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Apr 20, 2022 By IIDA HQ
Earth Day: Design Sustainability
Design companies are making new strides in sustainable design, learning to fuse functionality, accessibility, and aesthetics. This Earth Day we are highlighting some of the products and brands leading the way.
By IIDA HQ Apr 20, 2022
Published in

Environmental sustainability is critical to interior designers and considering sustainably responsible materials is no longer considered optional, but essential to the design process. With new systems emerging for assessing the sustainability of materials in more holistic ways, and clients actively tracking and monitoring this data for their own projects, many manufacturers have worked to improve their production, distribution, and the life cycle of their products from a sustainability lense. Communicating those stories to the design community has become increasingly important. Here we share a few companies working hard to make sustainable designs accessible and functional.

Room&Board

Room&Board has created new ways to use reclaimed wood for products and designs with its Urban Wood Project. They partnered with organizations like the USDA Forest Service and Live Edge Detroit to repurpose salvaged wood and other materials into sustainable wood for furniture and decor for the line. The materials for these products were harvested from sources like vacant row houses and barns. Through this project they were able to create coffee tables, shelves, decorative bowls, and other decorative home products using sustainably sourced materials.

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Room&Board's Urban Wood Project products are made from salvaged wood found all across the East Coast. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications
Room&Board's Urban Wood Project products are made from salvaged wood found all across the East Coast. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications
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The Urban Wood Project uses reclaimed wood to make one of kind wood furniture pieces. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications
The Urban Wood Project uses reclaimed wood to make one of kind wood furniture pieces. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications

Nassimi

Nassimi is one of the leading textile manufacturers tackling sustainability. Through the creation of phthalate-free faux leather, and with the development of the revolutionary stain-resistant, sustainable upholstery, Supreen™, Nassimi is innovating new ideas and strategies. Nassimi has five strategies for tackling sustainability:

1. Believe in better

2. Focus on the key areas

3. Understand profitability

4. Do what you can now

5. Understand the impact

By looking at the value of design and the impact it has on people and the world, designers can create functional and accessible designs that have a long-lasting impact.

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Supreen, Nassimi's revolutionary stain-resistant, sustainable upholstery comes in a variety of colors. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications
Supreen, Nassimi's revolutionary stain-resistant, sustainable upholstery comes in a variety of colors. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications
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Supreen's innovative stain-resistant technology makes products more sustainable. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications
Supreen's innovative stain-resistant technology makes products more sustainable. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications

STYLEX

STYLEX’s
Greenguard Gold Certified collection designed by Italian duo LucidiPevere showcases products such as barstools, task, and side chairs recreated from recycled aluminum and steel bases, while also utilizing plant-based molded foam and shells made from 100% recycled plastic. STYLEX’s collection shows designers how to use stylish, environmentally sustainable material to transform commercial spaces.

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Stylex's Underline Guest table chairs. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications
Stylex's Underline Guest table chairs. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications
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Stylex's coworking vignettes using table chairs. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications
Stylex's coworking vignettes using table chairs. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.
Photo by Novità Communications

By looking at the value of sustainable design and the impact it has on people and the world, designers and manufacturers can create functional and accessible designs that have a long-lasting impact. Together the industry can help create sustainable design solutions for the future. It is our collective responsibility to innovate, share information, create awareness, and be a force for positive change.

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