2020 was a life-changing and drastic year, and 2023 is the year we redeem all our careless mistakes of the past and start living more consciously and sustainably. We can no longer ignore the needs of our planet, we must consider the environment and what better way to start doing this than in our own home? Sustainable furniture is taking the design industry by storm, a step towards making our homes and everyday lives more eco-friendly and sustainable. They’re an effort to ditch toxic materials and instead add furniture designs to our home that won’t rot in the Earth for years once we’re done with them. We have curated a collection of cork, bamboo and rattan furniture products! The options are endless and the end result is the same – a greener, healthier and happier Mother Earth!
1. 3D printed seats
Designed by Johannes Steinbauer Office For Design, these 3D printed chairs are produced using additive manufacturing and are created without fabrics, springs or foam! And they still manage to be super functional and comfortable. These chairs use rigid parts, instead of the typical racks from chairs.
Why is it remarkable?
The design is quite simple with four legs, a round seat and a single bar at the back. But if you want to add other parts, such as more shelves or fabrics, these can be added via 3D printing. The different parts are easy to assemble and disassemble, and once it reaches the end of its life, you can dispose of the different parts separately and recycle them accordingly.
What we like
- Extremely easy to assemble and disassemble
- Sustainable design
What we don’t like
- There is no indication of a space-saving version of this design
2. The 4PM Chaise Longue Chair
Consisting of flat and curved features, the 4PM Chaise Longue Chair is designed to create comfort from hard material. Made from either Douglas fir or cherry wood, the only upholstered part of the 4PM Chaise Longue is the leather headrest. Balanced on the upper back, Massproductions held the headrest in place with a steel weight.
Why is it remarkable?
Massproductions is a slow moving furniture company, don’t let the name fool you. Since the furniture company develops only a few pieces each year, the ones that go into production guarantee top quality construction and a durable lifespan. By having an efficient, sustainable and high-quality industrial production process, the company’s designers ensure the integrity of Massproductions’ vision. Company founder Chris Martin developed the 4PM Chaise Longue Chair to reinforce the company’s commitment to quality and produce an ergonomic, long-lasting chair for long-awaited R&R.
What we like
- Sustainable production and design process
- Ergonomically designed
What we don’t like
- It doesn’t look very comfortable to sit on
- Consumes space
3. Vis-à-vis and Rendez-vous
I’ve realized that filling your bathroom with thoughtful designs makes your time in it much more comfortable and smooth. And this bathroom seat collection from Italian bathroom brand Agape strives to be just that! Designed by Marco Carini for Agape, the collection includes two seating designs created from recycled cork.
Why is it remarkable?
The first design is called Vis-à-vis and is a light and sturdy stool that doubles as a miniature side table. The second design is Rendez-vous and is a bench that serves as an extended seating option for bathroom users. Both designs act as comfortable spots to sit and relax in the bathroom.
What we like
- Made from recycled cork
- The curved form looks like someone smiling
What we don’t like
- Not suitable for bathrooms with a smaller footprint
4. The Chatpod 700
There are several flexible options on the market when it comes to office cubicles, but have you come across the most sustainable one? Yep, called the Chatpod 700, this sleek and minimal office cubicle claims to be “the most sustainable office cubicle on the market.”
Why is it remarkable?
Made entirely from recycled materials such as post-consumer cardboard, sawdust, rubber and plastic bottle, the Chatpod 700 is very proud of its sustainable composition and in a sensible way. Designed by Jeffrey Ibañez for Impact Acoustic, the office booth was created ideal for team meetings.
What we like
- Made using recycled materials
- Great space to hold casual informal meetings
What we don’t like
- Large design that consumes space
5. Listón
Listón is a modular shelving unit that uses a system of cable ties and wooden slats to form an endlessly reconfigurable and sustainable piece of furniture. The cable tie system allows users to create infinite configurations of different sizes and shapes for basic shelving units that will look good in any room. By replacing hardware and tools, cable tie systems provide secure fastening for every unit that comes with Listón.
Why is it remarkable?
With this in mind, many designers are approaching new furniture and appliance designs with sustainability as the driving force. Adding his design to the mix, architect and designer Guille Cameron Mac Lean developed Listón, a new type of furniture system that uses cable ties and wooden rails to form modular storage units.
