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Progress, Not Perfection (But Seriously, Progress)
We’ve talked a lot in this series—about contract furniture specs, certifications, procurement (and even some chemistry for deep, quality furniture nerdiness). But let’s be real for a second: Even the best sustainability plan doesn’t stand a chance without your people behind it.
That’s where change management comes in.
Because this isn’t just a furniture predicament. It’s a human one too. We’re asking people to shift habits, workflows, and sometimes entire ways of thinking. That’s no small ask. And while strategy is essential, it’s people who decide if your strategy—and the planet— thrive or die in the project binder.
Here’s my take: The RFP is your Oscar-winning script, the product is your all-star cast — and change management is the director who brings the whole story to life on screen.
And without it? You’ve got an award-winning design concept — stuck in the pitch deck, never brought to real life.
Start at the Top: The Leadership Mindset
Let’s start with leadership—because whether we like it or not, people look up.
When executives prioritize sustainability, it ripples. Not just through policies and reports, but through everyday behavior. And it’s not just about doing the right thing—it’s about recognizing the real value. When leaders show up curious, connected, and ready to model what sustainability looks like in action, others follow. It sends the message: This matters—for our people and our bottom line.
That said, leadership isn’t always top-down. Sometimes, it starts from the ground up—one team, one champion, one conversation at a time. It’s a great reminder that everyone has a role to play. You don’t need a title to lead.
And while we’re at it, a quick nod to Natashia Dunham at Sobeys, who’s been a powerful voice in showing how sustainability can align with both operational goals and people-first values. In her words, “You don’t have to change everything overnight—but you do have to start.” Because when sustainability becomes a business mindset—not just a mission—it starts paying off in more ways than one.
People Power: Sparking Employee-Driven Change
Top-down leadership matters. But bottom-up energy? That’s where the magic happens.
Employees want to contribute. They just need a clear way in. Whether it’s a formal sustainability committee, a “green ideas” Slack channel, or a Friday lunch-and-learn (pick me!), giving people a space to connect and make a difference? Turns out, it actually makes a difference. Funny how that works.
In fact, employees working at eco-friendly companies are shown to be 16% more productive. That’s not just a win for sustainability—it’s a win for your bottom line.
Change management consultant Amy Becker surprised us with a new fun fact: “Sustainability is an anomaly—it’s one of the few types of change that more often starts from the bottom up.” That makes your employees one of your most powerful tools for progress.
Invite folks to try just one thing to move toward circularity. Celebrate the effort. Share progress. You’ll be amazed at how quickly those small actions start to build both community and momentum.
And don’t forget your internal BFFs (Best Furniture Friends): comms, HR, and marketing teams. They’re pros at storytelling—so loop them in and make those sustainability wins feel seen and shared.
Make It Operational: Integration Is Everything
Want your sustainability strategy to actually hit the screen? You’ve got to move it from concept to production.
That means embedding it into real processes—not just green goals in a slide deck. We’re talking procurement systems, HR policies, facilities operations, vendor reviews—the behind-the-scenes work that makes the story real. Because when sustainability is part of the daily workflow, it’s not just good for the planet—it’s good business. Eco-friendly can be seriously eco-nomical.
Just ask Kathleen Romano, Senior Project Manager at Sony Pictures Entertainment. After joining kimiko green roundtables, she helped drive changes that made reuse a key priority throughout their office projects. Now, reuse isn’t an afterthought. It’s built in from the start, making an impact across departments.
Sometimes it’s as simple as making sustainable choices the default, or adding your environmental values to new employee onboarding. Small changes scale—especially when they roll with the credits.
Track It Like You Mean It
(Sharing is caring—for the planet!)
We all know the saying: you can’t manage what you don’t measure.
But here’s a pro tip—don’t wait until everything’s perfect to start tracking. Set a few realistic goals, check in on your progress, and adjust as you go. What is Just One Thing you can start to track/measure/quantify? If you aren’t sure where to start, phone a BFF.
And just as important? Share what you’re learning. Talk about what’s working and what’s not. Transparency builds trust and helps others learn with you. And spoiler: when people feel like they’re part of the progress, they pull up a chair. That’s the spirit behind the kimiko green movement—learning out loud, lifting each other up, and building better habits together.
Signal Boost the Good Stuff
This Just One Thing is simple but powerful: Talk about your progress.
Seriously. Whether it’s a Teams shoutout, an internal newsletter, or a LinkedIn post—shine a light on what your team is doing. Not just because it feels good (though it does), but because it connects the dots between effort and impact. And…it’s contagious!
Take Toyota Motors North America, for example. After hearing the phrase “above ground landfill” during a kimiko green roundtable, their team was inspired to take a closer look at their own storage practices. The result? They cleared out an entire warehouse of unused furniture, most of which no longer met their internal standards—diverting 98% of it from the landfill through resale, donation, or recycling. The cherry on top: they’re now saving $50K a year.
Sharing your wins builds momentum. It boosts morale and proves your values aren’t just words on a slide. That matters—a lot. 70% of Gen Z cares deeply about sustainability, and 60% would skip over employers who don’t walk the talk. That’s not just a feel-good stat; it’s your reputation and talent pipeline on the line, and a takeaway from Series 3 of the kimiko green roundtables.
When people see progress, they want in. When they see it celebrated, they stick around. That’s how good intentions turn into real results.
Wrapping It Up
So here we are—the final column in our Just One Thing series.
