ESVD case studies

Impact Statement 

Belfast-based Big Motive specializes in digital services and service design, envisioning sustainable, equitable, and healthy futures. In partnership with Resilient Planit, they developed Resilico, a digital suite that enhances flood preparedness and promotes Property Flood Resilience (PFR). By 2026, Resilico aims to support over 50,000 homeowners through partnerships with Aviva and Flood Re. Since 2023, the Department for Education has introduced Resilico to 100 schools in England and Wales.

Overview 

Big Motive integrates sustainability and inclusivity into digital transformation, UX, user research, and service design. Their work spans public services, healthcare, and commercial sectors, emphasizing design’s role in addressing climate challenges. Rebecca Walsh, Service Design Director, states, “We live and breathe sustainability, so designing for the planet is core to what we do.” 

The company believes design can tackle complex problems, as seen in projects like the StopCOVID NI app, guidelines for the Children's Code, and Resilico. Through extensive research, Big Motive identified key behaviours affecting flood preparedness, shaping Resilico’s user-centred approach.

Project Example: Resilico – Digital Tools for Flood Preparedness 

With 1 in 4 UK homes at flood risk, Big Motive identified a gap in public awareness and preparedness. Collaborating with Resilient Planit, they developed Resilico, a platform connecting PFR professionals with homeowners, insurers, and government agencies. The platform consists of three products—Resilico Pro, Connect, and Report—offering data-driven solutions for flood resilience. The initiative supports insurance accessibility and property protection, with the potential for a Flood Performance Certificate similar to Energy Performance Certificates. 

Impact Statement 

Since 2022, John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has introduced three circular fashion initiatives—rental, takeback, and preloved schemes—to promote sustainable shopping. Their children's fashion rental service has attracted 6,000 sign-ups, with 40% of users being new to John Lewis. 

Overview 

JLP’s Ethics & Sustainability Team, formed in 2020, drives initiatives in responsible sourcing, waste reduction, and circular economy practices. Their Circular Design Principles focus on materials, longevity, and recyclability. By 2028, all new own-brand products will be designed with circularity in mind. 

JLP also partners with the British Fashion Council’s Circular Fashion Innovation Network and works with academics to refine sustainability strategies. Their approach extends beyond products to operational transformation, integrating circularity into procurement and business models. 

Example: Fashion Rental Scheme 

JLP’s rental service, launched in 2020, includes branded occasional wear (via Hurr) and children’s wear (via The Little Loop). The initiative has generated 700,000 website visits and 2,000 rentals. PreLoved, a second-hand luxury fashion pop-up, launched in 2023, further expands JLP’s sustainable offerings. Circular Economy Manager Catherine Loader emphasizes, “We’ve tested circular initiatives—now we need to scale them.” 

JLP also runs a takeback scheme in collaboration with the Salvation Army, allowing customers to return old clothes in exchange for vouchers. These garments are sorted into resale, recycling, or fiber reuse, ensuring minimal waste. Their PreLoved initiative, trialled in 2023, showcases high-end second-hand fashion, further reinforcing JLP’s commitment to circular design. 

Impact Statement 

Orangebox, a Welsh furniture manufacturer, aims for net-zero by 2050, reducing emissions by 50% by 2030. The company integrates recycled and recyclable materials into product designs, reducing carbon footprints. 

Overview 

Orangebox specialises in designing sustainable workplace furniture, focusing on longevity and recyclability. Their Sustainable Design Policy integrates environmental considerations at every stage, from material sourcing to product lifecycle management. Head of Sustainability Gareth Banks states, “Designing with sustainability in mind influences every step of our process.” 

Orangebox prioritizes locally sourced materials, working closely with suppliers to minimize waste and emissions. Their UK-based operations allow precise impact measurement, ensuring high sustainability standards.

Example: Do Better Chair – A Low-Carbon Redesign 

The Do Chair, Orangebox’s best-selling product (800,000+ sales), was redesigned in 2023 with 58% recycled and 98% recyclable materials, cutting its carbon footprint by 40%. The chair incorporates UBQ, a plastic alternative derived from organic waste, significantly reducing landfill emissions. Orangebox also offers a remanufacturing service, giving old chairs a second life and reducing waste. 

Beyond product redesign, Orangebox has introduced a furniture remanufacturing service, allowing clients to refurbish and upgrade existing chairs instead of purchasing new ones. Large corporate clients, such as Lloyds Bank, are adopting this service to meet sustainability goals while reducing costs. 

Impact Statement 

Panasonic Design London (PDL) helps drive the company’s sustainability agenda by applying strategic design thinking to product development, branding, and packaging solutions. Their work ensures that sustainability is embedded across Panasonic’s divisions.

Overview 

Panasonic’s London-based design team acts as a strategic enabler, integrating sustainability into business operations. Their projects span consumer electronics, energy, and packaging, helping Panasonic achieve its long-term environmental vision, Panasonic GREEN IMPACT.

