The responsible sourcing of materials ensures that you have taken into account the environmental impact of the products that you are going to use in your project. Always ask the following questions: What’s the recycled content? Are they locally produced? Can they be recycled or re-used?

Carry out a Green Screen, and look for the following:

% of recycled resources used in the manufacture of the product.
What % of the product is recyclable at the end of its life?
It is third party certified (e.g. Greenguard, or MDBC Cradle to Cradle)
Look at whether the product has reduced chemical content, e.g. low VOC emissions in carpets
Where is it made? Carbon mileage?

The most sustainable materials are products that have been reused, or produced from recycled materials.