We’ve explored how to build a more sustainable organization one action at a time—from the way you spec and select products, to how you embed sustainability into your culture, to how you lead and talk. If there’s one takeaway? It’s this:
Strategy and action don’t work solo—you need both brains and boots on the ground to drive change that delivers ECOnomics and ECObenefits. Bonus points if you’re wearing fun shoes.
Thanks for following along, trying the things, and showing up—even when it’s messy or uncertain or slower than you’d like. Sustainability isn’t a finish line—it’s a habit. And you’re building it one decision, one conversation, one action at a time.
We’ll be cheering you on—and we’ve even built a fun-size Just One Thing playbook to help keep the momentum going. Download it here, and let us know how you’re putting it to use!
Just One Thing is a five-part series written by Dianne Murata, OG Furniture Nerd at Kimiko Designs and accidental environmentalist leading kimiko green, a collaborative forum for industry professionals. This series will walk you through five key pillars of sustainable furniture planning. From digging into material transparency and vetting manufacturers to embedding sustainability into FF&E specifications, RFPs, and long-term habits — together, we’ll cut through the fluff and get straight to actionable change.
author
Dianne Murata
category
sustainability
topic
change management
Amanda Epplin named a Carnegie Changemaker
What Does Being a Changemaker Mean to Me?
From the start, maybe it was fate I’d become an environmentalist – after all, I was born on Earth Day. My connection to sustainability runs deep, but I’ll admit, I’m no perfect environmentalist and my journey is a work in progress. As an educator, researcher, writer and content creator for Kimiko Green, my focus is on fueling my passion for sustainability within furniture and becoming a stronger changemaker.
At Kimiko Green, I have the opportunity to bring sustainability-focused education to designers, specifiers, facility managers and Fortune 500 companies. Becoming a changemaker means embracing this responsibility to impact the world around me, particularly within the furniture industry. So, how do we challenge the status quo and carve out more sustainable paths forward? For me, it all comes down to these four key principles: asking better questions, sharing resources and knowledge, encouraging sustainable choices, and seeking innovative solutions.
It all starts with curiosity. Asking probing and thoughtful questions helps us challenge assumptions, dig into the root of the problem, and think more critically about what truly impacts our environment. We all have a responsibility to our planet and to future generations to examine our decisions for environmental impact.
Becoming a changemaker also means sharing resources, data and knowledge. My aim is to equip others with reliable and evidence-based data to select healthier, more sustainable specifications in their workspaces. Sustainability doesn’t happen in isolation – it’s about creating a collective understanding that enables all of us to make smarter, more environmentally friendly choices.
Encouraging people is at the heart of change. It’s about helping others question choices that are made out of convenience and guide them towards thoughtful, sustainable actions. Here, accountability is key, as is building a real awareness of how our furniture selections and decisions impact our environment for years to come. This sense of responsibility is what ultimately leads to long-term change.
Finally, becoming a changemaker means always looking for new ways to do things. Innovation is the current that drives change forward. Whether through new bio-based materials, alternative manufacturing processes, or reimagining furniture all together, it’s essential to push for innovation that redefines what is achievable.
In essence, becoming a changemaker isn’t just about action – it’s about mindset. By fostering curiosity, sharing knowledge, promoting accountability, and embracing new ideas, I hope to create a ripple effect that inspires others to join in this pursuit of creating sustainable and lasting change in our furniture industry.
Amanda Epplin is a sustainability expert and content leader for Kimiko Green, where she helps facility teams and design professionals make smarter, greener furniture decisions. With a background in research, education, and specification, Amanda brings clarity to complex topics, connecting data with action and guiding teams toward practical, lasting environmental solutions.
author
Amanda Epplin
category
sustainability
topic
Carnegie Changemakers
The RFP Is Where It Happens
“If you want to change the outcome, change the process.”
Or, to put it more bluntly: garbage in, garbage out.
And yet, when it comes to RFPs (Requests for Proposals), too many of us still treat them like copy/paste formalities. A checklist. A hoop to jump through. A task to delegate. But here’s the truth: if you’re serious about transforming your supply chain—making it more sustainable, more circular, more aligned with your values—it doesn’t start with a spec. It starts with the ask.
This column is about reclaiming the RFP as the strategic tool it is. Because when we’re intentional about how we ask, we change what we get. And when you change what you get, you change what gets built. Welcome to the ripple effect. Spoiler: you don’t have to rewrite the whole RFP—start with just one thing.
Let’s get into it.
Why Procurement Is the Sustainability Power Move
Every RFP is a signal.
It tells your supply chain what matters to you. What you’re willing to invest in. What gets rewarded. If sustainability isn’t clearly baked into that signal, it’s not a priority—it’s just a talking point.
The RFP is your leverage moment. Own it! Grab the bull (chair) by the horns. Seriously, though, you can do this and there is an actual bull chair.
Insights From the Field: Kimiko Designs
At Kimiko Designs, we’re in the thick of this work—crafting RFPs, responding to them, and helping clients shift how they evaluate value. So when we say RFPs can be a tool for change, as Amanda Epplin, Senior Furniture Planner and Sustainability Expert at Kimiko Designs, puts it, “An RFP is more than a formality. It’s your opportunity to turn good intentions into real outcomes. When done right, it becomes a roadmap that aligns your priorities with measurable impact, from sustainability to performance.”
Amanda and our team have worked with clients to structure RFPs that weigh end-of-life planning, disassembly, and material health alongside cost and lead time. We’ve helped reframe scoring criteria to reflect full product impact, shifting the conversation from what’s cheapest now to what performs best over time.
