Ethics statement
It's important to continuously improve how my business is run - both its footprint, how I work for my clients and ways to influence my industry.
Here I set out my objectives and targets for recording, monitoring and improving - to lessen impact.
Company objectives
Company commitments
Impacts
Footprint
Brainprint
Handprint
Nature (biodiversity: marine, freshwater + terrestrial)
Farmed + laboratory animals
Future generations
COMPANY OBJECTIVES: overview of all company activity using One Planet Living principles
ACTION PLAN: Carbon + nature impact reduction plan
Plan set out until 2033 - updated with actions and progress
- Promote healthy interiors using healthy materials,
- Visual / acoustic / thermal comfort
- Use biophilic elements
- Use healthy design principles to support health
- Look after my health + that of those working with me
- Use certifications to ensure working conditions and pay of workers in supply chain, avoid child labour
- Living Wage Brighton
- Address inequity in the interior design industry
- Guide clients to responsible products and materials - high quality products with a long life
- Pressurise supply chain to improve practices
- Raise awareness within industry
Raise awarenees in the industry for its multiple impacts including climate change through Interior Design Declares + professional body BIID
Advocate for biodiversity - freshwater and marine within my work and my industry
- Be aware of whole lifecycle impact of specifications and designs
- Share learnings
Advocate for terrestrial biodiversity within my work and my industry
- Be aware of whole lifecycle impact of specifications and designs
- Share learnings
Purpose
To open the eyes of the interior design industry to the all the negative impacts it has on animals, people and planet - and to guide it to positive, fair, next generation, regenerative, circular positive alternatives.
Vision
To have the most positive impact on improving my industry - and to be in the right place needed to achieve that.
Mission
To deliver beautiful, consciously created spaces and products - and to work with my industry to do the same.
1. B Corp certification
I've been really fortunate to experience the workings of an ethical business and I have tried to incorporate those learnings from The Body Shop International HQ into my own business. Materialise Interiors is proudly one of the 2,500+ B Corps in the UK , 8,400 globally + 28 in Brighton.
Materialise Interiors has been B Corporation certified from April 2023 - progress will be published each April in the B Corp Impact Report.
As a B Corp in the interior design industry, Materialise Interiors is counted among businesses that are leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Read more on B Corp here. Recertification happens every three years with an expectation for improvements each time.
The company has a combined Carbon + Nature Impact Reduction Plan.
Ongoing: review of goal progress in line with company objectives
Measuring date: Fiscal year end (end March)
Reporting dates: Impact Report published on Earth Day 22nd April. Giving Back mid year progress reporting part on the company's birthday (18th November)
B Corp Impact Report
My second Impact Report, published Earth Day 22nd April 2025 explores the company's impact in more detail.
Each year the report is produced at Financial Year End, documenting the PROGRESS : CHALLENGES and WINS
2. Net Zero: 50% reduction CO2 emissions by 2030 SME Climate Hub / UN Race To Zero
SME Climate Hub is a non-profit global initiative that empowers small to medium sized companies to take climate action and build resilient businesses.
Company emissions are submitted each year. This year their calculator was used.
Progress, 25-26:
WINS
INFLUENCING MY INDUSTRY
Appointed Council Director 25-27 term at the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID)
SHARING KNOWLEDGE
Panel discussion: Decorex
Podcasts: Workplace Geeks, Stand Up For The Story
BIODIVERSITY FOCUS
Switch to nature-based carbon avoidance
Use donations as thank yous for clients + referrals
GIVING BACK - microfinance loans
Ongoing: Loans to women-owned businesses in Global South - new loans to be solar loans or biodiversity related
DIGITAL CARBON
Website carbon reduced CO2e per view:
from 0.71g (Mar 24)
to 0.42g (Mar 25)
to 0.17g (Feb 26)
GIVING BACK - 5% donation commitment
Ongoing: Ontrack and exceeded
GIVING BACK
Charity projects:
THE OLD MARKET Mar 25
GIVING BACK - volunteering
BIID Council, BIID Student Challenge, BIID Portfolio Mentoring,
Interior Design Declares - ongoing
Interior Educators Climate Emergency Award 25 - judge
CHALLENGES
Client engagement
Clients are not always engaged in reducing carbon footprint in their designs
Biodiversity and water footprint
How to measure this?
Embed alongside carbon measuring.
