Singapore manufacturer Koda has launched Lush, a furniture collection created using strawboards, a wood alternative made with plant stems gathered during the harvesting of wheat and rice. To reduce the use of chemicals, these furnishings feature water-based finishes that are easy to clean and odourless. The Lush dining set also utilises joinery techniques that minimise material wastage. The table is matched with dining chairs that are padded with Eco-foam (a material extracted from plant oil and biofuels) and upholstered in a fabric using a yarn that contains 95 per cent recycled plastics.

Available at Koda; kodaonline.com

The Gervasoni Jeko outdoor collection designed by Paola Navone uses an inventive new material dubbed EcoTeak—it originates from teak beams and pieces that are retrieved after the demolition of traditional homes made of wood in Java, Indonesia. These pieces are cut to size, repaired with recycled wood, sanded and finally hand-polished to highlight the beauty of the original woodgrain. Dress up your balconies and spacious poolside terraces with standout pieces from the collection, which include armchairs, coffee tables, dining tables and a sofa, daybed and canopy sofa.

Available at Da Vinci Lifestyle; davincilifestyle.com

As part of Vitra’s commitment to reduce its ecological impact, the Swiss manufacturer has been using a variety of recycled plastic materials in its products, and ensures that these materials can in turn be recycled when they are no longer in use. These include storage units such as the Locker Box and Drop Box by Konstantin Grcic, which are made using recycled polypropylene. Other eco-conscious innovations include the Tip-Ton Re chair by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, which uses 3.6 kg of recycle polypropylene per chair This is obtained from Germany’s Yellow Bag recycling scheme, where plastic household waste is processed as recycled materials.

Available at Vitra by W. Atelier; watelier.com

Designed by Piero Lissoni, the B&B Italia Borea outdoor sofas and armchairs feature a playful form that appears to be on tip-toe: the jointless tubular metal frame comes with upturned legs that convey a sense of lightness. These seats have an ecologically conscious bent, too: they come with well-padded and dense cushions made using 100 per cent polyester fibre derived from recycled plastic bottles. Fun fact: 510 1,500ml-sized upcycled bottles are used to create the upholstery for a Borea three-seater sofa, and 390 bottles for the two-seater model.

Available at Space Furniture; spacefurniture.com.sg

In case you missed it: Singaporean designer Gabriel Tan creates first collection with Italian furniture giant B&B Italia

Naturalismo is Italian luxury brand Frette’s first 100 per cent organic bedlinen collection—the organic cotton harvested is cleaned using chemical-free methods, spun into yarns and dyed using dried organic poppy petals. The plants used in the dyeing process are then recycled into compost or biofuel pellets to produce renewable energy while the yarns are woven to form Frette cotton sateen bedlinens with a simple hem detailing. Each Naturalismo bedlinen set is packed in a 100 per cent organic cotton sateen drawstring bag.

Available at Frette; frette.com

What do you do with the leftover material scraps in the manufacturing workshops? The Liaigre Upcrafted project tackles the issue of wastage in furniture production by creating objects handcrafted using upcycled trimmings to highlight the uniqueness and beauty of each material, while supporting the work of French artisans. The collection—which comprises a vase, tray, bookend and door stopper—is available in 10 pieces per object, and was also created using eco-conscious materials such as vegetable glues.

Each object demonstrates a creative use of upcycled materials: the vase, for instance, features leather petals folded and welded to create its sculptural form, while the doorstopper comprises stone and bronze fragments cleverly assembled together. Every item comes in recycled cardboard packaging, and part of the proceeds from this collection will go to Compagnons du Devoir, a French charity that supports training programmes for artisans in 30 different trades.

Available at Liaigre; liaigre.com

While many design lovers may be familiar with American manufacturer Emeco’s iconic Navy chair— which is also available in a version crafted using recycled plastic bottles—the Su collection by Nendo is another notable eco-conscious seat to shortlist for your home. Designed by Japanese architect Oki Sato of Nendo, the stool bears a simple form and was first launched at the 2014 edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano fair in Italy.

The stool now features three material choices that utilise environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional materials: eco-concrete, reclaimed oak and injection-moulded recycled polyethylene. The eco-concrete seat is partially made from recycled glass bottles to reduce its environmental impact, whereas the solid reclaimed oak version uses wood pieces that have been recovered from buildings in the US. Choose from either reclaimed oak or recycled aluminium for the legs.

Available at Space Furniture; spacefurniture.com.sg

Danish brand Mater’s Ocean OC2 chair takes a design first created by Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel in 1955 and remakes it in a new outdoor-friendly form mindful of
its carbon footprint. In 2019, the original wood veneer design was remade with plastic created from upcycled fishing nets and ocean plastic waste, and in 2021, Mater teamed up with brewing company Carlsberg to repurpose the latter’s used plastic beer kegs as a new material for the outdoor furniture. The collection now comprises tables, benches and chairs made using the recycled material in three different shades: black, sand and green, the latter being the distinctive hue that the beer company is known for.

materdesign.com

Produced using recycled materials from Cosentino’s manufacturing processes, the Dekton composite surfaces range earned Carbon Neutral product certification in 2019 through the Spanish company’s investment in greenhouse gas emission-reduction projects; over 90 per cent of the waste created during the Dekton production
process is also recycled or used as raw materials. Its new collection, Pietra Kode continues this eco-conscious approach while honouring classic Italian stone varieties. Crafted by architect Daniel Germani, these surfaces feature patterns inspired by travertine and Ceppo di Gré stone, which have been used as construction materials for centuries.

Available at Cosentino; cosentino.com

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