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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
-
Paper ID:
IJSREM62223
Volume:
10 |
4 |
April 2026
Pages:
1-8
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Design Department (Interior & Space Planning)
Sage University Indore
Design Department (Interior & Space Planning)
Sage University Indore
With the rise of sustainability in the interior design field, the quantity of materials available as being eco-friendly and eco-responsible is growing and growing. However, this increased demand has also brought about greenwashing whereby goods are being sold as being environmentally friendly yet do not hold up to the standards of the environment. In this paper, the critical assessment of these claims on whether they are influencing informed decision-making or distorting the perception of the users with false stories will be made, and therefore whether greenwashing has become a form of brainwashing. The study evaluates commonly used interior materials through life cycle assessment, certifications programs, and case studies. The perceptions on sustainable materials among the users were surveyed to find their level of knowledge about it, and how they felt about it. The findings indicate a wide gap between the way individuals perceive sustainability and its real state, and implies the possibility of how marketing communications can contribute to the decision-making process in design. The paper emphasizes the need to be candid, conscious and capable of critical thinking to ensure the reality of sustainability in interior design and not a hoax
KEYWORDS
This study critically reviewed the term greenwashing as used in interior design and discussed the truth in the claims of materials that are sold as sustainable. The analysis shows that in the modern context, sustainability has become the central theme of the current design, despite the tendency to apply this concept selectively, under the influence of biased information and marketing-dominated discourses. By carefully examining some of the most popular interior finishes, it becomes clear that a significant number of products marketed as green products fail to meet the requirements of environmental standards in their overall lifecycle. Answers like a careful energy consuming production cycle, application of synthetic chemicals and the recyclability are some of the factors that bring into question the authenticity of these claims. Another role in promoting sustainability practices as noted in the research is the role of sensation. Correlations between natural appearance and environmental responsibility and the extensive use of imprecise marketing terms adds to the inaccurate perception of sustainability. This further supports the main thesis that greenwashing can possibly affect both designers and users and result in decisions that take into account all incomplete or misleading information. To overcome this situation, it is needed to leave the superficial understanding of sustainability and go deeper and more research-oriented. The use of material information to create transparency, user awareness and responsible designer decision-making are some of the major elements of effecting this change. To sum up, the concept of sustainability in interior design needs to transform into a trend or a marketing device into a more real and tangible practice. With an emphasis on the environment rather than appearances or business concerns, the industry can make a valuable contribution to sustainable development and provide spaces which are not merely attractive to the eye, but also sustainable in the sense of environmental friendliness.
United Nations Environment Programme. (2020). Sustainable Building and Construction ReportLEED. Green Building GuidelinesFSC. Sustainable Forestry StandardsIGBC. Green Interiors Rating SystemPapanek, V. (1995). The Green Imperative: Natural Design for the Real WorldMcDonough, W., & Braungart, M. (2002). Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make ThingsJournals on Sustainable Interior Materials and Environmental Design
Publication Date
5/1/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this research work.
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