Designing for Carbon with Ren DeCherney
1/ What are the most common mistakes even experienced design teams make when it comes to carbon neutral ambitions?
The most common mistake is thinking you need to get everything right from day one. The numbers can look overwhelming, and I know this is a public forum that will end up on YouTube, but I will admit something. I still cannot read an EPD. They scare me, and as a designer I had no idea where to begin. So I did nothing, which never helps. The real mistake is believing you cannot take action. Ask manufacturers if they have reduced embodied carbon. If they say yes, great. Ask them which targets they have reached. Then ask about their circular approach and how you can work together when the product reaches the end of its first life.
2/ Where can we find the scorecards on the digital platform?
You can explore the C2C digital platform on our website. Go to c2ccertified.org and look for the button at the top that says “certified products”. That section gives you access to the platform. Right now there is a beta version of the new visual scorecard available. The full and more detailed version will go live in January.
3/ How can carbon targets shape creative choices while still preserving design freedom?
There are now many sustainable options for designers, so carbon targets no longer limit creativity. Manufacturers are meeting reduction goals and offering takeback programs, giving you plenty of choice. Designing with recycled or circular materials simply requires a different mindset. You do not always know exactly what you will start with, but many designers see this as an exciting creative challenge. We are hired to deliver thoughtful solutions and we can adapt. If we could move from AutoCAD to Revit, we can adapt to circular design too. There are many verified low carbon products available, often at the same price.
4/ Do you feel that designers take all dimensions of sustainability into account when selecting a product, or are there certain aspects that are often overlooked?
I always tell designers that they do not need to tackle every aspect of sustainability at the same time. Choose one area you truly care about and focus on that. When you are passionate about a topic you naturally return to it every day. If you use a strong multi attribute certification, it will cover the other sustainability dimensions for you. For example, I focused on material health, but by working with Cradle to Cradle Certified products I was also supporting circularity, ecosystem health and social fairness. So my advice is simple. Find the aspect of sustainability that feels most authentic to you. When you care about it, you can explain it with confidence to clients and you will want to keep improving. You do not need to do everything at once. Pick one meaningful starting point and build from there.
