Tag Archives: sustainable

Garden Pavilion For Plant Conservation Is Made Using A Modified Softwood That Is As Good As Hardwood

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Designed by NU Architectuur Atelier, the Green Ark is located in the center of Belgium’s Meise Botanic Garden. The structure is an extremely sustainable visitor pavilion on the grounds of the Bouchout Castle in the Flemish Brabant. It is part of an impressive project that aims to extend 7600 sq m of greenhouses in the heart of the site. It is built from Kebony Clear wood, forming a lattice structure that is truly a wonder to look at. The rather dramatic and sophisticated-looking structure is located dead in the middle of the 92-hectare conservatory.

Designer: NU Architectuur Atelier

The Meise Botanic Garden is supposed to be one of the largest conservatories in the world that looks after endangered plant species. The project which is intended for restoration includes 22 of the Garden’s greenhouses. The greenhouses are focused on different environments and some of the activities on the site include education and conservation. With the Green Ark, the architectural firm has designed a dramatic and impressive pavilion in one of the newly resorted conservatories. It provides visitors with educational experiences, allowing them to learn more about the endangered plants.

The structure features a curved roof of Kebony wood shingles which look like scales! The shingles seem to gently cascade down the curved sides, creating quite an interesting visual. The interior of the pavilion features a wooden structure elevated on a concrete frame and paired up with a glazed ground floor. The glazed floor allows a glimpse into the surrounding glasshouses.

The Kebony wood was an integral part of the pavilion’s structure. The company is being acknowledged for its ‘modified wood’ process, which involves a faster growth rate of softwood and a special technique that merges wood with furan polymers to provide increased solidity and stability. Kebony’s softwood is a sustainable option when it comes to carbon capture and sourcing. The Green Ark is also designed to recycle rainwater through the shingled roof. The remaining portion of the roof serves as a flat structure that offers views into the surrounding greenhouses.

The post Garden Pavilion For Plant Conservation Is Made Using A Modified Softwood That Is As Good As Hardwood first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sustainable Seating: 10 Best Eco-Friendly Chairs & Stools To Enhance Your Home Aesthetics

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We’ve spent the past 4 years redeeming our careless mistakes of the past and living more consciously and sustainably. We cannot ignore the needs of our planet anymore, we need to consider the environment, and what better way to start doing that than from our own homes? Sustainable chairs and stools are taking the design industry by storm, they’re a step towards making our homes and our daily lives more eco-friendly and sustainable. They’re an attempt to cast aside toxic materials, and instead, add furniture designs to our home that won’t rot away on Earth for years once we’re done with them. We’ve curated a collection of furniture products created from cork, 3D printing, and even coffee-based waste! The options are endless, and the end result is the same – a greener, healthier, and happier Mother Earth!

1. Tie Stool

Called the Tie Stool, this lovely minimalist stool is crafted from three bent pieces of plywood that lock into one another effortlessly. It forms a unique tripod form, which is comfortable to sit on. The stool is quite simple and well-designed, crafted using minimal materials which makes the stool stand out.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stool consists of three plywood strips which are split into six parts. These six parts serve as individual parts that are built using high pressure, making the plywood bend and retain its shape. The parts interlock into one another creating a unique and captivating design.

What we like

  • Has a convenient stackable form
  • Can be flat-packed and shipped to customers with ease

What we dislike

  • Since it features a compressed design, it requires a tabletop to add more space to the stool

2. Tejo

Dubbed Tejo, this modular seating system by Paul Crofts is designed for the furniture brand Isomi. The seating collection is “reconfigurable, recyclable, and renewable” and it can be utilized as a bench, a single sofa, or even a double back-to-back sofa. Its modular nature makes it a great fit for modern homes.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Tejo collection is upholstered with natural wool, hemp, or flax – making it an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fabrics. The base is made using recycled cork which was salvaged from the production process of wine stoppers – making it a wholly sustainable furniture design.

What we like

  • The cork used to build Tejo is sustainably grown
  • Works well in different commercial spaces

What we dislike

  • It is a space-consuming design, not well-suited for smaller spaces

3. Drum Stool

Called the Drum Stool, this minimal and sustainable stool resembles a little wine cork when you first look at it. But as you dive in deeper, you realize the stool has quite a bit to offer. Made using cork and wood, the stool is pretty sturdy and also eco-friendly.

Why is it noteworthy?

Cork and wood were selected to build the wood, rating it pretty high on sustainability. The seat was built using cork, while wood was used to build the legs, creating a sustainable and eco-friendly seating solution, that will integrate well with modern contemporary homes.

What we like

  • Features a round trimmed surface which gives it a playful shape
  • Serves as a cohesive and sturdy furniture piece

What we dislike

  • The cork seat is trimmed and compact and doesn’t seem very comfortable to sit on for long hours

4. Hemp & Eelgrass Chair

These plant-based chairs by Norman Copenhagen and Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen were launched at Stockholm Design Week. This collection consists of two unique chairs – one is built from hemp, and one is built from a combination of hemp and eelgrass.

