We undertook a supplier-wide audit, investigating every proposed product, and went on to develop an in-depth sustainability matrix that drove our decision-making. We also spoke to small, independent suppliers, who may not have offered the same certification but could prove their value for inclusion through other methods, such as sourcing reclaimed wood and building bespoke pieces by hand in local workshops. We sourced local suppliers, such as Bristol Weaving Mill, who developed bespoke patterns for Osborne Clarke which featured across more than 200 sustainable handmade, bespoke throws and cushions. They support locally-based reforesting initiative Co-forest, and are able to trace the yarns they work with back to their source and, in some instances, to the very backs of the animals they came from.

A locally-made, bespoke hanging glass instalment is a key feature of Halo’s jaw-dropping client reception, with 58 hanging pieces.

We also made the office foliage do some heavy lifting. If properly maintained, office plants can reduce indoor temperatures by as much as 10 degrees, saving energy used by air conditioning. We used over 1,000 plants throughout – and not a single one in a plastic pot. Instead, the pots were 100% recycled, made locally from materials such as coconut.

Around 16 million tons of orange peel waste is produced yearly from the juice industry. We sourced lamps made from orange peel, with each containing about 20 squeezed oranges. These play a role in the circular economy, being compostable at the end of life. Biophilia serves the innate need to be around nature by incorporating natural elements in office design, a huge part of which is using natural materials like orange peels.

Reclaimed army uniforms and denim have been recycled into furniture pieces used throughout Halo. This process takes a cradle-to-cradle approach which ensures that products remain in a continuous circuit to eliminate waste, are locally sourced and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.

We have also used recycled plastic on surfaces in Halo’s meeting and project rooms. These locally manufactured surfaces contain 100% recycled content and produce very low volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are gases that are emitted into the air from products. Fully recyclable at the end of their life, these plastic finishes are an important part of sustaining the circular economy, one of our key priorities for the Halo fit-out.

All finishes, fittings and furniture were researched and proposed in line with a set of distinct criteria. WELL Building Standards acted as a guide for the approach in principle, so as to allow flexibility for excluding elements that Osborne Clarke felt weren’t appropriate for them. This has resulted in a scheme that isn’t just ‘ticking boxes’, but represents a broader overall desire to be environmentally conscious.

Throughout the workspace braille signage explains the features contributing to the sustainability of each fitting with copy written by the Osborne Clarke marketing team.