And as Caryn Ogier, our Director of Furniture Planning, often reminds us, “You get what you ask for. So ask for more from your suppliers.”
Insights From the Field: Ren DeCherney, C2CC
Ren DeCherney, Director – Built Environment at the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, has seen firsthand how procurement can either bring sustainability to life or bury it in the fine print.
“In working with manufacturers pursuing Cradle to Cradle Certified®, I’ve seen how impactful it can be to integrate material health questions into RFPs—not just asking for certifications, but for intent,” she says. “That opens up real conversations with suppliers and reveals gaps you can work on together.”
What’s worked? Starting small. Defining clear, actionable sustainability expectations in the RFP—and ensuring they carry weight in the scoring process, not just as a ‘nice-to-have.’
“The ROI? Better data. Better alignment. And suppliers who are excited to engage, not frustrated by a vague ask,” says DeCherney.
Barriers & Breakthroughs
What gets in the way of sustainable procurement? The usual suspects:
- Lowest cost wins. Best value often loses.
- Unclear criteria. If it’s not in the scorecard, it doesn’t count.
- Change feels scary. But inaction is even worse.
What moves the needle? Small, smart shifts:
- Ask for sustainability documentation upfront.
- Weight sustainability criteria in the evaluation—not just the preamble.
- Ask one follow-up question that shows you’re serious.
And if you’re not in procurement? You can still influence the process from the outside in.
- If you’re a facilities manager: Ask how products are scored in the RFP. Volunteer to review responses.
- If you’re an A&D professional: Advocate for products that align with your design intent and your sustainability standards.
- If you’re a dealer designer: Educate your clients on what they’re really buying—not just in cost, but in impact.
Just One Thing: Appoint a Sustainability Champion in the RFP Process
Want to make your RFP process more values-aligned without rewriting the whole thing? Here’s your move: appoint a sustainability champion.
This is the person—internal, external, or a consultant—who ensures sustainable criteria don’t get lost in technical specs or outscored by cost. They educate. They ask questions. They challenge defaults. They remind the team what matters.
As Tonya Williams, Senior Director at a global real estate services firm, Savills, says, “It’s classic change management. You need someone whose role is to hold the vision—because everyone else is just trying to hit the deadline.”
Pro tip: Name that champion in the RFP. Signal to bidders that sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a person at the table.
Wrap-Up: You Can Start This Tomorrow
Let’s be honest. Your next RFP could change the industry. No pressure.
But seriously—this doesn’t have to be a massive overhaul. At Kimiko Designs, we’ve seen firsthand how one shift—one champion, one material change, one clarified expectation—can ripple across the supply chain. So if you want to build a better world, start with the ask. Your future suppliers are listening.
Just One Thing is a five-part series written by Dianne Murata, OG Furniture Nerd at Kimiko Designs and accidental environmentalist leading kimiko green, a collaborative forum for industry professionals. This series will walk you through five key pillars of sustainable furniture planning. From digging into material transparency and vetting manufacturers to embedding sustainability into FF&E specifications, RFPs, and long-term habits — together, we’ll cut through the fluff and get straight to actionable change.
author
Dianne Murata
category
sustainability
topic
RFPs & proposals
Specs That Matter
When it comes to sustainable contract furniture specifications, one thing has become crystal clear: if we want people to care—and act—we have to speak their language. And more often than not, that means leading with the financials—cost savings, long-term value, and return on investment.
Whether you’re an architect, designer, specifier, or facility manager, budget will always be part of the conversation. It’s a reality of our work. But here’s the opportunity: what if sustainability didn’t have to compete with the bottom line? What if it could support it?
Good news—it can. And it starts with how we spec.
Let’s get into it.
The Power of Specifications: More Than Just a Line Item
It’s easy to see specs as purely technical — a list of SKUs to get across the finish line. But at their core, specs are where decisions become real. They’re where ideas become materials, and where values become visible IRL (In Real Life).
Every product we specify is a signal. A signal about how long something is intended to last. About who and what we prioritize. About the legacy we want to leave behind in our built environments. Specs matter.
Specifications shape:
- Material Sustainability: Are we choosing responsibly sourced, recyclable, or low-emission materials?
- Product Lifecycle: Are we investing in quality that will last with parts that are easily maintained or replaced, or are we settling for short-term solutions that will end up in the landfill?
- Human and Climate Health: Are we considering how products affect indoor air quality, community health, and climate impacts?
As Matt Tucker, Director of Research at the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), puts it: “Specifications define more than a design — they define the values of the organizations using them.”
Tucker’s insight reflects a growing awareness within facility management, supported by IFMA’s recent research into the role of the circular economy in the built environment. Their findings emphasize that facility managers are on the frontlines of turning circular principles — like designing out waste, extending product lifecycles, and regenerating natural systems — into everyday practice. And it often starts with what gets specified.
Tools That Bridge the Gap Between Budget and Sustainability
Values matter—but in the real world of budgets, timelines, and procurement checklists, we need practical tools that turn intentions into action.
The good news? Those tools exist—and they’re gaining traction across the industry. Let’s look at a few that are helping professionals navigate both cost and impact.
BIFMA LEVEL® Certification
LEVEL® is a leading multi-attribute certification for commercial furniture, assessing everything from materials and energy use to corporate and social responsibility. It gives teams a way to identify and compare products based on third-party, verified sustainability criteria.
How to use it:
- Choose products from manufacturers with LEVEL® certifications to meet broad sustainability goals.
- Use the certification tiers (1, 2, or 3) to align your selection with internal targets or client expectations.
