10 Years of Certified Design Leadership: A Conversation with District
For the past decade, District has maintained GECA certification as part of its commitment to independently verified sustainable design.
Over that time, both the design industry and the sustainability landscape have evolved significantly. Expectations around transparency, circularity, responsible sourcing and evidence-backed environmental claims have continued to grow, alongside increasing scrutiny of greenwashing and product impacts across the built environment.
Throughout these changes, District has remained focused on embedding sustainability into the way it designs, collaborates and operates, recognising that meaningful progress requires ongoing learning, honest conversations and continuous improvement.
As District celebrates 10 years of GECA certification, we spoke with Vanessa Masson, District’s Sustainability Lead, about what has changed over the past decade, why independent certification still matters, and where they see the future of sustainable design heading.
What originally motivated District to pursue GECA certification 10 years ago?
We never wanted customers to just take our word for it. Having a respected, independent ecolabel behind us means the claims have been verified. Additionally, GECA gave us a framework to work within and progress against. That structure was invaluable in the early days, and still is. There's also comfort in knowing GECA moves with the industry, so when GECA updates its standards, we know those changes are meaningful.
Looking back over the past decade, what has changed most in the way District approaches sustainability and responsible design?
This industry changes daily, but what rings true right now is that 'sustainability' is a collective effort that spans every department in an organisation. You can't silo this work. Our conversations start early and happen often.
How have customer expectations around sustainability evolved since District first became GECA certified?
Customers are far more engaged with the process these days. Awareness is growing, regulations are tightening, and the cost of living is increasing, which means people genuinely care and understand the value of what they're buying. It feels like a perfect storm for fostering circularity.
What matters most to District today when it comes to sustainable design leadership?
Transparency! We don't hide the fact that it's not easy, and that buying 'stuff' isn't inherently sustainable. We'd rather be honest about that than pretend we're perfect and have all the answers.
Looking ahead, what's next for District and your sustainability journey?
We are actively working to embed circularity principles into our operations. We're also keen to collaborate with material innovators to bring better options to our customers.
Click here to explore District’s case study and certified products.