Designing with Purpose: Why Furniture Choices Matter for a Sustainable Future

27 November 2025 News

Interior architects and designers do not just create space, they shape experiences. Every choice, from the placement of a chair to the type of wood used in a dining table, tells a story.

And increasingly, the most powerful stories are those that integrate sustainability.

The designer’s influence

As interior designers and architects, you are key decision-makers in the furniture industry. You set trends, define what is desirable, and guide your clients through countless choices. Whether it is the sourcing of a wooden table, the selection of office seating, or the recommendation of a bespoke piece, your influence extends far beyond aesthetics.

With this influence comes responsibility: the decisions you make ripple across supply chains, affecting not just how spaces look and feel, but how they impact forests, communities, and the planet.

Sustainable furniture: more than a trend

Sustainable furniture is not just a buzzword, it is becoming central to interior design. Clients today are seeking pieces that not only look beautiful but also respect the environment.

Choosing sustainable furniture:

• Reduces environmental impact by promoting circular economy practices and waste reduction.
• Enhances health and well-being with fewer harmful chemicals and healthier indoor air quality.
• Adds character through the use of unique, responsibly sourced materials that tell authentic stories.
• Prioritizes durability, creating furniture that lasts and avoids the disposable culture of fast interiors.

In short: sustainable furniture delivers value that goes far beyond its surface.

Why certification matters

But how can you be sure that the “sustainability” label is real? This is where certification plays a vital role.

With PEFC-certified wood and furniture, you can trust that your design choices have tangible impact:

• Protecting biodiversity and preserving the CO₂ capturing power of forests.
• Supporting fair working conditions and training for forest workers.
• Unlocking market access for independent forest owners.
• Improving livelihoods for communities living in and around forests.

Whether you are designing with Scandinavian birch, Canadian oak, or tropical teak, certification ensures that beauty does not come at the cost of the planet.

Your voice in the supply chain

Designers hold a unique position in the supply chain. You decide not only on the materials but also the lifespan of products and their potential for reuse or recycling. In fact, studies estimate that up to 90% of production costs are determined at the design stage, an extraordinary level of influence.

As Geneva-based interior architect Rodolph Wetzel puts it:

“We deal directly with clients, and have the opportunity to influence their choices. Customers often accept costly environmentally friendly options such as geothermal or solar panels because they are sensitive to climate change. However, it has never happened to me that a client asked for wood from sustainably managed forests. This is simply because they are not sufficiently informed and aware.”

This highlights the vital role of designers: not just to respond to trends, but to lead them.

Let’s shape impact together

Your influence as a designer does not stop when a project ends, it continues in the choices you recommend and the conversations you spark. Through client consultations, online communities, and social media, you have the power to normalize sustainability as an essential part of design. By actively recommending certified sustainable furniture, you are not just shaping interiors, you are shaping mindsets.

Every piece of furniture is an opportunity to tell a story. When you choose sustainable, certified wood and furniture, those stories are rooted in responsibility, transparency, and care for the future.

At PEFC, we believe this is not a journey you should take alone. Together, we can raise awareness, increase demand for certified furniture, and make sustainability the standard, not the exception. As interior architects and designers, you are more than creators of beauty: you are ambassadors of sustainability. Let’s work together to ensure that the choices you make today define not only the spaces, but also the planet of tomorrow.

We would love to hear from you! Reach out at furniture@pefc.org, and let’s explore how we can make a difference together.