Why is it noteworthy?

Hemp is a kind of cannabis plant, and eelgrass resembles seaweed. The materials make for great alternatives to injection-molded plastic, and it results in the formation of a shell chair accentuated by powder-coated steel legs.

What we like

  • The material used is recyclable and is an innovative mix of two plants

What we dislike

  • Aesthetically the chair isn’t very pleasing and could be an eyesore in homes if not paired properly with the decor

5. Vis-à-vis and Rendez-vous

If you’re looking for sustainable seating solutions – why must you restrict that choice to your living room and bedroom only? Designed by Italian bathroom brand Agape, this seating collection for your bathroom is made from recycled cork. The pieces are comfy and also quite visually pleasing.

Why is it noteworthy?

The first seating design is called Vis-à-vis, and it is essentially a light and sturdy stool that functions as a tiny side table. The second seating solution is Rendez-vous and it is a bench that is intended to be an extensive seating option for bathroom users.

What we like

  • Built from recycled cork
  • Both pieces are quite sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing

What we dislike

  • They’re not great seating options for bathrooms with a smaller footprint

6. Ringos Chair

Called the Ringos Chair, this portable and transportable design is the perfect mix of functionality, convenience, and sustainability. The chair is made using recycled plastic. The designer transformed recycled plastic into a minimal and portable chair design, which is an excellent culmination of modern aesthetics and ergonomics.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Ringos Chair stores a foldable companion chair within its lightweight and compact form. You can pull out the removable chair, and you have another stable and sturdy seating option. There is a hidden locking system tucked away at the junction of the seats and legs.

What we like

  • Portable furniture design that can be easily moved around
  • An excellent option for digital nomads

What we dislike

  • It is currently a conceptual design, so we are unsure how well it will translate into a tangible product

7. OTO Chair

Dubbed the OTO Chair, this unique chair is designed to be a “manifesto for circular design”. Created by Alessandro Stabile and Martinelli Venezia, it is a recycled plastic chair which is focused on full sustainability, in both material choices and the supple chain, as a complete whole.

Why is it noteworthy?

The OTO chair features a minimal and clean form, and it is available in a bunch of fun colors – onyx, fog, mustard, coral, forest, and eucalyptus. You can pick the color the perfectly suits your personality and interior decor style.

What we like

  • The production of each OTO chair removes almost 500 grams of plastic from the sea

What we dislike

  • Its hard, flat surfaces look a little too rigid for comfort, doesn’t seem comfy for long periods of sitting

8. Bend Chair

The Bend Chair is designed by the Thai design brand Waste is More. Crafted using coffee-based waste, recycled plastic, and wood, the Bend Chair looks like it is made from chocolate! The chair is minimalist and simple and made using More’s signature PlasCoff materials.

Why is it noteworthy?

The material is created by merging recycled plastic with waste from coffee bean processing. It is a sustainable design, and what makes it even more unique is that the deeper the shade is, the higher the content of coffee waste in the chair.

What we like

  • Constructed using a locally sourced rubber tree timber and coffee-based waste
  • It is the ultimate mix of ergonomics, sustainability, functionality and good looks

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are a bit unassuming and simple but could have been worked upon

9. Stump Recycled Stool

Designed by Derlot, the Stump Recycled stool is made from 80% recycled post-industrial plastic LPDE. Visually the stool is quite colorful and exciting it looks at, and the fact that it is sustainable, simply adds more brownie points. It maintains the same structure as the original Stump stool.

Why is it noteworthy?

The new and revamped version of the recycled Stump stool has a terrazzo-like design which imparts the furniture piece with a colored and cool look. It has a kaleidoscope-like finish, which shows us how recycled materials can be used in new and refreshing ways.

What we like

  • Offers a new and fresh take on how recycled materials can be utilized

What we dislike

  • The stool is quite small and doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long

10. Fuld

Dubbed Fuld, this nesting chair by Herman Miller is a unique furniture design with a sustainable personality. It is designed to reconfigure your workspace in an efficient manner, without reducing the focus on sleekness, style, and minimalism – traits that are typical to all Herman Miller designs.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Fuld has a revolutionary one-piece construction defined by an inverted Y shape, which ensures that water wastage is reduced during the production process. The back is elastic, allowing you to sit comfortably for hours on end.

What we like

  • Crafted from 50 percent post-consumer recycled content

What we dislike

  • There isn’t much head support if you’re quite tall, so not a very inclusive design

The post Sustainable Seating: 10 Best Eco-Friendly Chairs & Stools To Enhance Your Home Aesthetics first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Sustainable Chair Designs For An Eco-Friendly Home

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2020 was a life-altering and drastic year, and for the past 4 years, we have been redeeming our careless mistakes of the past and living more consciously and sustainably. We cannot ignore the needs of our planet anymore, we need to consider the environment, and what better way to start doing that than from our own homes? Sustainable chairs are taking the design industry by storm, they’re a step towards making our homes and our daily lives more eco-friendly and sustainable. They’re an attempt to cast aside toxic materials, and instead, add furniture designs to our home that won’t rot away on Earth for years once we’re done with them. We’ve curated a collection of furniture products created from cork, 3D printing, and even coffee-based waste! The options are endless, and 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, and without utilizing fabrics, springs, and foam. The chair doesn’t include any springs or foam, but it is still super functional and comfortable to sit in.

