How Do You Run a Sustainable Business?
Professionals from around the world tell us how they make their practices sustainable, and what challenges they face
As both clients and the industry become more environmentally aware, businesses are looking to incorporate sustainability into their projects. We asked professionals around the world about how they run their business sustainably, what they’ve learned along the way, and what challenges they face.
Sustainability starts in the office. “I think it is super important that a business walks the walk too. We always try to set an example that inspires our clients and that leads the way. Otherwise how can we expect our clients [to want] to do the right thing?” says Australian architect Marc Bernstein of Melbourne Design Studios. He is currently building his own home, a passive house that will also produce more energy than it expends every year. When completed, it will be used as a showhome and workshop space used to educate the public on sustainable architecture.
German construction engineer Dag Schaffarczyk of Spreeplan Projekt UG has incorporated sustainable techniques into his office (pictured) in a 1911 building his firm renovated. “In this renovation we have fundamentally sought to reuse or keep existing features like the roof tiles and wooden frameworks. Instead of conventional building materials, we used natural materials like straw panels, clay- and lime-based plaster, hemp insulation, granulated cork panels, lime wash paint, regionally grown oak and Kebony wood.
“All spaces are heated with radiant heating panels in the walls and floors,” he continues. “The heating [in the office] draws on the return of the heating system from the whole building. Cooling works on the same principle. … Our office is our show home.”
German construction engineer Dag Schaffarczyk of Spreeplan Projekt UG has incorporated sustainable techniques into his office (pictured) in a 1911 building his firm renovated. “In this renovation we have fundamentally sought to reuse or keep existing features like the roof tiles and wooden frameworks. Instead of conventional building materials, we used natural materials like straw panels, clay- and lime-based plaster, hemp insulation, granulated cork panels, lime wash paint, regionally grown oak and Kebony wood.
“All spaces are heated with radiant heating panels in the walls and floors,” he continues. “The heating [in the office] draws on the return of the heating system from the whole building. Cooling works on the same principle. … Our office is our show home.”
“[We use] renewable energy for the electricity we consume in the studio, [and] recycled paper and sustainable products. We also have a responsible recycling program for paper, toner, consumables. We reduce unnecessary material,” Chacón says. “We have also created our own low-impact transport policy: we and our collaborators [live] within a limited distance of the studio, or we agree to use a bicycle or public transport, and we had an online system to facilitate remote work even before the pandemic. We apply a fair salary policy, and we recognise the work of our collaborators. This is also sustainability.”
“We limit our use of samples,” says French interior designer Mayssa El Fakir of French interior design studio Ouvrage. “Rather than asking for samples to be made for each client, we hold onto them and we are trying to create a materials library in order to reuse them as much as possible. We also select French suppliers in order to limit the carbon impact of transportation. Likewise, we try to avoid buying electronic equipment, and either rent it or buy it refurbished to ensure that it has a long life.”
“We limit our use of samples,” says French interior designer Mayssa El Fakir of French interior design studio Ouvrage. “Rather than asking for samples to be made for each client, we hold onto them and we are trying to create a materials library in order to reuse them as much as possible. We also select French suppliers in order to limit the carbon impact of transportation. Likewise, we try to avoid buying electronic equipment, and either rent it or buy it refurbished to ensure that it has a long life.”
What are you doing to incorporate sustainability into your projects?
Many of the professionals we interviewed turn to existing frameworks. “We apply our own methodology based on the highest level of certification standards, such as Passivhaus and Breeam,” Chacón says. “Whether or not the aim is to have the project certified, sticking to these requirements throughout the design and construction process necessarily leads to the most sustainable project possible, given the location and needs of the client.”
“We use exergy design to create a thermal environment that avoids reliance on fossil fuels as much as possible,” Sanada says.
“Most of our projects these days are actually going down the passive house … route,” Bernstein says. “It also looks at issues like health and comfort and condensation, etc., so it is really quite a holistic tool. We then combine that with our ‘DEEP’ methodology, that we have developed in-house over the years … to inform and fine-tune the design even way before starting to specify sustainable materials.”
“Whenever possible, push further at the level of systems (for example, recycling rainwater for use in the washroom, heat pumps, etc.),” says French architect Tina Merkes. She also notes that it’s important “to work with companies that are sensible to sustainable development.”
El Fakir and her studio take a similar approach. “We see it as a point of honour to use vintage or second hand furniture, since it’s much easier to find than it used to be,” she says.
Many of the professionals we interviewed turn to existing frameworks. “We apply our own methodology based on the highest level of certification standards, such as Passivhaus and Breeam,” Chacón says. “Whether or not the aim is to have the project certified, sticking to these requirements throughout the design and construction process necessarily leads to the most sustainable project possible, given the location and needs of the client.”