- Lean on LEVEL® when presenting specs to procurement, offering assurance and accountability.
Gensler’s Product Sustainability Standards
Gensler has developed internal standards for product categories like seating, workstations, and textiles—focusing on material health, environmental impact, and supplier transparency. These standards offer a clear, actionable framework for A+D teams looking to prioritize performance and sustainability without getting lost in data overload.
How to use it:
- Refer to the standards when selecting vendors or new product lines.
- Use them to benchmark and continuously improve your internal product libraries.
- Incorporate them into training for junior staff to build consistency in sustainable specification practices.
Digital Platforms That Support Smarter Workflows
While platforms like Configura Extension Technology (CET) and My Resource Library (MRL) may not yet offer integrated sustainability data, they remain essential tools for organizing and managing specifications. When paired with platforms like Ecomedes, which do provide embedded environmental data, you create a more complete and streamlined process.
How to use them:
- Use CET and MRL for specification accuracy, documentation, and team coordination.
- Layer in tools like Ecomedes to vet products by certifications, emissions, or circularity metrics.
- Build workflows that balance efficiency with environmental insight—making it easier to deliver both speed and substance.
From Framework to Action: Aligning Specs with Company Values
It’s not just design firms pushing this shift. Forward-thinking organizations like Toyota, Aflac, and Honda are aligning procurement strategies with broader sustainability and ESG goals—embedding values into everyday decisions. The shift is rooted in more than just green ideals; it’s about applying integrated thinking to achieve measurable outcomes.
Indeed.com, for example, embedded environmental responsibility into their design and procurement approach while building their 36-story tower in downtown Austin. Faced with budget cuts during the pandemic, the team pivoted quickly—collaborating with local vendors to creatively reuse 70% of furniture, reconfigure workstations, and repurpose existing gym equipment and greenery. They didn’t stop there. Indeed developed a manufacturer evaluation program with predefined sustainability criteria—transparently sorting suppliers into good, better, best, and fail categories. By 2025, they’re on track to source 95% of new furniture from “best” manufacturers. Net result? A multi-million dollar savings and a high-performing, values-aligned workplace.
Amegy Bank took a similarly strategic approach—deploying three sustainable decommissioning strategies to repurpose nearly 24,000 square feet of furniture from their Houston headquarters. By focusing on reuse and integrating pre-owned furniture into their design strategy, they’ve consistently reduced project budgets and unlocked approvals for more initiatives. In one recent effort alone, they avoided $500K in new furniture purchases—and are projecting up to $1M in future savings through similar reuse strategies.
And then there’s Toyota—a leader not only in sustainable mobility but in sustainable facilities. During a roundtable, a facility manager revealed they were paying $50K monthly to store furniture they no longer needed. Their term for it? An “above-ground landfill.” But the story took a turn. Toyota hired a sustainable decommissioning vendor and cleared the space—achieving 98% landfill diversion. That single move will save half a million dollars over the next decade.
It wasn’t just about “green” products but about integrated thinking. Aligning specifications with values didn’t slow down the process. It clarified it.
Getting Started: A Smarter Spec Strategy
If you’re looking to make a shift—whether within your organization or across client projects—start with these foundational steps:
Focus on High-Volume Items
Start where you can have the most impact. Think task seating, guest seating, workstations, textiles—anything purchased in volume and used heavily. These are your sustainability levers.
Vet for Recognized Certifications
Look for trusted third-party certifications like LEVEL®, Cradle to Cradle Certified, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Health Product Declaration (HPD), and Declare. These reduce ambiguity and give your stakeholders confidence in your selections.
Use Digital Tools to Support Smarter Decisions
Whether it’s for organization (CET, MRL) or environmental insight (Ecomedes), let technology support—not complicate—your process. Lean into tools that make specs clearer, faster, and more transparent. P.S. If there are other must-have tech tools that you love, please, please let us know!
Align with Internal or Industry Standards
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Adopt established frameworks like the mindful MATERIALS’ Common Materials Framework (CMF) or Gensler’s Product Sustainability Standards, or develop your own internal benchmarks to ensure consistency across teams and projects. These tools help streamline decision-making and drive accountability across the organization.
Sustainable Choices Are Smart Business
At the end of the day, sustainability isn’t just about “doing the right thing”—it’s about getting started with one right thing. When specifications are made intentionally, with both cost and impact in mind, the result is smarter business, better design, and a more resilient future.
As designers, facility managers, and specifiers, we wield more influence than we often realize. According to ThinkLab, architects and designers have 26 times the specification power of the average American consumer—and in top design firms, that number can soar to 111 times. Our choices shape the built environment. Every product decision is a sustainability statement. Every line item is a chance to align with our values. And every project is an opportunity to do better.
So, what story are your specs telling?
Just One Thing
Remember, the most sustainable piece of furniture is the one you already own so the next time you spec a product—especially a high-volume item—pause to consider whether you can use something that’s already in your inventory or has been successfully used before. At Kimiko Green, we believe one of the most powerful sustainability strategies is reuse and reconfiguration. That simple decision—choosing to reuse or re-spec—can make a measurable difference in the impact of your project. It starts with one product, one choice, one moment of intention.
Just One Thing is a five-part series written by Dianne Murata, OG Furniture Nerd at Kimiko Designs and accidental environmentalist leading kimiko green, a collaborative forum for industry professionals. This series will walk you through five key pillars of sustainable furniture planning. From digging into material transparency and vetting manufacturers to embedding sustainability into FF&E specifications, RFPs, and long-term habits — together, we’ll cut through the fluff and get straight to actionable change.
author
Dianne Murata
category
sustainability
topic
certifications
Shaping the Next Chapter: Circular Design in Action
Every product tells a story. From the first sketch to the final shipment, its journey is shaped by choices — materials, processes, and logistics — that directly impact our planet. And it all starts in the factory.