Need data
Social impact
More work to do here on understanding and measuring of human impact throughout a lifecycle of product or project
Supply chain transparency
Need more screening of suppliers. More carbon-valued products. More EPDs. Difficulties sourcing cruelty free + vegan products without legal definitions + loopholes in law (paint)
Hidden impacts
Find less obvious negatively impacting products and service (carbon + nature) used by business. Identity opportunities and find more responsible providers such as for broadband.
Client projects
Not all elements used in projects have a CO2e value. Limited amount of suppliers providing carbon footprint calculations per item, per m2 etc. calculations for services are unknown. Action: ask Brighton Uni for help
Time pressure - measuring and reporting on impacts as a microbusiness
Need software support to monitor and calculate operational carbon footprints.
Action: contacted FreeAgent 7/12/22. 7/2/23, 29/3/25
Site waste
How to actually ensure safe and responsible recycling and disposal when clients are the customer. Much more work is needed here - ways to engage project teams to reduce, reuse and recycle before sending to energy recovery. Measuring of site waste needs to happen. Identity most effective ways to ensure Duty of Care legislation is followed. Help my peers to do the same.
Home office limitations
Suggestions: Solar panels and insulation (advised in BHESCO energy survey). Challenging in a leasehold property
Circular economy suppliers
How to calculate Reused items? See Client project
carbon footprints
Home office energy efficiency
Limitations as a flat in a leasehold property. Suggestions: investigate insulation and solar panels as advised in BHESCO energy survey
Customer stewardship
Ensuring impacts are managed on their behalf: products, services, waste. Ensuring no greenwashing. Improve client onboarding and feedback processes
1.business operation: carbon emission impact
MEASURING fiscal year 25-26
Scope 1: 0.84 kg (previously 1.16 kg) DECREASE
Scope 2: 0 tonnes/yr (previously 0 tonnes) EQUAL
Scope 3: 2,54 kg (previously 8,387kg 3,476kg) DECREASE
TOTAL: Carbon emissions: 3.39 tonnes CO2e (previously 10.44 tonnes) DECREASE
In summary, Net Zero 20% decrease target BACK ON TRACK
Offsets:
Nature-based carbon avoidance: 3 tonnes, 14 sq. m of wildflowers, wetlands and wildlife (20kg per sq. m) + 450 trees (1.3kg each)= 3.61 tonnes CO2e
TOTAL: Carbon neutral - but only due to Offsets....
Emissions less offsets = minus 0.22 tonnes CO2e (previously minus 0.62 tonnes CO2e )
NOTES:
Progress reported annually to the SME Climate Hub - next reporting deadline: October 1, 2026
OFFSETTING: Continue with Nature-based carbon avoidance, Cookstoves, Wind energy, Renewable energy (Gold Standard) + Wildflowers, wetlands and wildlife - habitat restoration (Ecologi)
CALCULATOR:
Switched from Clean Growth Carbon Calculator to SME Climate Hub Small Business Carbon Calculator
2. business operation: other impacts
Actions:
Only vegan food catering
Naturewatch Foundation filming, book launch, B Corp Month event
Living Wage commitment: Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign
www.livingwagebrighton.co.uk
Support nature-related positive action - campaigns, petitions, lobbying
Support with me!
Ask your election candidates to back the cross party Climate and Nature Bill
Support Earth Day 22nd April - join the campaign for free, send a donation to keep the campaign going and the research happening, or sign up to a Great Global Clean Up near you @earthdaynetwork.
Earth Overshoot Day: talk about, promote and donate to
Share Action campaigning against the financing of fossil fuels
Voluntarily compliance disclosures: Carbon: SME Climate Hub.
Nature: **in progress** exploring TNFD and ESRS 3 & ESRS 4, ISSB's S1 / S2
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Involved in local sustainability and Circular Economy, B Local group, Hanover Action, 'Wasters' cohort from CE Bootcamps
B Local Brighton, Clean Growth Platform, Circular Brighton and Hove
Ethical banking since day one
Starling Bank, previously The Co-operative Bank
Ethical pension - switch from opaque to ethical pension now means a reduction from 64 tonnes to 23 tonnes CO2e a year and avoids investments in fossil fuels, weapons and animal agriculture.
I used Mindful Wealth for my switch. Use MotherTree measure your financial carbon impact.
Ethical purchasing: always FSC / PEFC certified paper products, buy goods and services from small businesses, women owned, local
B Corp definition of LOCAL: usually within 50 miles. Does not include a local branch of a company headquartered elsewhere.