“We use exergy design to create a thermal environment that avoids reliance on fossil fuels as much as possible,” Sanada says.
“Most of our projects these days are actually going down the passive house … route,” Bernstein says. “It also looks at issues like health and comfort and condensation, etc., so it is really quite a holistic tool. We then combine that with our ‘DEEP’ methodology, that we have developed in-house over the years … to inform and fine-tune the design even way before starting to specify sustainable materials.”
“Whenever possible, push further at the level of systems (for example, recycling rainwater for use in the washroom, heat pumps, etc.),” says French architect Tina Merkes. She also notes that it’s important “to work with companies that are sensible to sustainable development.”
El Fakir and her studio take a similar approach. “We see it as a point of honour to use vintage or second hand furniture, since it’s much easier to find than it used to be,” she says.
Recycling is a big emphasis for Kloeden as well. In one project, she is currently trying to find buyers for a large amount of old furniture the owners don’t want to keep. “We also have a studio policy of avoiding non-recyclable materials in our specifications wherever possible. I have always done this implicitly as it is my deeply ingrained design ethos, but as the team grows, the next step is to document the policy and develop an internal check list when we specify finishes for our projects.”
For Barbara Milner of Canadian design firm South Hill Interiors, it’s about knowing her stuff. “I keep myself up to date on new products and always offer clients a variety of options.” This has become a point of differentiation in the client experience and expertise she offers. “Not everyone is inclined to spend the time required to understand the science,” she says.
For Barbara Milner of Canadian design firm South Hill Interiors, it’s about knowing her stuff. “I keep myself up to date on new products and always offer clients a variety of options.” This has become a point of differentiation in the client experience and expertise she offers. “Not everyone is inclined to spend the time required to understand the science,” she says.
How do you source products sustainably?
Lots of the pros we spoke to shared their love of wood. “We build with an increasingly high percentage of natural materials — we are wood geeks especially,” Chacón says.
“The wood we use … is made from domestic timber from nearby mountains,” Sanada says. “Wood and stone are sourced in continuous collaboration with local lumber mills and masons.”
Eto, likewise, advises, “Use a lot of natural finishes and insulation materials.”
“It is not just a matter of choosing this or that material or product, but of how it fits into the construction as a whole and what “history” it contributes to the analysis of the life cycle of the building you are going to create,” Chacón says. She works to reduce impacts at all stages:
Lots of the pros we spoke to shared their love of wood. “We build with an increasingly high percentage of natural materials — we are wood geeks especially,” Chacón says.
“The wood we use … is made from domestic timber from nearby mountains,” Sanada says. “Wood and stone are sourced in continuous collaboration with local lumber mills and masons.”
Eto, likewise, advises, “Use a lot of natural finishes and insulation materials.”
“It is not just a matter of choosing this or that material or product, but of how it fits into the construction as a whole and what “history” it contributes to the analysis of the life cycle of the building you are going to create,” Chacón says. She works to reduce impacts at all stages:
- “Location: reducing the impact of transportation, promoting local culture and economy, recovering craftsmanship that’s disappearing
- Manufacturing: it is always better to use a material, like many wood products, that has a positive impact on the environment
- Construction: we want products that have a minimal footprint, that cost almost no energy or water to use on site, and that do not contribute to air pollution
- Use: low-maintenance, non-toxic materials that contribute to a healthy environment …
- Disposal: use materials that are designed to return to natural cycles, transforming into other materials or energy”
Bernstein also takes this holistic approach, thoroughly researching production chains, analysing embodied energy, and looking at cradle-to-cradle factors. “What happens with the product after its life in this building and can it be recycled or upcycled into something new? In Australia, our buildings generally have a much [shorter] lifespan than say in Europe, and so recycling at the end of its lifespan becomes a really important consideration.
“And last but not least, a sustainable product should always be good for both the environment and for your health,” he says. “So, for example, when designing joinery and specifying furniture for our clients’ homes, we would always make sure we specify low emission materials … Where possible, we like to include planting into our designs as there are some plants that can cleanse the air, and remove the small quantities of what’s left in terms of off-gasing – a really cheap but great way to make a home more sustainable.”
Sanada and Milner noted that it’s important to keep abreast with new developments. “My clients are always interested in the latest innovations, and I am finding that now, more than ever, sustainable products are becoming sought after and considered despite the premium price point that is often a reality when it comes to products of this nature,” Milner says.
However, that doesn’t mean sustainable materials as a whole are hard to find. “There are companies that only produce natural products and others that have organic lines on the side,” says Italian architect Maria Elisa Villa. “For installers it is a bit more difficult: either you know them, or the company has teams [it can recommend] or you find someone who is able to follow your lead.”
