Belgian firm WeWantMore has created new sustainability-focused outlets for McDonald’s that are designed for disassembly using mechanical fixings instead of glue, so local teams can break down the elements for eventual reuse and recycling. Photo courtesy WeWantMore

The “Why”  

Bring Your Client on Board

Get To Know Your Client

Include sustainability and climate-friendly design in your client research and project discovery process:

  • Does the organization have an ESG Plan?
  • Does the organization have an Annual Sustainability Report or CSR Report? If so, does it include a focus on carbon emissions?
  • Has the company made any climate pledges or commitments to reduce its carbon emissions? 

Tip: In your client’s ESG Plan or Report, pay special attention to any commitments to address or reduce “Scope 3 Emissions”—these emissions can be linked to their investments in their spaces and facilities. 

Educate Your Client

Depending on how motivated your client is to address their carbon emissions through the design project, work with them to make climate-friendly decisions. Here are some strategies to help:

Meet Them Where They Are: Your client might not be interested in talking about climate change, but perhaps they would agree that they care about their employees’ health or think clean air is important. These motivations can provide an opening for climate-friendly design decisions.

Empower the Enthusiasts: For clients who are interested in sustainability but aren’t convinced about prioritizing carbon emissions, there are likely passionate people within your client’s organization who are interested in pushing the envelope. Find them and involve them in the process.

Educate the Leaders: For clients who are invested in reducing their carbon footprint, facilitate a workshop with the decisionmakers to show them how their interior design projects can make a powerful impact to their overall climate goals.


If you have feedback on the Climate Toolkit for Interior Design, write to: [email protected]