Manufacturing plays a critical role in sustainability, influencing everything from a product’s carbon footprint to its recyclability. Forward-thinking manufacturers are pushing beyond traditional efficiency metrics to consider the entire story arc of their products. Instead of just focusing on cost and speed, they’re racking up planet points — making choices that benefit both business and the environment. They’re rethinking how materials are sourced, how waste is minimized, and how logistics can be optimized to cut emissions, proving that sustainability and smart manufacturing go hand in hand.
Two companies driving this shift are JSI and Humanscale. JSI is demonstrating how transparent sustainability goals can inspire change across the industry — challenging manufacturers to rethink not just the products they create but how they create them. Humanscale’s Ocean Chair is more than a piece of office furniture; it’s a statement about what’s possible when sustainability is truly embedded into design and production.
(Quick note: This isn’t a sponsored post — we just love talking to people doing cool things for the planet. No ads, no commissions, just good conversations about sustainability.)
This month, I’m chatting with Doug Shapiro from JSI about their commitment to circular manufacturing, what they’ve learned along the way, and how they’re designing products with end-of-life solutions in mind. I also spoke with Humanscale’s Jane Abernethy to get a closer look at how the company is redefining manufacturing and why facility managers should take a closer look at the supply chain behind their purchases.
Let’s get into it.
Manufacturing’s Carbon Footprint: Why It Matters
When we think about sustainability in furniture, we often focus on materials — what’s in them, where they come from, and how they break down. But it starts much earlier. Manufacturing can be a carbon-intensive process responsible for massive energy consumption, waste generation, and emissions. The adventure doesn’t end when the product leaves the factory — transportation and logistics add another layer, with raw materials and finished products often traveling thousands of miles before reaching their final destination.
Here’s why this chapter of the story matters:
- Material Sourcing: Choosing locally and responsibly sourced materials helps ensure a product’s origin, which includes ethical supply chains and reduced emissions.
- Production Efficiency: Advanced manufacturing techniques, like closed-loop water systems and renewable energy integration, rewrite the traditional waste-heavy manufacturing narrative.
- Waste Reduction: Design for deconstruction ensures products don’t end in a landfill but instead get a new chapter through take-back programs and remanufacturing.
- Transportation Optimization: Smarter logistics mean fewer miles traveled and a lower carbon footprint, extending the life of a product’s positive impact (ahem, planet points!).
By working with manufacturers committed to sustainable practices, facility managers, furniture planners, and interior designers can shape the next chapter of the industry’s sustainability journey.
Circular Design with JSI
Every product’s lifecycle doesn’t have to end when it wears out — if it’s designed right, it can be disassembled, reused, or reimagined into something new. JSI is making a significant impact by rethinking how products are designed, produced, and reused with a focus on circular manufacturing.
I spoke with Doug Shapiro, Vice President of Sales at JSI, to learn about their sustainability journey and how they lead the industry toward a circular economy.
Dianne: How does JSI approach circular manufacturing?
Doug: At JSI, we see circularity not just as a philosophy that guides manufacturing and design, but also how we think about our purpose. We want to build products that contribute positively throughout their entire lifecycle—prioritizing longevity, adaptability, and materials that can return to the ecosystem.
We also place a strong emphasis on local materials and local production. That reduces our carbon footprint and creates a stronger connection between our craft and our community.
If we can build great products in the right way, those good decisions will return back to our community in the form of healthy growth. That’s all reflected in our purpose– to hand over a better business to the next generation.
Dianne: How is JSI reducing its environmental impact beyond product design?
Doug: Besides focusing on local materials and manufacturing, we’ve got a top-class operations team. They are continuously improving energy efficiency and reducing waste. We’ve cut 2 million kWh annually and reduced CO₂ emissions by 82 metric tons per month through solar power. Additionally, we convert 1,000 tons of solid wood waste into energy annually, significantly lowering our environmental impact.
Dianne: Why is transparency important to JSI?
Doug: It’s straightforward. Transparency builds trust and drives accountability. It’s about ensuring that our customers and employees know exactly who we are and what we stand for. When people can see how and why we do what we do, it deepens confidence and builds partnerships.
Humanscale’s Ocean Chair: A Model of Eco-Conscious Manufacturing
Humanscale’s Ocean Chair, made from reclaimed ocean plastics, demonstrates how waste can be repurposed into high-performance furniture. I caught up with Jane Abernethy, Chief Sustainability Officer at Humanscale, to learn about their approach to sustainable design.
Dianne: What inspired the creation of the Ocean Chair?
Jane: Ocean plastic pollution is a huge issue. We wanted to show that ocean-bound plastic isn’t just waste — it can be transformed into valuable, high-performance furniture. It’s about turning a problem into a solution.
Dianne: How did you design the Ocean Chair with sustainability in mind?
Jane: We sourced plastics from coastal areas, minimizing transportation emissions. The chair is designed for disassembly, so it can be easily repaired, refurbished, or recycled, extending its lifecycle and reducing waste.
Dianne: What advice do you have for those who want to support sustainable manufacturing?
Jane: Start by asking the right questions — about materials, production methods, and sustainability commitments. mindful MATERIALS is a great resource for knowing what to ask. You can drive positive change by choosing vendors who prioritize sustainability.
