Construction is one of the highest-impact sectors in France. Under the Paris Agreement, the sector aims to cut its carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. Through its environmental commitments (achieving B Corp certification, launching the Accelerator), the Morning team is putting in place a range of levers to limit emissions from its building works. Top of the list: using alternative materials that are more responsible than the conventional ones. With a lower impact, they allow the fit-out team to significantly reduce the emissions of every project. Here is an overview of the 4 alternatives most widely used at Morning.
#1: Choose recycled-material carpet,
75% lower impact than its conventional counterpart
Interface makes carpets with a lower impact and greater responsibility. Interface carpet is made from more than 90% recycled or bio-based material. Reclaiming these materials makes it one of the lowest-impact carpets on the market. It has a 75% lower impact than its conventional counterparts. The manufacturer takes a circular-economy approach by creating “recycled” flooring that is recyclable and reusable. Interface even takes back used floor coverings to give them a second life!
Interface carpet has been used on several Morning projects. At Morning Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 100% of the carpet used is by Interface. In other spaces such as Bourse-Vivienne, Bayard, Laffitte and Pont de Neuilly, some of the carpet comes from Interface, while the rest is reclaimed.
#2: Opt for solid-wood parquet,
84% lower impact than laminate flooring
Chêne de l’Est makes solid-wood parquet, sourced from sustainably managed forests in the Vosges massif. Managing a forest sustainably means ensuring that annual timber harvests do not exceed its capacity to renew itself. The manufacturer is committed to this: “In France, the annual timber harvest is lower than the forest’s biological production. At most, only 60% of what grows each year is harvested.” (Source: https://www.chenedelest.eu/uneforetgeree.pdf).
Solid oak parquet has an 84% lower impact than its laminate alternative, making it a material of choice for reducing the carbon footprint of your building works.
The Morning works teams have used solid-wood parquet on several projects, notably Mogador and Laffitte.
NB: using reclaimed parquet also helps to reduce its impact. Morning has in fact reused parquet on certain projects (Auber, Dulong and some of the parquet at Laffitte).
#3: Favour water-based adhesive,
99% lower impact than solvent-based adhesive
Soldis supplies acrylic adhesive for laying floors (carpet, wood flooring, PVC flooring…). It is water-based, odourless and contains no solvent. Water-based adhesive is suitable for any type of floor, including underfloor heating and electric radiant floors.
With a fast grab, the product dries in under 24 hours. This feature allows freshly laid floors to be brought into use almost immediately.
Water-based adhesive has a 99% lower impact than solvent-based adhesive while being just as hard-wearing. It is the one to favour on a project where you want to reduce carbon emissions.
#4: Choose bio-based paint,
47% lower impact than its solvent-based alternative
Algo makes paint based on Breton seaweed with a 47% lower impact than solvent-based paint. Seaweed is a natural, renewable raw material grown through short supply chains. It absorbs a large amount of CO2 from the atmosphere and helps to mitigate climate change. The seaweed is collected and processed in Pleubian (in the Côtes d’Armor) according to circular-economy principles: the cosmetics industry recovers the “organic” part of the seaweed, while Algo recovers the “mineral” part to make the paint.
The manufacturer is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of transporting its products by producing solely in France within a 10km radius of the Rennes metropolitan area, between Vern-sur-Seiche and Cesson-Sévigné.``
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☞ 5 eco-designed pieces of furniture you’ll come across at Morning
☞ Morning Accelerator: discover the selected projects
☞ Morning launches an Accelerator for responsible fit-out solutions
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