How Did “Sustainability” in Design Become a Dirty Word?

How Did “Sustainability” in Design Become a Dirty Word?
5 Things You Can Do Now

The word “sustainability” has lost its way. Once a serious commitment, it has become marketing-speak, and the open door to greenwashing.

So what conversations should we be having instead, and how do we contribute to genuine change?

This moderated panel puts a direct question to designers, specifiers, makers and brands: how much of your work is doing real good for circularity and regenerative outcomes, and how much is performative?

Strip out the “eco” labels, the “sustainable materials palette”, the green photography. What is left? A circular system? A regenerative outcome? Or a story?

This talk will unpack five practical levers: material choices, product stewardship, nature-positive impact, business behaviour, and advocacy. Small actions count. Personal decisions count. The choices you make at the brief count most of all.

Exclusive Tour RE:BORN Exhibition

Generously hosted by Artbank and supported by Cultivated with ADA cofounder Cult, this panel discussion includes an exclusive guided tour of the RE:BORN exhibition.
RE:BORN is an immersive, zero-waste exhibition by Cultivated with Romance Was Born.

Moderator

Anne-Maree Sargeant, Authentic Design Alliance director and Design Made podcast host
Anne-Maree Sargeant has advocated for the design industry for three decades, blending legal expertise with industry knowledge to defend original design and confront furniture piracy. Formerly editor-at-large of Belle magazine and part of the founding team at Space Furniture, AMS is committed to strengthening Australia’s furnishing and interior design landscape and now hosts the Design Made podcast, presented by the Authentic Design Alliance.

Panel

Aleesha Callahan, founder of About Futures
Aleesha Callahan is a design journalist, editor and the founder of About Futures, an independent publication tracing the new era of sustainable design. With more than a decade in design media, she has edited Habitus, Australian Design Review and Indesign Live. She consults on communications for clients, including the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Marnie Hawson, Photographer and Wild Houses founder
Marnie Hawson is a former environmental scientist, now B Corp-certified photographer. She photographs sustainable architecture, green infrastructure and regenerative landscapes, work that helps designers show what responsible practice looks like. Her second venture, Wild Houses, is a one-to-one pledge program funding nest boxes for wildlife for every project delivered, alongside a biodiversity toolkit for the built environment.

Joshua Ellis, Cultivated Brand Director
Josh Ellis is a sustainability innovator leading circular design and material stewardship across the interior and furnishing sectors. For two decades, he has championed design longevity, transparency and material innovation, transforming the commercial interiors sector through ethical practice and support for Australian craftsmanship as Brand Director for Cultivated. As Cultivated brand director, Josh produced the RE: Born exhibition.