163 Ceiling systems Ceilings should have a Noise Reduction Coefficient of at least 0.80 (80 per cent) and a light reflectance greater than 0.85, according to BuildingGreen, which also advises the use of formaldehyde-free binders for acoustic ceiling tiles and third-party testing to verify compliance with CDPH.1 Cleaning products Although not strictly design-related, cleaning products can affect the sustainability of interiors when it comes to the provision of cleaning and maintenance programmes. The International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (AISE) sustainable cleaning product standards require packaging to use recycled cardboard and to provide clear information about whether plastics are recyclable, and reusable. Products should not contain microbeads and users should have access to information on sustainable use of products, says the organisation.2 Electronic devices The European Commission is working to reduce the risks posed by dependence in its Member States on critical raw materials used in electronic devices, as these materials may be vulnerable to supply disruption. Addressing the current low rate of recycling is a first step in this process. “Increasing the recovery of critical raw materials is one of the challenges that must be addressed in the move to a more circular economy,” says the Commission.3 Fabrics Emissions related to various processes in the fabric supply chain, along with hazardous chemicals used in fabric production, mean that fabrics can come with a heavy environmental load. In addition, labour abuses in some factories mean that many manufacturers fall short of the social aspect of ESG ideals. While the list of ‘less sustainable’ fabrics is unsurprisingly dominated by fossil-fuel-derived and non-degradable examples such as acrylic, elastane, nylon, polyamide, polyurethane and sequins, natural fabrics such as cotton and linen also take a toll on the environment during the cultivation and manufacturing of textiles. “ Increasing the recovery of critical raw materials is one of the challenges that must be addressed in the move to a more circular economy” European Commission 1 Source: BuildingGreen, Ceiling Systems 2 Source: The A.I.S.E. Charter for Sustainable Cleaning, AISE Charter 3 Source: European Commission, Communication from the Commission
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