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A modern office space featuring a round table surrounded by four stylish chairs, plants, a wall with illustrations, and bright natural light.

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.

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.

Three modern side tables of varying heights, featuring wooden tops in light and dark finishes, with a black vase holding greenery on one.
Room&Board's Urban Wood Project products are made from salvaged wood found all across the East Coast. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.

Novità Communications

A modern shelving unit displays decorative items, books, and a potted plant, positioned near a door in a cozy entryway.
The Urban Wood Project uses reclaimed wood to make one of kind wood furniture pieces. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.

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.

A layered collection of textured fabrics in various hues, including greys, whites, and warm colors, showcasing diverse patterns.
Supreen, Nassimi's revolutionary stain-resistant, sustainable upholstery comes in a variety of colors. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.

Novità Communications

Clear droplets scattered across a textured woven surface featuring green and beige threads, creating an interesting visual contrast.
Supreen's innovative stain-resistant technology makes products more sustainable. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.

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.

A minimalist dining setup features two light blue chairs with wooden legs flanking a round white table, complemented by colorful artwork.
Stylex's Underline Guest table chairs. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.

Novità Communications

A cozy dining area features two stylish pink chairs with wooden legs, a round table, and a maroon booth, complemented by greenery.
Stylex's coworking vignettes using table chairs. Image courtesy of Novità Communications.

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.