Hidden Carbon in Interiors: How Design Can Reshape the Sustainability of Buildings?

Sustainable design often highlights energy-efficient technologies and eco-friendly materials. However, a significant portion of a building’s environmental impact stems from its embodied carbon—the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the extraction, manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. These emissions can account for up to 50% of a building’s total carbon footprint and are responsible for almost 40% of global CO₂ emissions, with 28% coming from operations (heating, cooling, lighting) and another 11% from embodied carbon in materials and construction (according GlobalABC, 2023). Addressing this hidden carbon is crucial for achieving true sustainability in the built environment. When we talk about the climate crisis, skyscrapers of steel and concrete often come to mind. Yet there is a less visible, but equally pressing, dimension of this problem: the interiors of these buildings.

 

While architects focus on structure, interior design is frequently overlooked as a sustainability lever. This is a mistake. Interior renovations and furniture replacements happen every few years—sometimes as often as every 5–7 years in offices. Each cycle adds a new wave of embodied carbon, waste, and resource extraction. Studies suggest that interior refurbishments alone can account for up to 30% of a building’s lifecycle embodied emissions (UNSW, 2023).

This raises a simple but urgent question: if interiors are a large part of the problem, could they also be a hidden solution? Like fast fashion, “fast interiors” are driven by constant updates, seasonal trends, and disposable furniture. In the U.S., 12 million tons of office furniture are sent to landfills yearly—often long before the products end their functional life. Globally, 90% of interior renovation materials such as flooring, drywall, and finishes still end up in landfills. That leads to a fast increase in carbon coming from renovations.

This isn’t only wasteful; it locks in new emissions each time a room is repainted, refurnished, or reconfigured. If global building stock is expected to double by 2050, and if we keep treating interiors as disposable, the sector risks adding hundreds of gigatons of unnecessary CO₂ on top of operational emissions.

 

Could Interior Design play a crucial role in carbon reduction?

The answer is definitely yes. Interior design has the potential to shift from an aesthetic afterthought to a carbon strategy. Because interiors are renewed so frequently, even small shifts in design philosophy can create exponential carbon savings. Where should the focus be?

Material Choices with Measurable Impact

Every material carries an embodied carbon footprint: concrete is roughly 380 kg CO₂ per m², steel around 260 kg, and timber closer to 120 kg (ACS, 2023). Choosing low-carbon and bio-based materials—such as reclaimed wood, bamboo, or cork—can immediately reduce emissions by 40–70%.

“Sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It’s about doing more good.”                               
— Jochen Zeitz ​

Longevity and Adaptability of the design

Designers can break the waste cycle by creating longer interiors that adapt more easily. Durable fit-outs extend the replacement cycle from 7 to 20 years, cutting lifetime carbon nearly in half. Modular systems—like demountable partitions or modular flooring—make spaces flexible without needing constant replacement. Creating products that are easy to repair reduces the need for replacement and minimizes waste.

Interior Design and Operational Energy

Interior layouts also influence daily energy use. Daylighting strategies, reflective finishes, and open layouts can reduce artificial lighting demand by 20–60%. Thermal zoning through partitions and material choices lowers HVAC loads. Even green walls and indoor plants can modestly cool spaces while improving indoor air quality.

Minimalism as a Climate Strategy

Minimalism is more than a trend—it is a practical carbon tool. By using fewer materials, prioritizing durability over decoration, and reducing consumption cycles, minimalist interiors embody 25–40% less embodied carbon compared to highly ornamented, frequently updated spaces.

Let’s highlight some Real-World Examples

  • Circular Fit-Out, Amsterdam (2021): It was renovated entirely with reclaimed interior materials, achieving a 70% reduction in embodied carbon compared to a conventional renovation.
  • Bullitt Center, Seattle (2013): Often called “the greenest office building in the world,” it integrates modular, toxin-free interiors and achieves 82% daylight autonomy, reducing operational energy by 80% below baseline.
  • IKEA Circular Hubs: By experimenting with buy-back and resale of furniture, IKEA has shown that circular design models can cut lifecycle emissions by 30%.

These examples prove that sustainable interiors are not futuristic concepts but practical, scalable strategies being tested today.

From Decoration to Carbon Management

Energy efficiency alone cannot solve building sustainability problems. Every new floor finish, partition wall, or furniture set contains hidden carbon, and when multiplied across billions of square meters of global building stock, the impact is enormous.

The good news is that this also creates an opportunity. Unlike concrete and steel, which are slow to change, interior design is flexible, immediate, and recurring. Designers hold the power to transform interiors into a climate lever—choosing materials that emit less, creating adaptable spaces, and adopting minimalist approaches that reduce unnecessary consumption.

In other words, design is not just about style but also about carbon management. By rethinking interiors, we can make buildings beautiful, functional, and powerful allies in the fight against climate change.

Designers play a pivotal role in addressing and reducing hidden carbon by simply educating clients and informing them about the environmental impact of materials and design choices. They can also advocate for Sustainable Practices by promoting the use of low-carbon materials and sustainable construction methods and, not least, by finding innovative solutions and starting to develop new design approaches that prioritize longevity, adaptability, and material reuse.

CONTACT us if you would like to create a suitable renovation design strategy integrating Carbon Management approach.