Electrical waste - computers, old phones, cables and small electricals donated to TechTakeback
https://www.techtakeback.com/
1. SHARING KNOWLEDGE: my industry
BRITISH INSTITUTE OF INTERIOR DESIGN, Registered Interior Designer + Council Director
As well as collaborating with my industry through Interior Design Declares, I am involved with the professional body the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID).
The British Institute of Interior Design is a non-profit organisation is owned and governed by its members and maintains high standards for our profession, acknowledging and educating on our impacts and making it inclusive for those missing from the industry who should be enjoying this complex yet exciting career path.
Registered Interior designer - since 2013. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬!
BIID ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE:
Beginning 5 year update of Sustainable Specification Guide
Appointment as Council Director 25-27 term
Merit Award '25
Updates to the BIID Strategic Plan
Part of the inaugural BIID Sustainability Committee to encourage Sustainability throughout the organisation and our members. One five year term completed.
Co-writer of the Sustainable Specification Guide, launched September 2021, being updated 2024
Devising the Sustainability Strategy for the overarching Strategic Plan for the organisation
Judge for BIID Student Challenge 2021
Mentoring and portfolio mentoring
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) assessment panel member - ongoing
Sustainability Showcase 2022 - delivered talk on Next Generation Materials with Masters student mentee Sadie Millermaggs
Talking part in panel discussions, writing articles on behalf of the BIID - ongoing
Awards: CPD Award twice, 23 + 24
INTERIOR DESIGN DECLARES, co-founder + founding signatory
I feel strongly that our industry needs to open up, be more transparent and share knowledge. We are a highly polluting, resource using, carbon emitting industry.
I am a co-founder and active Steering Group member of INTERIOR DESIGN DECLARES. Set up in March 2021, our initiative encourages change in our industry with the two main objectives being Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss. We are part of BUILT ENVIRONMENT DECLARES (previously known as Construction Declares).
Our pledges here. Join us!
Collaborate - Inspire - Educate - Campaign
My company and eight others joined together to get the interior design's declaration set and published.
IDD ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE:
Panel discussion participation for industry events (regular)
4th birthday Social - gathered 45 signatories at Ahrend, London for talks and networking, March 2025
3rd birthday Social - gathered 60 signatories at The Building Centre, London for talks and networking, March 2024
2th birthday Social - gathered 14 signatories at The Edge, London for a round table discussion, March 2023
Futurebuild 2025: panel discussion. 2024: stand and panel discussion
Partnership with Decorex to make the event more sustainably focused and run, along with a series of Decorex X IDD panel discussions. Decorex panel series - 2024, 2023
Sharing learning through our quarterly newsletter
Developed a SUPPLIER QUESTIONNAIRE for designers to use
Partnered the the Naturewatch Foundation for their 'Paint With Kindness, Not Cruelty' campaign - to close the loop hole on animal testing of paint ingredients
Partnered the UK scientist fire retardant chemicals campaign and UK government FR chemical consultation
Campaigns supported to date: 'Paint With Kindness, Not Cruelty' campaign, Climate and Nature Bill, Flame retardant chemicals, Future Homes
IN THE UK Fellow UK designers and suppliers of goods and services to the interior design industry, please join us at: www.interiordesigndeclares.co.uk
DECLARATIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES We are also helping other countries to join our Declaration. To date we have been joined by Finland, who will hopefully be closely followed by the United States.
If fellow designers would like to set up a Declaration for their country, please email us at: [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL VEGAN INTERIOR DESIGN ASSOCIATION, co-founder + founder member
The International Vegan Interior Design Association (IVIDA) was formed following a series of events which started with Vegan Interior Design Week launched by Australian-German interior designer Aline Dürr, with a follow up week of Vegan Interior Design Sessions co-ordinated with support from Vegan Business Tribe.
Aline and I both felt a community was needed next to assist designers on their journey.
Set up in 2024, IVIDA is the first global initiative dedicated to uniting interior designers, suppliers, and businesses committed to ethical, sustainable and health-supporting design practices.
Our group offers free membership, ensuring accessibility for vegan designers worldwide. We host regular virtual meetings and collaborate through a private Facebook group. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬!
Most recent
2. SHARING KNOWLEDGE: General public
Most recent
3. SHARING KNOWLEDGE: Business Community
B Corp community
Networking with fellow B Corporations, sharing knowledge and advice.