Why is it noteworthy?

The design of the chair is quite simple with four legs, a round seat, and a single bar at the back. You can add other components like racks and textiles through 3D printing. The various parts can be assembled and disassembled, and once its lifespan ends, you can dispose of the different parts separately, and recycle them.

What we like

  • The chair is easy to assemble and disassemble
  • Sustainable design that employs 3D printing

What we dislike

  • No instruction on how to have a space-saving variant

2. Hemp & Eelgrass Chair

Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen collaborated with furniture brand Norman Copenhagen to build a collection of plant-based chairs, which were unveiled at the Stockholm Design Week. The collection includes two unique chairs, one made from hemp, and one made from a combination of hemp and eelgrass.

Why is it noteworthy?

Hemp is a type of cannabis plant, while eelgrass is like seaweed. The biomaterials were used to replace injection-molded plastic, which created a shell chair supported by powder-coated steel legs.

What we like

  • The material used is recyclable and is an innovative mix of two plants

What we dislike

  • Aesthetically the chair isn’t very pleasing and could be an eyesore in homes if not paired properly with the decor

3. VALE Collection

Called the VALE collection, LAYER designed this eco-friendly chair and stool collection for the US furniture brand KFI Studios. It is made from recycled PET bottles and was designed as a protest against the plastic waste that is drowning and polluting the planet’s oceans and landfills.

Why is it noteworthy?

The collection is LAYER and KFI Studio’s eco-friendly solution to the rising issue of plastic waste, It is a refreshing change, and a fine specimen of sustainable furniture, in a day and age where 9 million tons of furniture are found in landfills.

What we like

  • Made using an eco-friendly and durable material produced from recycled PET bottles

What we dislike

  • The looks of the chairs and stool are a bit boring, more aesthetic details could have been added

4. OTO Chair

Called the OTO Chair, and designed by Alessandro Stabile and Martinelli Venezia, this chair is designed to be a “manifesto for circular design”. The chair is a recycled plastic chair that aims to achieve a goal of full sustainability, in materials choices and supply chain – as a complete whole.

Why is it noteworthy?

It has a clean, minimal, and simple form, and comes in a bunch of fun colors to pick from – onyx, fog, mustard, coral, forest, and eucalyptus. You can choose the color that best suits your personality and interior decor style.

What we like

  • The production of each OTO chair removes almost 500 grams of plastic from the sea

What we dislike

  • Its hard, flat surfaces look a little too rigid for comfort

5. Gago Rocking Chair

Portuguese design brand Dam just released a cork-clad rocking chair to celebrate 10 years of the brand’s existence. The innovative-looking chair is inspired by seaplanes.

Why is it noteworthy?

When you look at the Gago rocking chair, it brings to mind the image of the rounded shape of an aviator’s helmet, which is an ode to the first successful crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean by a Portuguese pilot in 1922. The label of every chair says “1922, *8383km”. The number represents the milestone journey between Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro.

What you like

  • The chair is made from cork, making it sustainable and durable

What we dislike

  • Being a rocking chair, it is a niche furniture design and doesn’t hold utility for everyone

6. Bend Chair

Created by the Thai design brand Waste is More, the Bend Chair is made using coffee-based waste, wood, and recycled plastic. The minimalist-looking and simple chair is made from More’s signature PlasCoff materials, which is an eco-friendly and durable alternative to other materials.

Why is it noteworthy?

The unique material merges recycled plastic with waste from coffee bean processing, creating a design that is pretty sustainable for your home. What makes the furniture design even more interesting is that the deeper the shade, the higher is the content of coffee waste.

What we like

  • Constructed using a locally sourced rubber tree timber and coffee-based waste
  • It is the ultimate mix of ergonomics, sustainability, functionality and good looks

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are a bit unassuming and simple

7. Tellus Bench

Called the Tellus Bench, this innovative seating design was created by the street furniture brand Vestre and designer Emma Olbers. It is made using fossil-free steel, and no carbon sessions are created during its manufacturing process.

Why is it noteworthy?

The steel used to build the Tellus Bench was manufactured by Swedish steelmaker SSAB in its converted blast furnace, which uses green hydrogen instead of coal for heat, and emits no carbon dioxide.

What we like

  • The bench features wide armrests and offers comfort to the user, while also providing sufficient space to place a coffee or tea cup

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are a bit dull and unassuming

8. Liberty Ocean Chair

The Liberty Ocean Chair is designed by the office furniture brand Humanscale and was made using one kilogram of abandoned fishing nets found in the ocean. It is said to be the first task chair made from recycled fishing nets and is a commendable effort on Humanscale’s behalf to tackle the issue of ocean plastic.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Liberty Ocean Chair is a successor of the original Liberty chair, which is quite ergonomic and minimal as well. But the Liberty Ocean Chair takes it one step further with an eco-friendly and sustainable ethos which is highly valuable in today’s times.