“And last but not least, a sustainable product should always be good for both the environment and for your health,” he says. “So, for example, when designing joinery and specifying furniture for our clients’ homes, we would always make sure we specify low emission materials … Where possible, we like to include planting into our designs as there are some plants that can cleanse the air, and remove the small quantities of what’s left in terms of off-gasing – a really cheap but great way to make a home more sustainable.”
Sanada and Milner noted that it’s important to keep abreast with new developments. “My clients are always interested in the latest innovations, and I am finding that now, more than ever, sustainable products are becoming sought after and considered despite the premium price point that is often a reality when it comes to products of this nature,” Milner says.
However, that doesn’t mean sustainable materials as a whole are hard to find. “There are companies that only produce natural products and others that have organic lines on the side,” says Italian architect Maria Elisa Villa. “For installers it is a bit more difficult: either you know them, or the company has teams [it can recommend] or you find someone who is able to follow your lead.”
Are you advocating for sustainable solutions in clients’ projects? Why and how?
“We believe that it is our responsibility as creative technical [experts] to contribute to making society aware of the serious global environmental problem, and to help our clients assess possible solutions and make the best decisions,” Chacón says.
“We also do a huge amount of education work, explaining that using quality materials that last over time and can be passed on is interesting not only for resale, but also if you hope to pass your property on to your children,” El Fakir says.
“From time to time, we come across clients who want their home to look exactly as it was on Day 1 post renovation. For this type of client, this means synthetic materials,” Kloeden says. “The temptation is to let them have what they want as we are always short on time, but this is the area close to our heart, so it’s worth taking the time to educate the clients.”
“We always try to push boundaries, not against our clients, but as a team effort together with them,” Bernstein says. “At the end of the day, we want them to arrive at a home that is better than what they had expected, that is suited to their lifestyle and that is greener and more sustainable than what they had asked for.”
“We believe that it is our responsibility as creative technical [experts] to contribute to making society aware of the serious global environmental problem, and to help our clients assess possible solutions and make the best decisions,” Chacón says.
“We also do a huge amount of education work, explaining that using quality materials that last over time and can be passed on is interesting not only for resale, but also if you hope to pass your property on to your children,” El Fakir says.
“From time to time, we come across clients who want their home to look exactly as it was on Day 1 post renovation. For this type of client, this means synthetic materials,” Kloeden says. “The temptation is to let them have what they want as we are always short on time, but this is the area close to our heart, so it’s worth taking the time to educate the clients.”
“We always try to push boundaries, not against our clients, but as a team effort together with them,” Bernstein says. “At the end of the day, we want them to arrive at a home that is better than what they had expected, that is suited to their lifestyle and that is greener and more sustainable than what they had asked for.”
On the other hand, Villa notes that it may be necessary to compromise with clients who may not be sustainably minded. Her philosophy is that a little is better than nothing.
Schaffarczyk finds that he does not usually need to advocate. “Our clients know what they’re getting into when they come to us. As a rule, they are only surprised by what we can achieve with our sustainable and healthy builds. We often hear ‘if only I’d known sooner.’”
Milner also sees more interest in sustainable builds from the client side these days. “There are more conversations about sustainable products happening at the construction stages of projects. There’s an increasing desire to build responsibly and to achieve a ‘healthy’ end product,” she says. “When it comes to renovations, the desire to replace dated products with long-lasting smart options often leads to discussions about durability as well as wellness factors like VOCs. As a result, conversations about how a product is manufactured have become less uncommon and that often brings attention to the sustainability of a product. Once people understand how a product is made, price no longer becomes the one and only driving factor.”
Schaffarczyk finds that he does not usually need to advocate. “Our clients know what they’re getting into when they come to us. As a rule, they are only surprised by what we can achieve with our sustainable and healthy builds. We often hear ‘if only I’d known sooner.’”
Milner also sees more interest in sustainable builds from the client side these days. “There are more conversations about sustainable products happening at the construction stages of projects. There’s an increasing desire to build responsibly and to achieve a ‘healthy’ end product,” she says. “When it comes to renovations, the desire to replace dated products with long-lasting smart options often leads to discussions about durability as well as wellness factors like VOCs. As a result, conversations about how a product is manufactured have become less uncommon and that often brings attention to the sustainability of a product. Once people understand how a product is made, price no longer becomes the one and only driving factor.”
What are the biggest challenges you have encountered when working towards making your business more sustainable?
“Traditionally, the construction industry and a lot of its workers are not particularly known for an interest in ‘green stuff’, so getting everyone on board even for simple things like separating construction waste into different bins to allow recycling on site can sometimes be hard,” Bernstein says. “But it is one step at a time, and I find the industry is finally starting to embrace these changes – again it just needs a few of us to lead the way I think.”
“The challenges are cultural and unfortunately economic,” Italian architect Fulvio Claudio Melle of Melle-Metzen Architects says. “Not always, but sustainable products are slightly more expensive.”
