S5, E4: Designing a Better Tomorrow: A Conversation on Sustainable Practices with Sarah Enaharo

Integrating sustainability in the design industry is not merely a trend but a fundamental shift towards responsible and conscious practices. Design, at its core, influences how we interact with the world, and incorporating sustainable principles into this process is the key to a positive environmental and social impact. From material selection to production processes, designers play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable future.

Beyond reducing environmental impact, sustainable design also encompasses social responsibility, sustainable labor practices, and promoting diversity and inclusion. In this episode, Sarah shares her journey and passion for sustainability, sustainable sourcing, renewable energy, the link between social impact and sustainability, and the future of sustainability in the design industry to help us enhance our resilience and efforts in sustainability.

Sarah is the Global Sustainability Director at Milliken, where she plays a pivotal role in catalyzing transformative change by integrating sustainability into operations spanning industrial, manufacturing, NGO, and government sectors. With a keen focus on mitigating risks and fostering cross-functional collaboration, Sarah excels in building strategic relationships with senior leadership and partners to drive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. Her passion lies in reshaping perspectives on material inputs and advocating sustainable and responsible agendas for manufactured products.

Let's jump in!

Key Highlights from the Episode:

[00:01] Episode intro and a bit about our guest, Sarah Enaharo

[01:51] What inspired Sarah to pursue a career in sustainability 

[03:48] Sarah’s day-to-day role as a Global sustainability director at Milliken

[04:37] Transparency and material health trends and technology 

[06:28] Breaking down and implementing sustainability in interior design  

[08:48] What sustainable sourcing is in an organization

[10:18] Renewable energy and how it’s linked to sustainable sourcing 

[12:08] How sustainability promotes justice and social impact

[15:18] How we can incorporate sustainability into our processes

[17:07] Blindspots interior product companies have when integrating sustainability 

[19:48] Adopting sustainability into your processes and turning it into profitability 

[20:56] Sarah’s hopes for sustainability in the design industry now and in the future 

[23:08] Where to learn more about Sarah and Milliken's sustainability efforts

[23:18] Episode wrap-up and calls to action

Notable Quotes: 

• Sustainability is personal; we have to look internally at how we can reduce our consumption, reuse, and recycle. 
• Looking for sustainable sourcing means you are sourcing responsibly and being a good steward of the environment.
• To make sustainability visible and understandable for people, start where they are and make it relatable. 
• Sustainability is a journey, and gaining a firm understanding of greenhouse gas emissions is the first step in mitigating climate change.
• The design industry has the power to change and help mitigate climate change based on the decisions it makes regarding building materials.

Resources Mentioned: 

Milliken CSR report: https://www.milliken.com/en-us/sustainability/reporting

Connect with Sarah 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-robinson-enaharo-msc-755b9113/

Learn more about Thrive In Design: 

Website: https://www.thriveindesign.co/

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Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/thriveindesign/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thriveindesign/

 

Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here: https://training.thriveindesign.co/

 

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