TRENDSPICTURES: VALENTINA SOMMARIVA, ALICE IDA SALERNI (STYLING), SIMONA PESARINI24 ELLEDECORATION.CO.UK AU G U S T 2019& Merl make marble-esque tableware from salvaged plastic – the pieces
are being used in a number of zero-waste restaurants. Dutch company
Plasticiet’s recycled surfaces, meanwhile, resemble terrazzo and are crafted
using all kinds of plastic, from buckets to garden furniture, while London-
based designer Charlotte Kidger uses polyurethane dust, left over from
industrial manufacture, to form her colourful composite tables. Normally
the waste material would be incinerated or go to landfill.
Even furniture brands such as Kartell, for whom plastic is a USP,
understand the need for change. It has recently debuted a sustainable
version of its classic 1967 ‘Componibili’ storage unit, made of bioplastic
derived from plant sources such as sugar beet and waste cooking oil.
The only visible difference from the original is the updated colour
palette – it now comes in four on-trend pastels (left).
Of course, plastics aren’t the only frontier in green design. Creative
use of organic materials is just as important. Thus we’re seeing designs
like Bethan Gray’s new ‘Eden’ furniture collection, created with eco-
surface specialist Nature Squared, which uses by-products from the
food industry, including pheasant feathers and shells, in its production.
And, while many of us have grown accustomed to buying eco-friendly
paints, Farrow & Ball is encouraging us to choose ethical wallpaper, too.
Its new metallic patterns are made with sustainably-sourced paper and
water-based pigments, and are 100 per cent recyclable.
All of these initiatives form part of a concept called the circular
economy, which seeks to minimise waste and ensure as much reuse
as possible. It’s being applied to every aspect of life, from fast food
(McDonald’s has replaced its plastic drinking straws with a recyclable
paper version) to our cultural heritage (Paris architects Studio NAB
proposed replacing Notre Dame’s lead and timber roof, destroyed in
April’s fire, with a vast greenhouse and beehives). However, the circular
economy won’t gain a foothold without individual sacrifice. As if to
acknowledge this, Swedish tech company Doconomy’s new DO credit
card – made, of course, from bio materials – tracks the carbon emissions
associated with purchases, making owners aware of the impact of their
consumption. They’re rewarded for ethical choices, but transactions
are denied when they reach a designated carbon limit.
But will all of this be enough to save the planet? There’s a swelling
chorus of voices that say no. In fact, they argue, we just need to stop
using problematic materials in the first place. ‘There’s so much reliance
on this magic phenomenon of recycling but, frankly, I think it’s just an
excuse to consume more,’ says Ross Lovegrove, whose new ‘Ergo’
collection for Natuzzi is made from sustainable woods and natural
latex. ‘It’s better to consume less from the outset – organic materials
make sense because of their intrinsic health benefits. In my own home,
I live predominantly with beautifully crafted secondhand furniture,
pieces made during times when things were more valued.’
Dutch designer Marcel Wanders takes a similar view. ‘Recycling
ultimately legitimates consumption,’ he says. ‘Let’s not recycle what we
can reuse.’ To make this point, Wanders’ contribution to Orlandi’s
‘Guiltless Plastics’ exhibition was a disposable PET plastic bottle (gifted
to him by its designer, Ross Lovegrove), which he’d marked each time
he’d used it – 200 times – and daubed with the word ‘REUSE’ in red. ‘As
well as a materials problem, we have a psychological problem,’ he adds.
‘Most of the products that go to trash aren’t broken; people are just bored
with them. Making things loved is a fantastic ecological step.’
We can all play our part by buying vintage and locally made products,
and by seeking out the growing number of stores specialising in
sustainable homewares – Wearth London, Home of Juniper and Urban
Collective are some of the best. ‘Buying things that last is the best and
easiest thing you can do for the environment,’ adds Tara Button, founder
of eco website BuyMeOnce.com. She’s campaigning for products to be
awarded a ‘longevity mark’. The notion flies in the face of global
capitalism, which functions by making us constantly crave new things.
Breaking that cycle is set to be design’s biggest challenge yet.Ross Lovegrove uses
sustainable wood
and natural latex in his
new pieces for Natuzzi
Charlotte Kidger’s
colourful tables
and vessels are
crafted from foam dust
Pheasant feathers are
used in Bethan Gray ’s
‘Feather’ side table
Kartell’s classic
‘Componibili’ has
been reinvented using
plant-sourced bioplastic