release water vapour into the air and make people less susceptible to allergens and respiratory illnesses. In addition, they relax us and lower our blood pressure.
Mental health
Biophilic design reduces stress and generates a feeling of peace and relaxation.Productivity
Natural light regulates sleep cycles and provides more energy as well as productivity. The integration of biophilic principles increases one’s creativity, memory performance, and ability to learn. In addition, it provides clarity in thought as well as for mental breaks.
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