Eco-Carpets and the Sustainability of Interior Design

Sustainability, the ultimate buzzword for designers of all types, is an essential element of successful contemporary interior design.

by Joe Cooper
joe.cooper@interior-design-schools-search.com
Interior Design School Search Columnist

The potential for efficient reproduction is what is known as sustainability, a hallmark of interior design. What has become more than a trend in contemporary interior design is eco-friendly design: interior design that involves recyclable or easily renewable materials.

The textile company, Interface, is doing its part to make interior design green. It now uses renewable electricity in 22% of its global operations (this percentage was 6 just 5 years ago). Some of their facilities use completely renewable energy.

Not only that, but Interface also runs a carpet reclaiming program. To date, the company has reclaimed over 18 million pounds of carpet. Here’s what Interface does with it:

• Recycling: 71%
• Energy conversion: 28%
• Charity: 1%

Interface also manufactures tile and carpet backing from sustainable materials. Not bad for a major manufacturer in contemporary interior design.

Why Green is Important

Interior design is based on the strategic use of materials to create a certain kind of space. Every interior designer has a list of vendors they use to complete projects for clients. As the need for green manufacturing increases, it’s important for designers to be aware of the environmental implications of the materials they use.

Eco-friendly materials are becoming more design-friendly too, and now designers have more choices. Bamboo is a popular contemporary interior design choice for flooring, with a great aesthetic as well as sustainability. Non-toxic paint, low-energy appliances, and furniture made from recycled materials are all green options for the contemporary interior designer. It won’t happen overnight, but gradually, designers are making green the new black.

Source

Interiordesign.net

About the Author

Joe Cooper writes home services and design articles and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor’s in American Literature from UCLA.

Posted on September 25, 2006 at 2:26 PM

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