How Sustainability Shapes Our Studio

At Sims Hilditch, we have always believed that the most sustainable home is one designed to last. Longevity, craftsmanship and thoughtful decision-making have guided our work since the studio was founded, long before sustainability became a defining conversation within the industry.

Today, those principles extend beyond the homes we create and into the way we operate as a business. Following our recent B Corp certification, we continue to examine every aspect of the studio, asking how we can reduce waste, use resources more thoughtfully and encourage a culture of responsibility across our team.

Designing Beyond the Project

For us, reducing waste starts long before a project reaches completion. We prioritise responsibly sourced materials, champion antiques and existing furniture wherever possible, and collaborate with local makers and craftspeople whose work is built to endure. By favouring quality and timeless design over short-lived trends, we help create homes that require fewer replacements and generate less waste over time. But sustainability doesn't stop at our clients' front doors - we believe it should be reflected in the way we work every day.

Small Changes, Lasting Impact

Over the past year, we've introduced a number of initiatives across the studio to reduce our environmental footprint and improve resource efficiency.

Lighting throughout our Grade II-listed Cotswolds headquarters has been upgraded to energy-efficient LED bulbs, supported by a dedicated recycling programme for spent bulbs. We have strengthened our waste segregation systems, introduced food waste collections for composting and continue to look for ways to divert more materials away from general waste.

Reducing paper consumption has also been a significant focus. The introduction of iPads across the business has enabled more digital ways of working, while new finance software has dramatically reduced the need for printed documents and paper-based processes.

Individually these changes may seem modest, but together they represent a meaningful shift towards more responsible day-to-day operations.

Giving Materials a Second Life

One of the simplest ways to reduce waste is to ensure materials continue to be used. Throughout the year, surplus stock has been redistributed through staff sales, helping beautiful pieces find new homes rather than sitting unused.

Leftover fabrics have been transformed into reusable tote bags during our team 'Sip & Sew' evenings, while unused samples from our design library have been donated to local schools, extending their lifespan while supporting creative education.

Supporting Circular Design

Minimising waste means finding new ways to keep quality products in use. Through our partnership with Haines Collection, we give seconds, sample pieces and surplus stock from client projects a second life, ensuring beautiful, well-crafted items remain in circulation rather than becoming waste.

Haines Collection is a circular marketplace that works with leading interior brands to rehome surplus, discontinued and imperfect products. By connecting these pieces with new owners, it helps to reduce waste while making exceptional design more accessible.

We provide Haines Collection with furniture, lighting, fabrics and accessories that are no longer required for client projects but still have many years of useful life ahead of them. Sold at a fraction of their original retail price, these pieces are given a second home, extending their lifespan and helping to prevent valuable materials from ending up in landfill.

Alongside this, a proportion of our surplus furniture is donated to Furnishing Futures, a charity that creates fully furnished homes for women and children who have experienced homelessness or domestic abuse. Through its partnership with Haines Collection, donated furniture is carefully matched to families who need it most, ensuring every piece has the opportunity to create lasting social as well as environmental impact.

Studio Life

Our Cotswolds studio reflects many of the values that underpin our work. Surrounded by rolling countryside, wildflower meadows and mature trees, the restored Grade II-listed former coaching inn is home to our kitchen garden and honey-making bees, both of which have become part of everyday studio life. Fresh produce is shared across the team, while our bees contribute to the biodiversity of the surrounding landscape and produce honey enjoyed throughout the year.

Shared lunches using seasonal produce, walks through the countryside and a close connection to nature all reinforce our belief that beautiful environments positively influence wellbeing, creativity and collaboration.

Looking Ahead

Sustainability is not a destination but an ongoing process of learning and improvement. We know there is always more to do, which is why we continue to challenge ourselves to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and make more considered choices across every aspect of the business.

Whether restoring a historic home, specifying an antique, reducing paper consumption or finding a new purpose for surplus materials, each decision contributes to a broader ambition: creating a business - and homes - that are designed to endure.