A Common Language for Sustainable Design with Natalie Hartkopf

With so many sustainability certifications, ecolabels, and material disclosures available today, why is it still so difficult for architects and designers to compare products and make informed specifications? In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen welcomes back Natalie Hartkopf, co-founder and CEO of Hightower and a board member of both IIDA and BIFMA, to explore the industry's complicated sustainability landscape and the effort to establish a more consistent approach to evaluating materials. At the center of their conversation is the Common Materials Framework (CMF), an initiative designed to organize existing certifications and sustainability information into five areas of impact: human health, climate health, ecosystem health, circular economy, and social health and equity. Hartkopf shares her perspective on the challenges facing designers and manufacturers, including the differences between transparency and sustainability performance, the burden of overlapping reporting requirements, and the practical trade-offs involved in material selection. The conversation also examines how industry organizations can help align standards, why better data management matters, and how AI could reshape the way designers research and specify products. For architects, interior designers, and specifiers looking to make more informed material choices without getting lost in the complexities of sustainability reporting, this episode offers a thoughtful look at where the industry is making progress and what still needs to change. Plus, Natalie shares an exclusive announcement about a major new partnership that will help shape Hightower's next chapter.