What we like

  • Features a form-sensing mesh back

What we dislike

  • There seems to be no option for customization

9. Stack Chair

The innovative Stack chair features a compass-like four-legged base, where you can stack the chair almost to infinity. But of course, you’ll be limited by how much vertical space there is, and how high you can safely reach.

Why is it noteworthy?

The design has two parts, the base and the shell, and the parts can be connected by simply snapping the base underneath the shell’s designed rim. The two become a single and stable piece of furniture, which completely simplifies the manufacturing process, as well as assembly and shipping.

What we like

  • You can mix and match different base and shell colors or even materials

What we dislike

  • The chair doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long durations of time

10. Fuld

Called Fuld, this nesting chair by Herman Miller is a unique and one-of-a-kind innovation with a sustainable twist. It’s an efficient and effective solution that will reconfigure your workspace without compromising on sleekness, minimalism, and style.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is a revolutionary one-piece construction equipped with an inverted Y shape, which makes the production process reduce the water creation. The back is equipped with elasticity, to provide the utmost comfort as you shift and move around.

What we like

  • Made from 50 percent post-consumer recycled content

What we dislike

  • There isn’t much head support if you’re quite tall

The post Top 10 Sustainable Chair Designs For An Eco-Friendly Home first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Sustainable + Elegant Tableware That Deserve A Spot On Your Dining Table

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One of the most intimate and bonding experiences you can have is sharing a meal with someone. And, when it’s at your dinner table, the pressure to create an enjoyable and comfortable environment is higher than ever. A component that you can never truly ignore in a dining setup is tableware (the little things truly do count). Having excellent tableware is important. It has the potential to completely transform your dining experience, taking away attention even from the food! And if they happen to be sustainable then they’re a perfect match made in heaven. We’ve curated a collection of innovative and exciting tableware designs that are sure to be the highlight of your next dinner party!

1. Hida-Cedar Bowls

Designed by Higashi Shunkei, these stunning wood bowls were created using cedarwood sourced from the forest in Takayama. They’re sustainable, eco-friendly, and renewable, and not to mention drop-dead gorgeous! They would make a wonderful addition to your dinner table.

Why is it noteworthy?

Called, the Hida-Cedar bowls they are spun, finished, and lacquered within Higashi Shunkei’s workshop, and showcase a beautiful dark finish with light-colored bands, bringing to mind the image of a tiger’s striped skin.

What we like

  • Perfectly incorporates aesthetics and sustainability
  • Each bowl has a unique distorted pattern

What we dislike

  • There don’t seem to be a lot of options in color and size

2. Earth-Friendly Tumbler

PAPLUS is a new kind of thermoplastic resin that mixes biodegradable paper to add durability, heat resistance, and moldability which normal PLA lacks. This unique earth-friendly tumbler is made using this material

Click Here to Buy Now: $25

Why is it noteworthy?

This earth-friendly tumbler uses an environment-friendly material to create a unique texture that is much like the surface of ceramic or wooden cups. Each sip from this tumbler brings forth a wonderful flavor to your tongue, while also creating an engaging sensation to your lips.

What we like

  • Uplifts the simple act of drinking water to a whole new sensory experience for your lips and tongue
  • Equipped with a heat resistance of 120°, allowing you to enjoy piping hot as well as ice-cold drinks

What we dislike

  • The natural color does become uneven and fade from use, which everyone may not like or prefer

3. Walnut Shell Tableware

If you mix walnut shells, pine resin, and Canauva Power you get NOS, which provides new CMFs with a wide range of colors, patterns, and light transmissions, since it involves grinding large volumes of walnut shells into different sizes.

Why is it noteworthy?

Pine resin is used to bind the NOS. Once the shell of the walnut is separated from the kernel, it is discarded as waste. This waste is being transformed into entire plates by designer SooA Choi! The plates are sustainable and eco-friendly!

What we like

  • A sustainable and excellent alternative to ceramics

What we dislike

  • Not the most aesthetically pleasing tableware, so won’t make a visually appealing addition to your dining table

4. Kreis Cup

Dubbed the Kreis Cup – this sustainable, durable, and eco-friendly coffee cup is designed to elevate and enhance your coffee-drinking experience. It is available in a cup and travel-mug style!

Why is it noteworthy?

The cup is heat-resistant and designed to keep your coffee hot for a longer time. It is a much better alternative to plastic mugs and breakable ceramic mugs, it is an excellent biodegradable option!