What we like
- The system of cable bundles and wooden slats significantly reduces the amount of packaging products needed to ship the furniture system by 18 times compared to other flat pack furniture
What we don’t like
- Wooden slats and cable ties could break
- Not the most aesthetically pleasing furniture design to add to your space
6. The plastic translation stool
The Plastic Translation Stool design tries to reinterpret the lines of the plastic stool, resulting in a form that is somewhat similar yet unique, giving the wooden stool its own character.
Why is it remarkable?
These legs alone, however, will not be enough to provide the same stability as the plastic equivalent, so an additional element had to be added. The birch plywood supports distribute some of the force evenly across the beech wood legs, which, in turn, hold the supports together. These interlocking parts provide not only architectural stability but also visual touches to what would otherwise be a simple stool.
What we like
- It does not require the assembly of screws or nails
- A more sustainable option for the plastic stool
What we don’t like
- Options for customizing the stool are currently missing
7. Stackable
More than a collection of designer furniture in the form of chairs, lounges and benches, Stackabl is actually a new system that combines machine precision with human creativity. In a nutshell, specialized shaping software analyzes the choices a user or designer makes, such as colors or dimensions, and selects high-quality felt that is then cut by robots for use in furniture making.
Why is it remarkable?
The demand for clothing and furniture upholstery has probably increased in recent years as more people become more attuned to well-designed products. This means more materials are used in production, which unfortunately also means more waste on the cutting room floor, literally. While some of these materials are biodegradable or at least recyclable, a design company uses them properly to create furniture that not only looks comfortable but also artistically impressive.
What we like
- It reduces the carbon footprint while simultaneously enriching and strengthening local economies
What we don’t like
- May not suit modern contemporary homes
8. TAKEoSEAT
Folding stools are nothing new, but few really try to hide the fact that people are carrying something that is meant to be sat on. Instead, the TAKEoSEAT flattens into something that looks like a large briefcase, or at least a stylish felt bag. You won’t look weird when carrying it around, nor would the seat look out of place in an office space. Designer KRETHO positions this portable stool as a perfect part of a versatile arsenal, allowing people to simply pack their seats and move as needed. No more rearranging furniture or sweating over a heavy chair.
Why is it remarkable?
This folding design is admittedly not exactly new, but what the TAKEoSEAT adds to the table is a little environmental focus. Each stool is made of PET felt, which is felt that comes from those plastic bottles that we use and throw away without thinking about where they end up. PET bottles undergo a special process (which, unfortunately, consumes water and energy) that results in a material that is familiar to the touch, while at the same time being durable enough to support a 130 kg load. In addition, the TAKEoSEAT itself is also recyclable!
What we like
- Created from PET felt
- Extremely portable
What we don’t like
- Folding designs are quite common these days
9. The Stair Cubby
The Stair Cubby, as it’s been dubbed, can be assembled without the use of tools, with tabs simply slotted into slots and held in place with pegs. The cubby is designed to sit on two steps, but the frame at the back can slide up and down to accommodate different step heights. The storage compartment has five open access buttons for shoes, books and any other item that can fit inside, keeping things organized and out of harm’s way.
Why is it remarkable?
Staircases need to take into account the particular shape of the stairs, but not all stairs are created equal, so they need to be a bit more flexible or at least configurable. Given how demanding these storage solutions can be, they must also be durable and sustainable. These two product design students from Nottingham Trent University in the UK hit both birds with a sheet of plywood.
What we like
- It can be assembled without the use of tools
- Ideal for homes with limited space
What we don’t like
- We’re not sure how well it would hold heavier items
10. Rattan Stool
First impressions real quick – did you think this was a wire or folded spaghetti? I thought about spaghetti but maybe I’m just hungry. This rattan stool stood out to me because of its visually intriguing design. Is it comfortable? Probably. Is it cool? Absolutely.
Why is it remarkable?
This stool explores the flexibility of rattan as a material in furniture design, we are so used to seeing it in checkered woven form that the seat of this noodle-like piece becomes a testament to how we can use materials that are often overlooked in unusual ways to push the boundaries. As the world moves towards a sustainable future, so must it plan.
What we like
- Innovative use of Rattan
- Peculiar aesthetics inspired by spaghetti
What we don’t like
- It may not be comfortable to sit for long periods of time