Example: Hydrogen Fuel Cells & Circular Packaging 

PDL played a key role in branding and communicating the benefits of Panasonic’s RE100 hydrogen fuel cell, making the technology more accessible to consumers. They also led a major initiative to redesign product packaging, reducing environmental impact by eliminating unnecessary materials and promoting recyclability. The new guidelines are rolling out across Europe and are expected to have a significant firm-wide impact. 

PDL’s approach demonstrates how strategic design can influence corporate sustainability efforts, ensuring that environmental considerations are factored into early-stage decision-making. By fostering collaboration between designers, engineers, and sustainability teams, PDL is helping Panasonic transition towards a circular economy. 

Impact Statement

Planit, an interdisciplinary design practice, integrates regenerative principles into urban projects. Using the Climate Positive Design Tool, they assess the carbon impact of material choices, helping public authorities make informed decisions. For the City River Park project in Manchester, Planit optimized material selection, enabling the sequestration of nearly 600 metric tonnes of carbon over 50 years. This commitment to regenerative design secured five new public sector contracts worth over £300,000 in one year.

Overview

Planit, a B Corp-certified, employee-owned firm, collaborates with public sector clients at various governance levels. They advocate for long-term planning, from 25-year to 250-year masterplans. Their Gloucestershire studio serves as a prototype for regenerative design, incorporating sustainable agriculture and research. Co-founder Peter Swift emphasizes that "design can be the major accelerant" in the Green Transition, supporting a shift from technological reliance to systems thinking. Planit also embeds carbon literacy training into its practice, ensuring designers think and design differently.

Project Example: City River Park, Manchester

Victoria North, Manchester's largest regeneration project in a century, aims to build 15,000 homes while achieving carbon neutrality by 2038. Planit developed the Strategic Regeneration Framework and designed seven green spaces with unique sustainability timelines. By leveraging the Climate Positive Design Tool, they provided real-time carbon impact assessments, simplifying decision-making for stakeholders. This approach informed choices on materials, costs, and long-term sustainability, reinforcing the value of regenerative design in urban planning. 

Impact Statement

Studio Amos crafts unique, high-value woven products, reducing waste through low-volume production. Price points from £300 to £1,700 support sustainability by preventing overproduction.

Overview

Husband-and-wife duo Annemarie and Tom use traditional basket-weaving techniques with homegrown, pesticide-free willow. Originally sourcing materials from Somerset and Indonesia, they transitioned to self-sufficiency, growing 60% of their materials. Each January, they harvest and prepare willow, emphasizing seasonal rhythms and sustainability. While not explicitly branded as sustainable, their choices naturally align with eco-conscious practices. 

Beyond environmental efforts, Studio Amos is committed to craft preservation, training apprentices through the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust and international collaborations. Annemarie, a QEST D’Oyly Carte Scholar, shares knowledge through workshops and a growing network of artisans, ensuring heritage techniques and materials endure. 

Impact Statement

Through a UKRI-funded research project, Studio Frostwood developed methods to repurpose ceramic waste, diverting 111kg of material from landfill in one year and creating new product lines.

Overview

Founded in 2021 by Hazel Frost and Natalie Wood, Studio Frostwood integrates sustainability into ceramics, repurposing waste clay, glaze, plaster, and bisque-fired ceramics. Their research, funded by Creative Scotland, explored innovative recycling techniques and collaborations. They transformed clay sludge into vases, glaze waste into decorative slips, and partnered with designers to repurpose plaster and ceramic scraps into new products.

By analysing their carbon footprint, they identified a potential 3,612.6kg CO2e reduction by sourcing materials locally. Additionally, they offset 60 tonnes of CO2e annually through Carbon Neutral Britain. The research increased workshop participation threefold, enabling bulk material purchasing and reducing transport emissions. Their work fosters industry-wide change, proving that recycling in ceramics can be both sustainable and financially viable.

Impact Statement

SUEZ manages 11 million tonnes of waste annually, with 83% repurposed through recycling, re-use, and energy recovery. Their 30 reuse shops and the Manchester-based Renew Hub have diverted over 500,000 items from disposal, generating £13,750 in social, environmental, and economic impact per tonne and creating over 20 green jobs.

Overview

SUEZ sees itself as a resource, not waste management company. By influencing design choices and educating brands about end-of-life product impact, they advocate for sustainable practices. According to Sustainability Lead Sarah Ottaway, "design will ultimately determine the success of our industry."

Project Example: The Renew Hub, Manchester

In partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, SUEZ launched the UK's largest reuse centre. The Renew Hub refurbishes furniture, toys, bikes, and electronics, reselling them affordably through three Renew Shops and online platforms. Since 2021, it has generated over £1.2 million for community initiatives and employs ex-offenders through Recycling Lives. In Doncaster, SUEZ's collaboration with Doncaster Refurbish has provided 20,000 low-income homes with essential items while supporting over 60 trainees and 100 ex-offenders. 

By 2030, SUEZ aims to divert 5,000 tonnes of items annually for reuse, reinforcing the role of circular economies in sustainable waste management.