What we like

  • Made from spent coffee grounds
  • You can smell the faint unmistakable scent of coffee from it, making it a sensory experience for coffee lovers

What we dislike

  • There is currently no scope for personalization, which can be inconvenient for users who want their personal needs to be catered to

5. Wasteware Collection

Viennese designer Barbara Gollackner collaborated with Australian chef and restaurant owner Martin Kilga to create the ‘Wasteware’ collection, a range of tableware made using leftover food! The duo created a collection of bowls, plates, and cutlery using industrial and personal food waste.

Why is it noteworthy?

The tableware items were made using food waste such as pork skin and old bread, both acquired from personal and industrial waste. The waste was dried out and then blended into a smooth paste held together by mycelium.

What we like

  • Provides an effective solution to the issue of food wastage
  • Colorful and vibrant aesthetics, that will add a boost of color and life to your dining table

What we dislike

  • We’re unsure how durable the products are, and what is their lifespan

6. McDonald’s Reusable Tableware

French global design studio Elium Studio teamed up with McDonald’s France to build reusable tableware that can be used in the fast-food chain’s restaurants. The tableware collection is colorful and cute and made using Tritan – a plastic resin that is similar to glass and ceramic.

Why is it noteworthy?

The tableware was integrated with vents, graining, and striations to impart improved functionality and elevate the customer’s dining experience. The project has been in the works for almost two years, and it is truly commendable.

What we like

  • Retains McDonald’s original essence and design philosophy while being more eco-friendly

What we dislike

  • Plastic resin isn’t the most eco-friendly material out there, they could have picked a more sustainable alternative

7. Earth-Friendly Stacking Cup

You can now enjoy your favorite beverage in a stylish and minimal stacking cup that you know is saving the environment! It is made from eco-friendly synthetic materials and has a unique texture.

Click Here to Buy Now: $25

Why is it noteworthy?

The unique texture of the cup is much like ceramic or wood, and it offers a sensory experience to your lips and mouth. It embodies minimal aesthetics and sustainable practice and produces a soul-enriching drinking experience that you’ll never forget.

What we like

  • Made from plant-derived biodegradable resin
  • The material biodegrades into water and carbon dioxide through natural microbial action

What we dislike

  • Aesthetically quite common to other cups on the market, nothing to set it apart

8. Smogware

The Smogware is an elegant minimal porcelain tableware collection that is really quite unique and innovative, and unlike any other tableware designs you may have seen.

Why is it noteworthy?

The designers harvested dust, notably air pollution from Rotterdam, Netherlands, and integrated it into utensils such as plates, cereal bowls, and coffee tables by harmoniously glazing the particles onto the items.

What we like

  • They harvest dust and incorporate it into the tableware, without it looking like dust

What we dislike

  • The backstory of the tableware may make one lose their appetite

9. Calzone

Calzone is a reusable folding plate, inspired by the Italian crescent-shaped turnovers that are a crowd favorite. The colorful and quirky product is perfect for picnics and hikes, because not only can it store food, but it also functions as a plate, making it a versatile multifunctional product.

Why is it noteworthy?

When folded, and closed in half, Calzone functions as a nifty little container, but when opened, it takes on a flat form and can be used as tableware to serve food. It’s the perfect replacement for one-time-use zipper bags and plates! Created from medical-grade silicone, Calzone is safe enough to be placed in the refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and oven.

What we like

  • Multifunctional product that serves as a plate and food container

What we dislike

10. Grass-Fed Bone China

Ceramist Gregg F Moore collaborated with Dan Barber, the chef and co-owner of Blue Hill restaurant to create a line of tableware that is essentially grass-fed bone china. This is china or ceramic created from the bones of grass-fed cows and the cows that Barber raises on his farms.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Blue Hill cows consume grass, instead of following the typical grain-based farm diet. Since they devour grass, they move and roam freely in search of greener pastures. This ensures that their bones are much stronger as compared to the cows found on other conventional farms, leading to stronger, creamier, and more durable ceramics.

What we like

  • The ceramics are stronger and more durable compared to the regular ones

What we dislike

  • Highly priced as compared to other chinas
  • Won’t be appealing to vegans and vegetarians

The post Top 10 Sustainable + Elegant Tableware That Deserve A Spot On Your Dining Table first appeared on Yanko Design.

Find Your Therapy in Home Farming and Consuming Your Own Produce

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In today’s fast-paced world, where life is often synonymous with perpetual motion, the desire to reconnect with nature and savor the fruits of one’s labor is stronger than ever. The concept of home farming, often romanticized for its therapeutic qualities and the satisfaction of producing your food, appeals to many. However, the hurdles of time and resources have long kept this dream at bay for most. But with Regrow, a groundbreaking innovation, the dream of home farming has been brought closer to reality.

Designer: Haneul kim (Designer dot)

Regrow offers a revolutionary experience for those who are intrigued by the idea of home farming but find it challenging to manage the daily responsibilities and investments it typically demands. This innovative system automatically transforms food scraps into fertile soil and showcases your bountiful crops, all while providing a rewarding, environmentally friendly hobby.