Merkes agrees. “But along the way, you can also save nicely by using sites like cycleup.fr. All of the steps require more research time on the part of the architect than an average project with standard products … but this is positive, productive time.”
“Traditionally, the construction industry and a lot of its workers are not particularly known for an interest in ‘green stuff’, so getting everyone on board even for simple things like separating construction waste into different bins to allow recycling on site can sometimes be hard,” Bernstein says. “But it is one step at a time, and I find the industry is finally starting to embrace these changes – again it just needs a few of us to lead the way I think.”
“The challenges are cultural and unfortunately economic,” Italian architect Fulvio Claudio Melle of Melle-Metzen Architects says. “Not always, but sustainable products are slightly more expensive.”
Merkes agrees. “But along the way, you can also save nicely by using sites like cycleup.fr. All of the steps require more research time on the part of the architect than an average project with standard products … but this is positive, productive time.”
“The offerings in terms of technical equipment, especially for the kitchen, are still very limited and it is difficult to find environmentally friendly solutions,” El Fakir says. “If we’re not working with artisanal custom or luxury work, it’s very hard. Options for ready-to-use materials and finishes are also limited.”
“For our construction methods, there are no standards like in conventional construction. It takes a lot of effort to source materials, and specialised craftsmen … sometimes have to travel in from far away. The effort involved in planning is a lot higher. This increases project costs,” Schaffarczyk says. “But this is balanced out over the years, because the costs of heating and electricity, whether for air conditioning or HVAC, will be drastically reduced. In our office building, we’ve lowered the [running costs] by 71.8 percent. And that’s not counting the improved indoor climate free of harmful chemicals.”
“For our construction methods, there are no standards like in conventional construction. It takes a lot of effort to source materials, and specialised craftsmen … sometimes have to travel in from far away. The effort involved in planning is a lot higher. This increases project costs,” Schaffarczyk says. “But this is balanced out over the years, because the costs of heating and electricity, whether for air conditioning or HVAC, will be drastically reduced. In our office building, we’ve lowered the [running costs] by 71.8 percent. And that’s not counting the improved indoor climate free of harmful chemicals.”
Has the emphasis on sustainability in your business changed after the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, how?
Most of the pros we spoke to have been working sustainably for years. While the pandemic didn’t shift their own priorities, some have found their approach especially relevant. “Our mantra ‘architecture that connects with heaven and earth’ has turned out to make more sense today than ever,” Chacón says.
“With COVID 19, we’ve probably been ‘greener’ than before – [fewer] miles on the road, no heating, cooling, etc., an extra office space as we’ve all been working from home,” Bernstein says. “Other than that, I find that while sustainability has lost some of its media focus during the pandemic, people still think about it. Almost all of our clients want to do the right thing, and that is always encouraging, and inspires us to create a better home for and a better world with them.”
“On an intellectual level, [it’s given us] the time to ask the right questions about the planet, our future, questioning our way of life,” Merkes says.
Join the discussion: how are you making your business sustainable, and what challenges are you facing?
Most of the pros we spoke to have been working sustainably for years. While the pandemic didn’t shift their own priorities, some have found their approach especially relevant. “Our mantra ‘architecture that connects with heaven and earth’ has turned out to make more sense today than ever,” Chacón says.
“With COVID 19, we’ve probably been ‘greener’ than before – [fewer] miles on the road, no heating, cooling, etc., an extra office space as we’ve all been working from home,” Bernstein says. “Other than that, I find that while sustainability has lost some of its media focus during the pandemic, people still think about it. Almost all of our clients want to do the right thing, and that is always encouraging, and inspires us to create a better home for and a better world with them.”
“On an intellectual level, [it’s given us] the time to ask the right questions about the planet, our future, questioning our way of life,” Merkes says.
Join the discussion: how are you making your business sustainable, and what challenges are you facing?
Some of the pros we interviewed emphasised particular approaches. “Use natural energy with as little reliance on fossil fuels as possible,” says Daisuke Sanada of Japanese firm Suwa Architects + Engineers. “The materials we use should be [compostable] and of natural origin as much as possible.”
“Implement solutions that lead directly to reducing energy and CO2 emissions, spurring forest revitalisation, and reducing petroleum-based waste,” says Japanese architect Mariko Eto of Sola Architecture Design Studio.
British architect Yoko Kloeden approaches the problem from another angle. “To be a sustainable business, the business has to be profitable … Those builders who cut corners always resort to non-sustainable options as they feel they cannot be profitable without cutting corners.”
“There are different ways to make a business sustainable,” says Eva Chacón of Spanish firm Bonsai Arquitectos. “The important thing is that we are all aware of the need to do things differently, and that every person contributes their grain of sand.”