Microplastics and “fast fashion” of interior design

Fast fashion is not a term limited to clothing, it is also a big issue in the world of construction and design. Such fast patterns contribute to the large exposure to toxins in our home environment. Meanwhile, the process of plastic degradation leaves us with tiny particles small enough to become airborne, traveling through the earth’s environment where some of them enter our lungs. We know they end up in our oceans, but did you know they’re in the water we drink, our clothes, and even the dust we see in our homes?

Since these plastics are so widespread, the damage from these tiny particles is far-reaching, and our homes are no exception. So what can we do to minimize our exposure to them in our living environments and help keep us from toxin overload?

Related: Microplastics Contaminate Human Blood, New Study Says

The design process

When we’re designing a home, we often think about how some of the building materials will off-gas and potentially harm its future occupants. Some of these considerations are mandated by the city or state we live in, but the design world is starting to play a role in finding ways to introduce safer products to mitigate these effects.

Microplastics are present in the textile fabrics we use in design, including, but not limited to, our upholstery on sofas and chairs, curtains, cushion covers and rugs. Young children and pets crawl and play closer to these surfaces than adults, leaving them at greater risk for injury to their smaller, developing systems.

The recycling process

We often think of the recycling process as far removed from our daily lives and sometimes confined to the special bin in our cabinet. But recycling and recycled products can play a big role in the construction and design process.

When we introduce old or renovated furniture in the execution of the design, it is a more attentive design. We can also choose backstage products like recycled jeans as our insulation.

The recycling process is expensive. These costs are passed on to the final product they are used in, which starts to add up to our design budget. While paper can be recycled up to seven times, plastic is limited to two or three cycles, making a safer paper product more expensive.

Super unbreakable fabrics

“I need sofa fabric that will hold up to our kids and pets and not get stained!” I have heard this sentence hundreds of times in my career and for many years I have complied without knowing the hidden dangers of complying with this request.

Fabrics that have higher resistance to staining and wear are often made with plastic polymers, then sprayed with a plastic coating to ensure their longevity. We use a term called double-rubs which indicates the durability of the fabric; that means the higher the number, the better it will respond to jumping kids, napping dogs, and summer stains.

But the higher this number goes, the more toxic the fabric gas is. Looking for untreated fabrics may mean compromising the longevity of your upholstery, but ultimately increasing yours.

There are millions of textiles to choose from when you don’t consider their toxicity, but the selections become very limited when you add the untreated filter to your search. We have some great textile companies dedicated to a more sustainable product and we should support them at all costs.

End user education

One question I ask my clients is, “How serious are you about reducing the use of plastic in your home?” Their response helps us determine a budget that will reflect their commitment to healthier home design and sets the stage for lifestyle considerations.

These considerations can mean having less stuff but a better quality of life.

Box store vs. artisan

Commissioning an artisan, such as a woodworker, to build a table from locally grown lumber not only supports the shop’s local movement, but also reduces the risk of bringing in a toxic product—never mind the quality of the part. general.

You can discuss low-VOC finish options, such as oiling the wood for a seal instead of polyurethane. These lovingly crafted pieces are passable and sure to add interest to your dinner conversation.

Stop before it starts

As we think about the lifespan of all the textiles we put in a home, we must consider their effects when they one day end up in a landfill. That couch with a stain protector will now leach into our groundwater and contribute to the deadly cycle of toxins in our bodies.

In addition, there is a demand that has been driven by our conscientious clientele to clean up the design practice. With this, many trades in the residential building world are now adding healthy home design to their calling cards.

The invitation is being made to shift the focus of how we define luxury in our homes. It’s time for the interior design practice to take a hard look at how we’re impacting the lives of those we serve, as well as our planet. There will be costs associated with our decisions, and we must decide what we want those costs to be.

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