In a society where people yearn for the soothing embrace of home farming, the daily grind often obstructs their path. The daily chores of tending to plants, adjusting soil, and monitoring water levels according to the seasons can be burdensome. It’s no wonder that around 60% of those who initially embark on the journey of home farming give up, with the top two reasons being difficulty managing time and the cost of supplies.

Regrow, recognizing the unique place it occupies in the kitchen, draws inspiration from various kitchen appliances. It brings a new dimension to the concept of home farming. With Regrow, users no longer have to fret over the time constraints of home farming in their busy lives. Instead, they can efficiently care for their plants with an array of features designed for convenient operation.

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The soil used for cultivating edible plants is primarily recycled compost from food processors. The snug fit of the lid and body keeps unwanted odors from escaping, while the powerful rotation function effectively processes various food scraps. This synergy of recycling and sustainability sets Regrow apart.

Regrow is designed to be user-friendly with just five simple buttons. Users can schedule tasks via the dedicated mobile application for quick use or even operate it remotely. The glass door on the front can be easily opened for harvesting edible plants, making the whole process incredibly convenient.

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One of Regrow’s unique features is its hole bottoms, which facilitate the flow of soil and compost. The compost generated by the top food processor automatically moves to the bottom through a rotary grinder. If users prefer to use water instead of compost, they can open the top lid to add water. This combination of features ensures that users can effortlessly maintain their edible plants, promoting their health and sustainability with minimal effort.

Regrow incorporates a bottom LED bar that provides users with invaluable insights into the needs of their edible plants. It changes color to indicate when watering is required, when soil adjustments are necessary when it’s time to clean food waste, or when the system is circulating. This intuitive feedback mechanism ensures that users can take timely and appropriate actions to ensure their plants thrive, enhancing the overall home farming experience.

In conclusion, Regrow offers an all-in-one solution to the common barriers of home farming, making it accessible and enjoyable for everyone. With its innovative technology, sustainable practices, and user-friendly design, it not only simplifies the process of home farming but also promotes a greener, more self-sufficient lifestyle. Regrow brings the joy and fulfillment of home farming within the reach of all, revolutionizing the way we connect with the earth and harvest the goodness it provides.

The post Find Your Therapy in Home Farming and Consuming Your Own Produce first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Eco-Friendly Designs To Incorporate In Your Home To Support A Green Lifestyle

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Our unhealthy practices and way of living are truly harmful to the environment and have been slowly leading to its deterioration. And the world has been changing (for the worse) because of this. Hence, it is extremely important to live sustainably and consciously and to take care of the environment in 2023! Integrating sustainability into our day-to-day lives has become crucial. And we can do this in various ways. Designers and creators are coming up with sustainable alternatives for almost everything. Every product that is necessary and utilized by us in our everyday routine has an eco-friendly alternative to it. Replacing our usual mass-produced designs with these greener options will make a huge difference to the environment and Mother Earth. From a Saturn-inspired sustainable lamp to a bicycle seat made from cork– we’ve curated a whole collection of sustainable product designs to help you go green.

1. Kreis Cup

Say hello to the Kreis Cup – a coffee cup that is sustainable, durable, and intended to enhance and improve your coffee-drinking experience. It is available in a cup and travel-mug style!

Why is it noteworthy?

It is heat resistant and designed to keep your coffee hot longer. That being said, the Kreis Cup is still ultimately biodegradable, unlike the plastic-based to-go mugs you get at your local cafe or the breakable ceramic mugs you use at home.

What we like

  • Made from spent coffee grounds
  • You can smell the faint unmistakable scent of coffee from it!

What we dislike

  • There is currently no scope for personalization

2. PLANETCARE 2.0

Did you know that 35% of the ocean’s microplastic problem comes from washing machines? Since the clothes we wear today are mostly a blend of synthetic fibers, these fibers mix with the water and make their way to the ocean. But this is where PLANETCARE 2.0 comes in with a microfiber filter attachment for your washing machine!

Click Here to Buy Now: $62 $95 (35% off)

Why is it noteworthy?

The PLANETCARE 2.0 is a nifty filter that can be snapped onto the side of your washing machine. It filters all the water the machine drains out after a cycle! It is the water equivalent of you sorting out your trash.

What we like

  • Can be easily attached to your washing machine
  • Catches all the microplastics from your washing machine’s drain water

What we dislike

  • You may need to change/adjust the position of the filter to ensure adequate water pressure.

3. Wasteware Collection

Viennese designer Barbara Gollackner collaborated with Australian chef and restaurant owner Martin Kilga to create the ‘Wasteware’ collection, a range of tableware made using leftover food! The duo created a collection of bowls, plates, and cutlery using industrial and personal food waste.

Why is it noteworthy?

To bring the interesting tableware items to life, the studio utilized food waste such as pork skin, and old bread – from personal and industrial waste.  The waste collected was dried out or cooked and then blended into a smooth paste which was held together using mycelium. Water or breadcrumbs were added to the mix if needed.

