5 Innovative Sustainable Design Companies
Awareness of our environmental footprint is the first step in making a difference, taking conscious action is the second. Designers nowadays have taken note of their responsibility as makers, carefully sourcing materials and using eco processes - all too aware of the consequences that product production can have. By supporting environmentally conscious makers, we can collectively make positive change.
Indian architecture firm Studio Mumbai, presented its first furniture collection earlier this year of 14 handmade furniture and homeware pieces. Inspired by craftsmanship from around the world, the studio avoided the use of electrical tools and adhesives and constructed from unused materials such as cow dung and Japanese washi paper, and ‘universal’ materials such as stone, textiles, glass and brick. Founder Bijoy Jain describes the collection as "universal in their relation to water, air and light – they are free from origin or place".
StudioMumbai
Blending Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics is the stackable chair from design studio Nendo, commissioned by Fritz Hansen. Set to launch this month, the stackable chair is made from recycled European household plastics and had its design inspired by a simple folded piece of paper. The idea behind its creation? An item which has been made for the ‘circular economy’, an object made from recycled product and which can be recycled at the end of its lifespan.
Launched in 2006, the Danish design brand drew inspiration from the environment for its name, Mater. Being the Latin for ‘mother’ is a reference to ‘Mother Earth’ and the human responsibility to look after it. The sustainable furniture company is committed to its messaging, actively selecting working methods which support people, local craft traditions and the environment. Ethically sourced materials are used to create their minimalist design pieces which have a Scandinavian edge, their Ocean Collection was completely crafted using repurposed ocean waste.
Winston Day bed by Mater is crafted in FSC certified oak with a natural GOTS certified canvas cushion.
Although not technically a new design brand, Swedish textile brand Kvadrat has recently launched innovative new approaches dedicated to sustainability. Known for their carefully considered textiles and ongoing collaboration with Raf Simons, the forward-thinking brand has been committed to eco-friendly production since opening in 1968, but in 2017 they introduced, Really, focussed solely on waste. The move was to ensure a completely sustainable life cycle for their products by upcycling waste wool and cotton to create new materials, including acoustic felts.
London based design studio and workshop, Sebastian Cox, carves timeless, long lasting pieces of furniture and artistic installations from wood. The studio uses fallen trees and locally sourced wood, to ensure the most ecological choices, and they even grow compostable furniture in their biofacture laboratory.
SebastianCox
Read more on sustainable design materials in our past blog post.