The challenge of sustainable materials in interior design: wood

The interior design sector is increasingly “sustainable“. Being eco-friendly, however, takes on different facets, from the social impact to the environmental one, pursuing an ethical concept that aims at the excellence of content and form at the same time. In this direction, a company that offers turnkey interior design services must be able to advise its end customers on the best possible solution for each project: from creative recycling to the use of environmentally friendly materials, from those produced without waste of energy resources up to those that respect an ethical work chain.

Taking as an example the sustainable material par excellence, wood, a company must, therefore, be able to provide customers with the tools to understand what is the most suitable type of wood for each project, starting from the most popular standards currently available on the market. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certification, for example, is specific for products derived from forests, even non-woody ones, and ensures that strict environmental, social and economic standards are respected, including the fact that forests implement planned reforestation. The FSC Recycled, on the other hand, certifies that the products contain 100% recycled wood, in addition to the basic FSC standards. Another international certification is the PEFC (Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification) which, unlike FSC, is a certification system based on the mutual recognition of sustainable national forest management schemes. Finally, you can also choose to use reclaimed wood, giving new life to objects originally intended for different uses.

When choosing a certified wood, however, it is equally important to pay attention to the finishes in order not to create problems that would undermine the choice of a sustainable material, such as indoor pollution. Therefore, the use of paints with low volatile organic components, wax or natural oils should be recommended. In this sense, we are helped by another certification: the EU Ecolabel, an EU ecological quality label for products and services characterized by a reduced environmental impact throughout the entire lifecycle.

Tosetto guarantees the realization of projects that ensure the use of the best eco-sustainable materials, as well as the security of a consultancy that takes care of every aspect of the work, from the finishing up to the correct disposal of waste construction materials.

Ph. Credits: APML Architetti