What we like

  • Combats the issue of food wastage
  • Colorful and vibrant aesthetics. They will add a spark of life to your dinner table

What we dislike

  • Not sure how durable the products are, and what is their lifespan

4. Grovemade’s Hardwood Cups and Planters

Made the hard old school way in Grovemade’s Portland OR factory, the cups, planters, and dishes are carved from solid maple or walnut.

Why is it noteworthy?

The detailed pieces are hand-sanded and finished with a clear vegetable-based oil which highlights the natural warmth, elegance, and sheer beauty of the wood.

What we like

  • Come in various metal and material options, so you can pick and choose

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are a bit unassuming and boring

5. SATURNO Lamp

This unique spherical lamp is heavily inspired by the planet Saturn and its beautiful rings. It borrows ideas from the planet’s morphology to build something fun, unique, and sustainable.

Why is it noteworthy?

The SATURNO lamp is actually made of three disc-shaped parts that connect without the use of any glue or screws. There are cutouts instead that allow the parts to be inserted into each other at perpendicular angles. Two are made from walnut wood, while the third is made from resin, which could be any sustainable kind.

What we like

  • The LEDs can be controlled to showcase different colors and intensities
  • A versatile lighting fixture that gives a glimpse of the heavens right inside your home

What we dislike

  • The lamp won’t stand with its horizontal light mimicking the light scattered by Saturn’s rings unless it is provided with some support

6. Kara

Kara is a modular coffee machine that is designed to last forever, even when the manufacturer has stopped producing replacement parts!

Why is it noteworthy?

The secret is that these parts can be 3D printed if access to the original is no longer possible. The more technical components can be replaced or substituted with other electronics, presuming those are still in production.

What we like

  • Unlike most designs that promote repairability, Kara doesn’t require advanced knowledge or skills to make that possible
  • Sustainable design

What we dislike

  • Bulky design that will occupy a lot of real estate in your kitchen

7. Earthmade Aromacup

The Earthmade Aromacup is a portable coffee cup made using Bamboo-O, an eco-friendly material that is made from bamboo fiber and plant starch.

Why is it noteworthy?

These travel coffee cups offer a significantly more sustainable option than typical silicone or thermal tumblers. More than just the materials and processes, however, the drinkware’s life continues even after it is no longer usable, at least not by humans.

What we like

  • Portable and sustainable design

What we dislike

  • There is no feature to allow for temperature retention of the coffee for those who like to keep their brew hot for long.

8. Oakwood MagSafe Collection

The Oakwood MagSafe collection utilizes the Apple MagSafe chargers to provide actual charging function and good-looking aesthetics as well. What they offer, instead, are solid and multi-functional bases that not only keep your iPhone or Apple Watch in place but also add some life to your desk.

Why is it noteworthy?

With a mix of wood and matte aluminum materials, these stands and mounts look handsome on any motif you might have going for your desk, providing eye-catching ornaments without being distracting.

What we like

  • The MagSafe charger they hold can be removed and used as normal
  • Prevents more e-waste in the long run

What we dislike

  • None of the accessories come with an Apple MagSafe charger

9. FR-1 Bike Saddle

This Scottish brand is one such company that wants to bring more sustainable solutions for the bikes and bike parts that they manufacture. Their first product is called FR-1 Bike Saddle and it is made from cork

Why is it noteworthy?

At first, you would think this is not a sturdy and comfortable material for something that you will be sitting on probably for a long period. But cork is actually pretty durable and lightweight so it should be something that can last a long time and not hurt your tushy that much. It is also water-resistant and can offer better cushioning compared to other materials.

What we like

  • Stronger but also more lightweight compared to the more common steel that a lot of bike seats use
  • Sustainable + supports historic local cork farming

What we dislike

  • It is a bit expensive

10. Packioli

A Turkish designer was able to come up with soap packaging called Packioli that is both hygienic and non-plastic and therefore more eco-friendly. One thing missing from most similar products is convenience and she was able to add it to this as well.

Why is it noteworthy?

She used artichoke leaves and combined them with peapod bioplastics in order to create packaging that commercial soap brands can actually use if they really want to be more eco-conscious in creating their products.

What we like

  • It not only solves getting rid of plastic for soaps but also helps get rid of artichoke waste, which is around 80% of the actual vegetable

What we dislike

  • The look of the packaging is not similar to what we’re used to, with the labels and other colorful decorations, so may not be preferred by everyone

The post Top 10 Eco-Friendly Designs To Incorporate In Your Home To Support A Green Lifestyle first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Sustainable Furniture To Make Your Home An Eco-Friendly Dwelling

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2020 was a life-altering and drastic year, and 2023 has been the year we get to redeem all our careless mistakes of the past and start living more consciously and sustainably. We cannot ignore the needs of our planet anymore, we need to take the environment into consideration, and what better way to start doing that than from our own homes? Sustainable furniture is taking the design industry by storm, they’re a step towards making our homes and our daily lives more eco-friendly and sustainable. They’re an attempt to cast aside toxic materials, and instead, add furniture designs to our home that won’t rot away on Earth for years once we’re done with them. We’ve curated a collection of furniture products created from cork, bamboo, and even coffee-based waste! The options are endless, and the end result is the same – a greener, healthier, and happier Mother Earth!

