8 May 2026
The work of measuring the climate impact of furniture and interiors has developed rapidly in recent years. At the same time, challenges remain in how data can be used in practice to enable reuse and more resource-efficient decisions.
At a working meeting in Norway, stakeholders from across the value chain gathered to discuss how a more data-driven approach can contribute to a more sustainable interior design sector.
The meeting was organised by Organisation no. 17 in collaboration with Construction City Cluster, within the working group Climate impact of furniture – comparable data for measuring CO₂.
Hållbar Interiör was represented by Sascha Filre, CEO of Hint Sustainability. During the meeting, the work with the HI certification, the development of a climate database for furniture, and the digital tool Hint were presented.
More than a climate value
A recurring insight was that a single climate value in CO₂e is not sufficient to enable reuse in practice. To support well-informed decisions, more detailed information is needed on how products are constructed and how they can be managed over time.
This includes material composition, how products are assembled, and the possibilities for disassembly and repair. Guarantees, options for extension, and how products can be recycled at the end of their life cycle were also highlighted as key aspects.
The need for demand and viable business models
Another important topic was how circular business models can be strengthened. For reuse to scale, it requires not only supply, but also demand from end users.
Discussions pointed to the need for structures that make it possible to present environmental performance in a transparent and reliable way. Clear processes can also create better conditions for actors across the value chain to develop offerings related to reuse and long-term use.
Quality and design as part of sustainability
The relationship between quality, design and sustainability was also discussed. Experience from Hållbar Interiör shows that furniture with high perceived quality and good design is often used for longer periods, contributing to lower climate impact over the life cycle.
At the same time, these aspects are difficult to measure. Digital product passports were highlighted as a possible way forward, where data on usage, repairs and lifespan is collected over time. Such data could provide a more nuanced understanding of which products are actually used for longer and therefore represent more sustainable choices.
Towards more usable decision-making
Overall, the discussions show a shift from single climate metrics towards broader decision-making frameworks. Enabling this development requires both increased access to data and structures that make the information comparable and usable in practice.
The development of common methods and tools is ongoing across several initiatives and is followed with great interest by Hållbar Interiör.
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