2020 was a dramatic, life-changing year, but over the past four years we have been making amends for our past careless mistakes and living more consciously and sustainably. We can no longer ignore the needs of the planet. We need to consider the environment. What better way to do that than to start from home? Sustainable chairs are taking the design industry by storm and are a step towards making our homes and daily lives greener and more sustainable. They're an attempt to ditch harmful materials and instead add furniture to your home that's designed to last for years on earth once you're done with it. We've curated a collection of furniture products made from cork, 3D printing, and even coffee-based waste. The options are endless, but the end result is the same. A greener, healthier and happier Mother Earth.
1. 3D printed chair
Created by Johannes Steinbauer Office For Design, these innovative 3D printed chairs were designed using additive manufacturing, without fabric, springs or foam. Although the chair does not contain any springs or foam, it is still very functional and comfortable to sit on.
Why is it worth attention?
The design of the chair is very simple, with four legs, a round seat and one bar on the backrest. Other components such as racks and textiles can be added through 3D printing. Various parts can be assembled and disassembled, and at the end of their useful life they can be separated and recycled.
what we like
- The chair is easy to assemble and disassemble
- Sustainable design using 3D printing
what we hate
- No instructions on how to use the space-saving type
2. Hemp & eelgrass chair
Forsom & Hiortlorenzen collaborated with furniture brand Norman Copenhagen to build a collection of plant-based chairs, which they presented at Stockholm Design Week. This collection includes two of his unique chairs: one made from hemp and one made from a combination of hemp and eelgrass.
Why is it worth attention?
Hemp is a type of cannabis plant, and eelgrass is like seaweed. Biomaterials are used in place of injection-molded plastic to create the Shell Chair, which is supported by powder-coated steel legs.
what we like
- The materials used are recyclable and are an innovative combination of two plants.
what we hate
- This chair is not very aesthetically pleasing and can become an eyesore in the house if not properly combined with the interior.
3. Vallee Collection
Called the VALE collection, this collection of eco-friendly chairs and stools was designed by LAYER for American furniture brand KFI Studios. It is made from recycled plastic bottles and was designed as a protest against the plastic waste that is drowning and polluting the Earth's oceans and landfills.
Why is it worth attention?
This collection is LAYER and KFI Studio's eco-friendly solution to the growing plastic waste problem. This is a refreshing change in a time when 9 million tons of furniture is found in landfills, and a great specimen of sustainable furniture.
what we like
- Made of environmentally friendly and durable material made from recycled plastic bottles.
what we hate
- The chairs and stools look a little boring, but more beautiful details could have been added
4.OTO chair
This chair, called the OTO Chair, was designed by Alessandro Stabile and Martinelli Venezia and was designed as a “manifesto of circular design”. This chair is made from recycled plastic and aims to achieve the goal of complete sustainability in the selection of materials and throughout the supply chain.
Why is it worth attention?
It has a clean, minimalist and simple form and comes in a variety of fun colors including onyx, fog, mustard, coral, forest and eucalyptus. You can choose the color that best suits your personality and interior style.
what we like
- The production of each OTO chair removes approximately 500 grams of plastic from the ocean.
what we hate
- Hard, flat surface seems a little too hard for comfort
5. Gago rocking chair
Portuguese design brand “Dam'' has released a cork-covered rocking chair to commemorate the brand's 10th anniversary. A chair with an innovative look inspired by seaplanes.
Why is it worth attention?
The Gago rocking chair brings to mind the round shape of an aviator's helmet. It is an ode to the first successful crossing of the South Atlantic by Portuguese pilots in 1922. All chairs are labeled “1922, *8383km''. This number represents the milestone journey between Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro.
What do you like
- The chair is made of cork, making it sustainable and durable.
what we hate
- Being a rocking chair, it is a niche design piece of furniture and does not have practicality for everyone.
6. Bend Chair
Created by Thai design brand Waste is More, the Bend Chair is made using coffee-based waste, wood, and recycled plastic. This simple chair with a minimalist look is made from More's signature material, PlasCoff. It is an environmentally friendly and durable alternative to other materials.
Why is it worth attention?
The unique material combines recycled plastic and waste from coffee bean processing, creating a highly sustainable design for your home. What makes the furniture design even more interesting is that the darker the shade, the higher the coffee grounds content.
what we like
- Made using locally sourced rubber tree wood and coffee-based waste
- The ultimate combination of ergonomics, sustainability, functionality and aesthetics.
what we hate
- Aesthetics are a little understated and simple
7. Tellus Bench
This innovative seating design, called Tellus Bench, was created by street furniture brand Vestre and designer Emma Olbers. Made using fossil-free steel, no carbon sessions occur during the manufacturing process.
Why is it worth attention?
The steel used to make the Tellus Bench was manufactured by Swedish steelmaker SSAB in a modified blast furnace of its own, uses green hydrogen instead of coal as a heat source, and emits no carbon dioxide.
what we like
- This bench features wide armrests that provide comfort to the user while also providing enough space to place your coffee or tea cup.
what we hate
- Aesthetics is a bit boring and bland
8. Liberty Ocean Chair
The Liberty Ocean Chair was designed by office furniture brand Humanscale and was made using one kilogram of abandoned fishing nets found at sea. This is said to be the first task chair made from recycled fishing nets, and is Humanscale's commendable effort to tackle the ocean plastic problem.
Why is it worth attention?
The Liberty Ocean Chair is the ergonomic and minimalist successor to the original Liberty Chair. But the Liberty Ocean Chair takes it a step further with an eco-friendly and sustainable ethos that is so valuable in today's day and age.
what we like
- Adopts a shape-sensing mesh back
what we hate
- There doesn't seem to be any room for customization
9. Stack chair
The innovative Stack Chair features a four-legged, compass-like base that allows it to be stacked almost infinitely. However, you are of course limited by how much vertical space you have and how high you can safely reach.
Why is it worth attention?
This design has two parts, a base and a shell, and the parts can be connected by simply snapping the base under the designed rim of the shell. The two become a single stable piece of furniture, completely simplifying the manufacturing process, assembly and transportation.
what we like
- You can mix and match different base and shell colors and even materials
what we hate
- The chair doesn't seem very comfortable to sit on for long periods of time
10. Faldo
This nesting chair from Herman Miller, called Faldo, is a unique and unique innovation with a sustainable twist. It's an efficient and effective solution to reorganize your workspace without sacrificing sophistication, minimalism, or style.
Why is it worth attention?
Innovative one-piece construction with an inverted Y shape reduces water generation during the manufacturing process. The back is elasticated to provide maximum comfort as you move and move around.
what we like
- Made from 50% post-consumer recycled content
what we hate
- Not much head support if you are tall
