Earth Day: Four Design Elements that Provide Value, Sustainability

Sustainability. Customer experience. Revenue growth.

Thoughtful design in branded spaces can boost all three. But it’s also important to prioritize strategic, creative pragmatism over greenwashing and marketing hot air, as disingenuousness increases global warming.

So, in celebration of Earth Day this month and Miller Zell’s 60 years of providing solutions that are innovative, purposeful and environmentally friendly, here are four sustainable design focuses to meet your business goals.

Design for durability, easy maintenance

Recycling is good, but durability is often better, both in terms of the bottom line and sustainability efforts. 

So, design with longevity in mind, choosing materials that can withstand high-traffic retail use and are easy to clean or repair.

Further, modular and adaptable retail fixture systems offer versatility and allow branded elements to be easily repurposed or reconfigured for new products or layouts as needed, creating fresh looks with existing displays.

Flexible digital, merchandising integration. The modular display system allowed Kefi to rearrange the merchandising within each section with ease. This flexibility also allowed them to seamlessly integrate technology into each area as needed.

This extends to all parts of your store design and its elements. For example, include furniture with disassembly in mind, which ensures that products can be easily refurbished or repurposed at the end of their life cycle. This also includes technology, as digital interfaces that can be updated are better than those that need to be replaced.

While higher-quality elements may have higher initial costs, their extended lifespan significantly reduces replacement costs and the associated labor and disruption. This offers a long-term return on investment.

See the (sustainable) light

Another potential “pay now, save later” retail design challenge is lighting.

Upgrading to high-efficiency LED lighting with smart controls, daylight sensors and dimming capabilities can dramatically cut energy consumption, which pay off in the long term. And, by the way, these new lighting systems are not only more efficient and durable, but they often are also aesthetically superior and more versatile.

Design awareness of potential uses of natural light are valuable too. Redesigns or new builds can include skylights or window treatments to optimize daylight use, which not only saves energy but also enhances the customer experience with warmer, more inviting spaces.

Eco-friendly material selection, sourcing 

Incorporate materials with lower environmental footprints into your store designs, such as reclaimed wood, low-VOC paints and adhesives (volatile organic compounds) and recycled metals, flooring and ceiling tiles. Consider locally sourced options and those with transparent environmental product declarations (EPDs).

Not only can these greatly reduce the carbon impact of your redesign, but also many of these options are now competitively priced and readily available. Further, choosing regionally sourced materials reduces transportation emissions, supports local economies and could provide tax incentives or reduce disposal fees.

Some materials that are sustainable because of their recyclability and/or remanufacturing ability include:

• Polystyrene: A long-lasting, durable, recyclable and affordable material.
• Foam core: Many foam core boards to choose from, but ULB or UltraBoard is made with at least 30%-50% recycled content.[1]
• Corrugated materials: Easily customizable to eliminate excess waste. Also entirely recyclable.
• Acrylics: Recrylic is a Certified Recycled Acrylic and an earth-friendly solution for sustainable use.

Image source: UltraBoard

Process analysis is also valuable. Conduct a supply chain audit to uncover inefficiencies and/or to switch to greener suppliers, including cloud-based options that streamline supply chains. Leverage your procurement network to identify cost-effective sustainable alternatives without compromising quality or aesthetics. Then create a preferred materials library with vetted sustainable and cost-effective options.

Designers can prioritize these materials and work closely with procurement teams to ensure competitive pricing and reliable sourcing at scale.

Invest in authentic messaging for customers

Part of investing in sustainable design is communicating your values and initiatives to your customers. Just know that an absolutely no-compromise, critical foundation here is authenticity. “Greenwashing” and faux virtue preening will cost you at some point.

And, while we’re focused on honesty, know that many customers won’t care that much. But those that do will want verifiable information and numbers. Have them.

For example, Miller Zell:

• Reduced the landfill waste from its production facility by nearly 801 tons in 2024 — a 73.1% recycle rate — as we aim to divert at least 10,000 tons of landfill waste by 2030.
• Since 2018, the solar panels atop our Atlanta headquarters have produced 13,196,308 kwh of energy.
• Our composting program processes 858 pounds of waste each month.
• We partnered with a waste management company, which provides secondary landfill-bound waste screenings. This initiative diverted 50.96 tons of waste that was landfill bound.
• We earned our seventh consecutive Sustainable Green Print (SGP) certification in 2024.

Since 2018, the solar panels atop our Atlanta headquarters have produced 13,196,308 kwh of energy.

We feel these initiatives and measurable results are valuable for us, as well as our client partners.

This is about a positive effort not only to practice what we preach but also to provide our clients strategic insights and true sustainable solutions as they elevate their branded environments.

Without question, pursuing sustainable business practices is a positive good. Doing so will serve your community as well as improve your brand image and customer loyalty.

But also know that it’s a savvy business decision. If done right, it provides value to your clients and improves your bottom line.

[1] Only one product is not made of 30%-50% UltraBoard Core™