One year has passed since we first shared our support for the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on their very first flag day. We are delighted to take part again this year and  to share how we’ve continued to make progress and further our dedication to these global objectives.

It is no longer enough to simply design sustainably. Sustaining current practice will ultimately only lead to a negative outcome, if change is expected, we must take action to facilitate it. We believe in forging a symbiotic relationship between business and nature, where one actively supports the other. This socio-ecological stand point works to generate a lasting positive impact rather than just mitigating a negative one. These regenerative principles are implemented at every stage of our projects from inception to completion and beyond, when the project is no longer in our care the necessary steps have been taken to ensure it continues to thrive.

Living Wage Certification & Our B-Corp Journey

We are proud to announce that we are officially Living Wage Certified, aligning to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. This certification reflects our dedication to fostering a healthy, equitable workplace for all.

In addition to becoming Living Wage Certified, we have embarked on the journey to becoming a B-Corp certified practise, a rare achievement within the design and build industry. This journey is guided by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and has verified many of the sustainable and ethical practices already in place at Charlotte Findlater Design. We are looking forward to detailing our journey and sharing more on this soon.

Commitment to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

We have made significant strides in our commitment to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, of which we have always felt strongly aligns to the heart of our ethos. We continue to challenge ourselves, asking why we need to buy new or whether we can repurpose or recycle. One way we’ve furthered this goal is by incorporating more antique and reclaimed items into our projects than ever before. This not only reduces waste but also adds authentic character to each home we create. You can see the results of these efforts in one of our recent projects in the image below, where beautiful old curiosities and antique items are at the centre of the design effortlessly adding authentic charm. To complete the circle, we continue to donate old furniture and soft furnishings that are no longer needed on-site to local charities, ensuring they don’t end up in landfills, instead benefitting those in need.

Furthermore, we have begun tracking waste on all of our projects where we act as the principal contractor. This has given us invaluable insight into which materials can be disposed of more responsibly and how we can further reduce our waste stream. We are proud to report just 5% of our total waste stream over the last 24 months has gone to landfill.

3 oak wall mounted shelves, decorated with various items, most importantly showing real plants in a biophilic design

Our Integrated Design Process

Within our purpose built Integrated Design Process we have targeted the goals we see most integral to the industry today, and hope to incorporate more in future.

  • SDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing – Our salutogenic approach focuses on promoting healthy lifestyles and improved well-being within the built environment.
  • SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation – We aim for ultimate water efficiency in every project, employing low-flow, ultra-efficient appliances, and incorporating rainwater and greywater recycling systems wherever possible. We also ensure that our waste management practices completely prevent pollution on site.
A garden room seating area with terracotta floor tiles, and 2 oversized deconstructed blue cushioned chairs with a view outside to the lake. The bifold doors are wide open.
  • SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy – We strive to reduce energy requirements through highly insulated walls and efficient windows and doors, employing additional air barriers where needed. Integrating HVAC systems that are appropriate for use and the typology of property, whether new build or renovation. Additionally advising on the most appropriate energy sources for each project where needed. Within home renovation and retrofit projects, there is always a solution to improve the efficiency of a property and it should always.
Looking out of a bedroom oak framed window, with a vintage radiator below the window and floral curtains pulled back.
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure – Sustainability is embedded in the infrastructure of every project we undertake. We champion the use of sustainable materials and practices, while ensuring that the local vernacular influences the design.
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities – We prioritise building on brownfield sites and integrating our projects into the 20-minute neighbourhood model, ensuring that communities are on their way to becoming walkable, sustainable, with a strong connection to nature.
  • SDG 13: Climate Action – Our ethos revolves around climate action. From office practices to on-site construction, we encourage employees to participate in climate action initiatives, including volunteering days and ongoing monthly donations to environmental organisations that spark meaning for us including Sea Shepherd and Ecology.
  • SDG 15: Life on Land – We take an ecologically sympathetic approach with each project, working to not only restore but further enhance biodiversity. Connecting the inhabitants of the property to the beauty of their surroundings by incorporating a variety of green spaces with ecoscaping providing ample wildlife habitats in the process, ensuring in can be seen and celebrated from the interior also. We pledge to leave each site in a better ecological state than we found it.
View over a lake, with a sail boat passing and a dense wood on the other side of the lake

Our hopes for the next year

As we reflect on all we have achieved this year and the impact we have made we are determined to continue growing, evolving and contributing to this global effort. We hope we can inspire others within the industry to speak up about their actions this year also, no matter how small, together we can create a lasting difference.

“never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead, 1978.

We want to be a part of the solution not the problem and in this way we feel it is incumbent on us to share our ideas, processes and encouragement for others to do so. Looking beyond mere profit, we subscribe to the model that business should be used as a force for good. In this way we will continue to challenge ourselves.