Partnering with Manufacturers: How Facility Managers Can Drive Change
Sustainable manufacturing isn’t just about the products — it’s about the people who shape the process. Facility managers, procurement teams, and designers all have the power to influence how a product’s journey unfolds. If sustainability is going to move from a ‘nice to have’ to a non-negotiable plot point, the industry needs more open conversations between buyers and vendors.
Do you specify new furniture? Here’s how you can take an active role in shaping the next chapter:
- Start the Conversation: Ask vendors about their sustainability initiatives, product lifecycles, and carbon reduction strategies.
- Look for Third-Party Certifications: Seek out manufacturers with Cradle to Cradle, B Corp, or BIFMA Level certifications to ensure their sustainability claims are backed up.
- Prioritize Local Sourcing: Choosing closer-to-home manufacturing reduces unnecessary transportation miles in a product’s journey.
- Demand Take-Back Programs: Work with manufacturers who offer end-of-life solutions — because all products deserve a second act.
Every purchasing decision is an opportunity to edit the narrative of manufacturing. The more we prioritize these factors, the faster the industry will shift toward more planet-positive product options.
Just One Thing: Open the Door to Vendor Communication
Every product’s story is shaped by the choices we make. As a facility manager, procurement leader, or designer, you don’t have to rewrite the entire industry overnight, but you can direct a conversation that sparks change.
If we all committed to making sustainability a talking point with our vendors, the ripple effect would be massive — think 17 billion tons massive. It all starts with a conversation, and those conversations create awareness — the first step in rewriting the industry’s future.
Just One Thing is a five-part series written by Dianne Murata, OG Furniture Nerd at Kimiko Designs and accidental environmentalist leading kimiko green, a collaborative forum for industry professionals. This series will walk you through five key pillars of sustainable furniture planning. From digging into material transparency and vetting manufacturers to embedding sustainability into FF&E specifications, RFPs, and long-term habits — together, we’ll cut through the fluff and get straight to actionable change.
author
Dianne Murata
category
sustainability
topic
manufacturing & vendor communication
Designing for Impact: The Power of Material Transparency
Why Every Line, Every Choice, and Every Specification Counts
When it comes to sustainable furniture planning and specifications, it’s all about the materials. The choices we make at the beginning of the furniture life cycle ripple through its entire existence, impacting everything from production emissions to end-of-life recyclability. That’s why understanding what’s in your products is the key to making responsible, impactful decisions.
Take a moment to consider this: according to the EPA, a staggering 17 billion tons of office furniture end up in U.S. landfills each year. That’s an enormous missed opportunity for those of us in the industry to embrace sustainability. But change is possible, and it starts with knowing what materials are going into our furniture and the certifications that hold manufacturers accountable. Let’s get into it.
Decoding Material Transparency
Material transparency isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. It provides facility managers, designers, and project teams with clear insights into the environmental and health impacts of the products they choose. In an era where clients and end-users increasingly demand sustainability, incorporating transparent materials into furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) strategies is more critical than ever.
At a recent kimiko green Roundtable, Lisa Adams, Sustainable Design Leader and Principal at HKS, said material transparency goes hand in hand with thoughtful specifications that prioritize the future needs of a project — not just immediate solutions. “Our choices matter,” she emphasized. Selecting the right solution ensures sustainability and adaptability over time, reducing waste and extending the lifespan of materials. Adams highlighted several key considerations to guide decision-making:
- Reuse: Start by assessing what already exists and can be incorporated into the project.
- Durability: Choose materials and products built to last rather than quick fixes for short-term needs.
- Carbon Sinks: Prioritize natural materials that sequester carbon and contribute to a project’s overall sustainability.
- Design for Reuse: Opt for designs that extend the life of products, such as furniture that can adapt to future needs, versus built-in, single-purpose solutions.
- Selective Selections: Leverage certifications like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Health Product Declarations (HPDs), and Cradle to Cradle to ensure informed, responsible choices.
Furniture Planners Focus only on Furniture
Bowerman found great benefit in the fact that kimiko designs was able to focus solely on the furniture.
“We were paying them to take their time with it,” he says. “Most firms may have one person [who knows furniture]. [At kimiko designs] they all have that level of expertise.”
With a team of expert designers and planners distributed across the United States and Canada kimiko designs has worked with over 90 furniture dealer clients across the country, logging over 58,000 hours for over 2,700 projects. That experience allows them to respond quickly to client needs by assembling the right team for each project, including a dedicated design contact for each project.
The Role of Certifications
Certifications like BIFMA’s LEVEL serve as a comprehensive industry benchmark for evaluating the sustainability of furniture. level certification assesses products across multiple criteria, including environmental impact, health and wellness implications, and social responsibility.
“LEVEL provides a roadmap for manufacturers and a trusted guide for buyers,” says Steve Kooy, Program Manager at BIFMA. “It takes the guesswork out of selecting sustainable furniture.”
As one of the most rigorous certifications available, LEVEL empowers manufacturers to meet high sustainability standards while giving buyers confidence in their purchases. Evaluating products across environmental, health, and social criteria ensures they meet high standards of transparency and responsibility. Paired with tools like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs), LEVEL certification helps organizations align their furniture choices with broader sustainability and occupant well-being goals.
Just One Thing
Anxious to start applying some of this new knowledge in your day-to-day? We believe the best place to start is always with Just One Thing, which we lovingly refer to as JOT. Here’s JOT you can do today: Request and review material transparency and product certification from your vendors.