BUSINESS DECLARES member
I'ma member of Business Declares is a not-for-profit organisation formed by senior leaders with a range of experience from the SME, B Corp and FTSE100 sectors. We are official members of the UN Race to Zero team for COP26. We believe that business has a major part to play in tackling the climate, ecological and social emergency. Better Business Act signatory
DESIGN DECLARES member
Group of designers, design studios, agencies and institutions declare a climate and ecological emergency.
With 8 acts of emergency: read more HERE
4. CAMPAIGNS
Nature advocacy
Restore Nature Now march June 2024
BUSINESS FOR NATURE signatory July 2024
CLIMATE + NATURE BILL, Zero Hour, rganisation supporter January 2025
CAMPAIGNING:
PESTICIDE USE BAN Call for ban on pesticide use in urban areas (gardens, parks, other urbans green spaces) - the poisonous pesticide chemicals are used currently are harmful to biodiversity (including bees, butterflies, wildflowers) + humans. We can manage without them (banned by France in 2018, also Denmark + Luxembourg). Sign here: www.pesticidecollaboration.org/go-pesticide-free/
END THE BADGER CULL Call for ending the Badger Cull. Call for an immediate end to all badger culls operated by the UK government in England. Sign here: www.badgertrust.org.uk/end-the-cull/end-the-cull-petition
NATURE RESTORATION Weald to Waves Garden + Greenspaces project. Establishing a 100 mile nature recovery corridor across Sussex. Connecting this fragmented landscape will boost biodiversity, capture carbon, enhance food production and enrich the rural economy. Pledge here: www.wealdtowaves.co.uk/
Animal Welfare advocacy
CAMPAIGNING:
'PAINT WITH KINDNESS, NOT CRUELTY' Naturewatch Foundation campaign collaboration:
The charity Naturewatch Foundation campaign - for current household product animal testing ‘ban’ to be revisited. Loopholes currently exist in the UK ‘ban’ on animal testing of household products which was introduced in November 2015. Sign here: www.action.naturewatch.org/
Campaign is backed by Interior Design Declares and the International Vegan Interior Design Association (IVIDA)
I'm collaborating with the Naturewatch Foundation charity, supporting their 'Paint With Kindness, Not Cruelty' campaign - highlighting loopholes in the ban which has existed in UK law since 2015.
While all finished product paint in the UK is no longer tested on animals in accordance with the ban, there is little clarity over the ingredient testing status. This means while paints are marketed as 'vegan' or 'cruelty free', the paint could be made up from a composition of animal tested ingredients.
Myself and Natalie Harney - Naturewatch Foundation's Animal Experiments Campaign Manager were invited to a meeting with the British Coatings Federation head office to meet their CEO, Sustainability Manager and Regulatory Affairs Manager.
The BCF's members are 95% of the British paint market. We discussed this supply chain opacity issue and how we can begin to work together to improve transparency in the industry. It was an open and positive meeting + I really look forward to sharing our progress.
Inequity in the Interior Design Industry
My industry is not at all diverse and I support the initiatives that are in place to encourage equity and designers from all backgrounds. Through United In Design and the British Institute of Interior Design, I offer mentoring help to new designers and students.
GIVING BACK
Actions:
VOLUNTEERING - BE MY DEDICATED CHARITY:
One day (7 hours) a month are on offer to one charity.
If you are a charity in need of design help, please contact me.
Terms:
Maximum of 3 days spread over 3 months per charity is offered as a donation from Materialise Interiors. Time is logged on a weekly timesheet and covers all input. Any additional help needed during that time is charged at the regular hourly rate. 4 dedicated charities per year maximum,
To date:
School Bus Project, Mile Oak School Science Bus project, Cycling UK, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, Ditch The Label, Harriet's of Hove, Old Market Theatre.
Investment in innovative, ethical businesses. Currently Biohm, Avallen and Brighton Energy Cooperative.
£300 Brighton Enery Co-op
Running total - from 2005 to date
5% of my company's gross sales are donated to charities, community interest companies & non-profits.
This includes offsetting and microfinance lending in developing countries (treeplanting, wind, solar, rainforest preservation, Lend With Care microfinance loans to like-minded fellow small businesses and Gold Standard projects) as follows >>>>
Peer to peer support
If fellow designers would like my help in operating their business more responsibly - get in touch as I offer a peer to peer support services