Sustainability stories: modern design and the future

A big part of our mission is to help people find loved pieces of forever furniture. Furniture that is made, not just to last, but to pass down, to become part of the family, to be re-used for its entire lifecycle.

This year we’re more conscious than ever of what we are buying for the store, and have been exploring what more some of our favourite brands are doing to get to net zero and net positive over the coming decade; to become even more environmentally responsible. 

Here are some of the ways the brands we sell are committing to sustainability.

Hay

"HAY focuses on developing long-lasting products that minimise our environmental impact. We optimise the use of sustainable materials such as recycled materials, FSC-certified wood and water-based lacquer, with a growing number of eco-certified products."

Home of the first-ever sofa designed in Denmark to be awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel for its Arbour Eco Sofa. The label - created in 1989 - makes is easy for people to buy the most environmentally friendly products.


Each component in The Arbour Eco sofa is made independently, which means it can be maintained and repaired without replacing the whole sofa, guaranteeing a longer, greener life. Shop the Arbour Eco. 


Vitra


"Sustainability is not a project, but a corporate attitude that finds expression in every aspect of Vitra’s work.”

Their long-term collaboration with the Eames’ has inspired how Vitra view sustainability, for Charles and Ray Eames believed in using durable materials, that were made to last as long as possible.

Today, that desire is articulated by Nora Fehlbhaum, CEO of Vitra:

“Vitra’s greatest contribution to sustainability is the creation of products that omit non-essential elements and last a long time. Our roots in modern design would allow nothing else.”

Piet Oudolf - the designer for global projects such as New York’s The High Line, Wisley, Denmark’s Noma, known for his herbaceous, structured perennials and grasses, has partnered with Vitra to reshape the Vitra Campus, including planting over 30,000 plants.

It’s also looking closely at its materials and manufacturing processes. The iconic Eames Lounge Chair  has been given a new, more environmentally friendly leather upholstery. Made out of vegetable tanned leather Premium F looks and feels like leather but is tanned using an agent extracted from olive leaves. The leaves are a by-product of harvesting olives.

By 2030 Vitra aims to be a net positive company. Click to shop Vitra.


SCP


“SCP create products that are functional, beautiful and made to last. We hope by making things of outstanding quality and in-built longevity that our objects will exist for generations to come."

SCP have been based in their Norfolk production unit since 1991 when they realised that most modern furniture design used extensive petrochemical produced foams and they began to source alternatives. Today over 90% of their range uses sustainable and natural materials. All frames have a lifetime guarantee and they play a part in the developing circular economy by re-upholstering designs and selling ex-display at a discount.

In their London flagship they use LED lighting throughout and only use fully recyclable materials for their online store such as shredded cardboard, brown Kraft paper and paper tape.


Ercol / L. Ercolani


"Guided by a profound appreciation of wood in its most natural form, L.Ercolani is a global design company with a legacy of craftsmanship dating back to 1920."

The Italian Ercolani found great success after setting up his factory in the Chiltern Hills, UK, a traditional hub for furniture making. His Windsor and Butterfly chairs are mid-century classics and propelled the company into global recognition.

Nestled in the British woodlands, the current headquarters (built in 2002) reflects the company's long-standing symbiotic relationship with the natural world.

The factory has large windows to maximise the use of daylight, sound proofing to retain noise and heating that comes from a biomass boiler fuelled by wood waste and sawdust from the factory. Click to shop L. Ercolani
 

Leave a comment (all fields required)

Comments will be approved before showing up.

Search