Avoiding Living Future’s Red List Chemicals
As part of sustainable material planning, one simple yet impactful action is avoiding Living Future’s Red List chemicals. These are substances known to be harmful to human health and the environment. Living Future’s Red List includes notorious offenders like asbestos, formaldehyde, lead, mercury, phthalates, flame retardants, PVCs, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
By steering clear of these chemicals, teams can significantly reduce the negative impacts of their furniture selections. Designers and facility managers can use resources like Living Future’s Red List to vet materials and push manufacturers toward safer, more sustainable practices.
“Living Future’s Red List is more than just a catalog of harmful chemicals — it’s a tool for transformation,” says Mike Johnson, Senior Director, Materials at Living Future. “By identifying substances that jeopardize human health and the environment, we empower designers to make informed choices that align with their sustainability goals. Incorporating Red List-free materials into projects reduces toxicity and pushes manufacturers to innovate, creating healthier spaces and a more sustainable built environment.”
Real-World Impact
In the quest for sustainability, some of the most impactful strategies are also the simplest. Adams emphasizes the significant role furniture reuse plays in reducing carbon footprints.
“In a series of pilot projects, reducing and reusing furniture was about ten times more impactful to carbon reduction than all of the other initiatives from our study combined,” she says.
To put this into perspective, consider the potential for carbon savings. According to industry studies, manufacturing a single office desk can generate as much as 90 kilograms of CO₂ emissions. By reusing furniture instead of purchasing new, organizations can avoid these emissions entirely, not to mention reduce the environmental impact of raw material extraction, production, and transportation.
Moreover, extending the lifespan of existing furniture by just five years could decrease its lifetime carbon footprint by up to 30%. These findings underscore the importance of designing for longevity and adaptability. By prioritizing furniture reuse, organizations can not only reduce waste but make strides toward their carbon reduction goals, and support a more circular approach to resource management.
Just One Thing
Remember sustainability doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Sometimes, JOT can make a difference. Are you ready: Take a closer look at the materials in your next furniture project and commit to avoiding Living Future’s Red List chemicals. By prioritizing transparency and leveraging certifications like BIFMA’s LEVEL, you’ll take a meaningful step toward a more sustainable furniture life cycle.
Resources for more
Remember sustainability doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Sometimes, JOT can make a difference. Are you ready: Take a closer look at the materials in your next furniture project and commit to avoiding Living Future’s Red List chemicals. By prioritizing transparency and leveraging certifications like BIFMA’s LEVEL, you’ll take a meaningful step toward a more sustainable furniture life cycle.
For more information about Living Future’s Red List chemicals and how to avoid them, visit https://living-future.org/red-list/, and to dive into more about BIFMA’s LEVEL certification, head to https://www.bifma.org/page/level.
Just One Thing is a five-part series written by Dianne Murata, OG Furniture Nerd at Kimiko Designs and accidental environmentalist leading kimiko green, a collaborative forum for industry professionals. This series will walk you through five key pillars of sustainable furniture planning. From digging into material transparency and vetting manufacturers to embedding sustainability into FF&E specifications, RFPs, and long-term habits — together, we’ll cut through the fluff and get straight to actionable change.
author
Dianne Murata
category
sustainability
topic
materiality
Five Reasons a Furniture Planner is a Win-Win for Project Managers
For project managers responsible for a company’s workplace relocation strategy, including a furniture planner in the office move planning can save time, resources, and money. Here are five reasons why hiring a furniture planner is a big win for project managers and the project overall.
Furniture Planners Save You Money
Ed Bowerman is the corporate managing director of project management at Savills, a global real estate services provider. He met kimiko designs’ Dianne Murata through a project they both worked on for a law firm.
When it came time for his company’s move, Bowerman had seen enough of Murata’s work to know the value she could offer as a team member.
Murata is the founding principal of kimiko designs, a consulting firm in the business of transforming the people, processes, and products (hey there, furniture!) that enrich environments across the commercial, healthcare, and higher education sectors.
“The kimiko designs team is very detail-oriented,” Bowerman says. “This was a complex move, and they did a lot of analysis, finding errors that saved tens of thousands of dollars. They pointed out things that we didn’t think even think about.”
Bowerman said that he finds a furniture planner with Dianne’s expertise helpful when there is a lot of new product, complex reconfiguration, or a big investment in a new location.
“The cost to hire kimiko designs is part of your capital investment, and there is a lot of value added,” he says. “It really is the little stuff that makes a big difference.”
Furniture Planners Save Time
Bowerman described the move as a Rubik’s Cube of sorts and said that while he was pleased with his architect, having a subject matter expert to review the layout, selections, and options was greatly beneficial.
“There was so much involved,” he says. “It was another layer of oversight to have her double-check everything.”
When it came time for the installation, the work that kimiko designs did with procurement, the finalization of orders, and the punch list saved time.
“During these moves a fraction of an inch matters,” he says. “You are paying movers by the hour, and you have to know how everything fits. Doing the installation right saves both time and money. There’s less damage.”
Bowerman remembered one instance where kimiko designs noted from the measurements that a planned piece was not going to be able to fit in the elevator.
“We could cut it [to bring it up], or we could buy a different table,” he says. “Either way it wasn’t a surprise.”
Furniture Planners Focus only on Furniture
Bowerman found great benefit in the fact that kimiko designs was able to focus solely on the furniture.
“We were paying them to take their time with it,” he says. “Most firms may have one person [who knows furniture]. [At kimiko designs] they all have that level of expertise.”
