Beautiful Habitat Environmental Goals
Did you know that Beautiful Habitat has our own sustainability standards? I have been a bit of a tree hugger my whole life. So I have always had sustainability practices here at Beautiful Habitat that we’ve never really made public. Today, I’m changing that as we look forward to celebrating Earth Day 2024.
Sustainability, Green, Eco-friendly, Pro-environment – whatever you call it, saving the planet is a big topic and there are so many issues to tackle.
- Chemicals/toxicity
- Waste
- Recyclability
- Plastic in the oceans and waterways
- Deforestation
- Carbon emissions
- Water conservation
- Energy Conservation
And now we have to contend with so many companies that are guilty of greenwashing.
A problem like this can be daunting, but it’s a case where every bit does help. I listen to a podcast where she calls this “The Infinite 1%”. If you just do 1% of a goal each day, by the end of the year, you will have done far more than someone that waits to start until they think they can achieve perfection. Your 1% builds and makes an impact.
It is in that vein that I am celebrating our Sustainability Standards. These are things we have been doing at Beautiful Habitat for nearly 20 years to make our impact toward a cleaner planet.
Reducing Waste
Did you know that 30% of all waste from the construction industry is due to rework and mistakes? 30%! Our philosophy at Beautiful Habitat is to plan everything to the smallest detail so that we can avoid problems and rework. Then we work with the builders and contractors to be sure the plans are understood and implemented. Detailed planning saves waste AND our client’s money!
I also help clients to buy the best that they can afford and invest in pieces that will last. By creating a thorough and thoughtful interior design plan and allocating our client’s investment to those pieces, my goal is to ensure minimal additions to landfill in the short and long term.
Not long ago, I shared how I surrendered and purchased cheap furniture, which resulted in extra money and waste in the long run. Read The Real Cost of Cheap Furniture
Water Conservation
Growing up in Colorado, we’ve always known that water is a limited resource. In bathroom remodels, we help to educate our clients on plumbing selections that use less water. The technology has come a long way in creating a higher water pressure with less water. It is now possible to have a fully luxurious spa bathroom experience while using less water than 10 years ago.
via Lower Carbon Emissions
I try to prioritize buying local or nearby, and made in America whenever possible. I talked all about this as a focus on our local Relationships, but local products matter, too. Buying closer to home means less waste in shipping.
In addition, the Beautiful Habitat office has been solar powered for over 10 years and I drive electric vehicles.
In the last several years, we’ve partnered with new vendors which I am happy to share with our clients to meet our environmental goals.
- Outdoor furniture that is manufactured from recycled plastic. (photo above)
- Wood furniture made in America from sustainably managed forests within 100 miles of the factory. (photo below)
- Two local companies using “waste” fabric to make accent pillows. See the pillows here: Maximalist Interior Décor
- Incorporating cork upholstery into our offerings as discussed in 2023 furniture design trends
I have goals to expand our sustainability efforts in the next year. I plan to research and hopefully engage with deconstruction services, which will help dismantle an old space and recycle the construction materials like 2×4’s. I’ll also continue to research and partner with more companies that are B certified or have cradle to cradle manufacturing.
In my personal life, my goal is to reduce single use plastics. I’ve been switching several products to companies that use minimal or zero plastic in their products and packaging including laundry, dish and hand soap as well as haircare. Email me if you’d like to know more.
Ready to hire me to help you meet your own goals? Schedule a Chat with me today!