With a team of expert designers and planners distributed across the United States and Canada kimiko designs has worked with over 90 furniture dealer clients across the country, logging over 58,000 hours for over 2,700 projects. That experience allows them to respond quickly to client needs by assembling the right team for each project, including a dedicated design contact for each project.
Furniture Planners Apply Design to Help Clients See Potential
In addition to their ability to play devil’s advocate in the selection of furniture, kimiko designs’ knowledge of furniture trends and what is available on the resale market is a bonus.
Brandi Sikes, Principal and Senior Advisor at SVN | J. Beard Real Estate, hired kimiko designs for an oil and gas client who was moving into a new company headquarters.
Sikes said that since the company had been with their furniture for 15 years, much of it was dark and bulky.
“They wanted a fresh contemporary look but with a warm traditional feel,” Sikes says. “Dianne helped them understand what the options were, took them on furniture trips, and sent images of different styles.”
Karen Yale, Senior Manager, Property — Americas for Worley, an engineering services company, said that kimiko designs was extremely helpful, not only in purchasing new furniture but identifying existing furniture inventory and helping to repurpose it.
“They helped us consolidate and reconfigure to be more modern,” Yale says.
Furniture Planners Provide Confidence in High-Stakes Projects
Bowerman said that as project manager, he guided the weekly meetings with the architects, engineers, vendors, and kimiko designs to keep the project running smoothly.
With so many players involved, it was important to use the time well and make it productive. Bowerman said that Murata’s skill and acumen during these meetings helped move things along.
“If Dianne only had a short time to speak, she made that time count,” he says. “When she talked, people listened.”
And when there were difficulties with the move, as is customary with any project of this scope, Bowerman didn’t have any qualms about Murata’s abilities.
“I could introduce Dianne to a difficult situation, and she would always handle it with finesse,” he says.
Hiring a furniture planner empowers the project manager to leverage specialized knowledge, save time and resources, manage the budget effectively, and ensure a successful and aesthetically pleasing office space that meets the client’s requirements and exceeds expectations. A win-win across the board!
Amanda loves to solve problems and is highly skilled at collecting information, organizing details (most likely with a color-coding system), and evaluating options. Amanda’s background is in interior design and her passion for technical details has made her a highly skilled furniture guru. She has an uncanny ability to be detail-oriented but not lose sight of the big picture. Her latest passion is keeping commercial furniture out of landfills. Download the kimiko green playbook here. Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn.
author
Amanda Epplin
category
furniture planning
topic
project management
3 things to consider before moving office furniture
How To Minimize Downtime and Save Money and Your Team’s Sanity
When it comes to commercial office moving or commercial relocation, it’s rare for a tenant or client to facilitate their own move, but it does happen — with varying results, says Ed Bowerman, Corporate Director of Project Management at Savills, a global real estate services provider.
“Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t,” he says.
Bowerman said that some people may just assume a big commercial relocation is always fraught with difficulty because they don’t have an alternate experience for comparison. For Savills’ tenants, Bowerman typically puts together a team that includes designers, engineers, information technology support, and a furniture planner or furniture consultant like kimiko designs, as well as tenant representatives. But if a company does things independently, there are several factors to consider.
“It’s not rocket science, but if you don’t have experience, you just need to be careful,” he says. “[It] can turn into a train wreck.”
Preparation and Research is Key
Bowerman notes that while commercial moving is always complex, these days, “it has gotten down to the inches.”
To save time and money on installation day, the process starts with an office furniture plan and an office move plan, which includes the selection and measurement of furniture to ensure everything will fit properly when transferring to the new space.
There is also the electrical work to consider, as well as how outlets and cables will interface with the furniture and architecture.
“Scheduling enough lead time is a really big deal,” Bowerman said.
Little Things Can Add up to Big Problems
With a lot of moving parts, the details can sometimes get lost, adding to the cost or complications of the move.
Elizabeth Mayes is a senior interior designer at Stephens, a financial services firm headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. The things she thinks about in a commercial move might not be obvious to someone with less experience.
“I wish everyone realized that while after-hours moving is ideal, it is also 50% more expensive,” Mayes says.
She also notes that you shouldn’t schedule your coffee and vending services or move copiers until after the furniture is in place. “It will likely be in the way,” she says.
Mayes also said that with a big investment in furniture, someone needs to be its guardian during any construction — or find furniture storage.
“Moving and storing furniture is not that hard,” she says. “You can have it protected during construction, but that likely won’t happen, or [it] won’t stay in place during construction. So, either check on the furniture and its protection throughout the process or move it out of the way.”
A Furniture Planner Can Ensure Success
Mayes says it is important to have a furniture planner on your team — especially if you are spending a lot of money on new furniture — because the planner will have a different perspective than the company itself.
Bowerman said that he finds having a furniture planner on his team a great asset when there is a lot of new product, a new location, a reconfiguration of a space or building, or a significant capital investment in the move.
“In the big scheme of things, the cost [of hiring a furniture planner] is small compared to the overall investment,” he said. “It makes purchasing furniture easier and makes the move run more smoothly. It saves money. Everyone is happier.”
Dianne Murata is the founding principal and accidental environmentalist at kimiko designs, an interior design firm specializing in all things furniture (except selling it). kimiko designs leads kimiko green, a community of industry experts, including Toyota North America, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Zions Bancorporation, Los Alamos, and Indeed, partnering to envision a better way to manage the furniture waste created by the built environment. Connect with Dianne on LinkedIn and learn more at kimikodesigns.com.
author
Dianne Murata
category
furniture planning
topic
moving office furniture
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