1. 3D-printed Chairs

Designed by Johannes Steinbauer Office For Design, these unique 3D-printed chairs were designed by utilizing additive manufacturing, and without the use of fabrics, springs, and foam. Although the chair doesn’t have any springs and foam, it is still super functional and cozy to sit in.

Why is it noteworthy?

The design is simple enough with four legs, a round seat, and a single bar at the back. But if you want to add other components like more racks or textiles, these can be added through 3D printing. The different parts are easy to assemble and disassemble and once it reaches the end of life, you can dispose of the different parts separately and recycle them accordingly.

What we like

  • Easy to assemble and disassemble the design
  • Sustainable design

What we dislike

  • No instruction on having a space-saving version of this design

2. Ash Furniture Collection

London-based social enterprise Goldfinger recently launched its Tate Modern furniture collection which is built from fallen trees at the London Design Festival.

Why is it noteworthy?

The collection includes a dining table, bench, and stool. The pieces were built using fallen ash trees, in turn celebrating the delicate and elegant beauty of native British wood.

What we like

  • Utilizes timber that would otherwise have been destroyed
  • Individual pieces feature an engraving of the coordinates of where the fallen trees once stood

What we dislike

  • Large space-consuming designs

3. Gago Rocking Chair

Portuguese design brand Dam just unveiled a cork-clad rocking chair to celebrate 10 years of its existence. The unique-looking chair is inspired by seaplanes!

Why is it noteworthy?

When you look at the Gago rocking chair, it instantly brings to mind the rounded shape of an aviator’s helmet, which is an ode to the first successful crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean by a Portuguese pilot in 1922. On the back of every chair is a label that says “1922, 8383km”. The number represents the milestone journey between Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro.

What you like

  • The exterior of the chair is made from cork, making it sustainable, durable, and aesthetic

What we dislike

  • Since it is a rocking chair, it is a pretty niche furniture design and doesn’t hold utility for everyone

4. The Bend Chair

Designed by the Thai design brand Waste is More, the Bend Chair is built using coffee-based waste, recycled plastic, and wood. The simple and minimalist-looking chair’s seat, back, and arm are made from More’s signature PlasCoff material

Why is it noteworthy?

The material combines recycled plastic with waste from coffee bean processing, making it a pretty sustainable option for your home! The interesting part is that the deeper the shade, the higher the content of coffee waste

What we like

  • Built using locally sourced rubber tree timber, and coffee-based waste
  • Perfect mix of ergonomics, functionality, sustainability, and good looks

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are a bit unassuming and simple

5. Tellus Bench

Designed by street furniture brand Vestre and designer Emma Olbers, the Tellus Bench was built using fossil-free steel, and without creating any kind of carbon sessions.

Why is it noteworthy?

Swedish steelmaker SSAB forged the steel used to build the Tellus Bench in its converted blast furnace, which utilizes green hydrogen instead of coal for heat, and hence it emits no carbon dioxide.

What we like

  • The bench is equipped with wide armrests, that provide comfort to the user, while also offering sufficient space to place a coffee or tea cup

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are a bit dull and unassuming

6. Fuld Chair

Dubbed Fuld, the newly launched nesting chair by Herman Miller is truly quite unique and like no other. It is an efficient and effective solution for reconfiguring your workspace without compromising on style, sleekness, and minimalism

Why is it noteworthy?

Fuld is a revolutionary one-piece construction featuring an inverted Y shape, which ensures that the production process creates less water. The back is incorporated with elasticity, to ensure the utmost comfort as you shift and move around.

What we like

  • Built from 50 percent post-consumer recycled content, and to the chair’s dimensions, so no material is wasted at all during the construction of the chair

What we dislike

  • Not much head support if you’re very tall

7. The Kana Pro Bamboo Standing Desk

Designed by FlexiSpot, the Kana Pro Bamboo Standing Desk is an ergonomic, height-adjustable desk that features a unique desktop – one that is made from bamboo.

Why is it noteworthy?

The bamboo desktop is the focal point of the desk, and it intends to bring an element of warmth to your home office. Also according to FlexiSpot it “has twice the durability of ordinary wood”. “Nothing beats the elegance of a natural bamboo strip built into an ergonomic desk,” said the brand.

What we like

  • Sustainable and durable furniture design
  • Equipped with a dual-motor lifting system

What we dislike

  • Could be more aesthetically detailed and pleasing

8. Drop Side Table

This clean, minimal, and sturdy furniture piece is called the Drop Side Table, it is built by twisting a standard glass tube until the tube is completely interlocked within itself.

Why is it noteworthy?

This twisting and interlocking resulted in the creation of two parts that are divided by a tightly knitted separation. Twisting the tube created a simple and efficient product that did not require any additional material.

What we like

  • Recycled PTA and recycled wood fibers were utilized for the 3D-printing process
  • The twisting storage sections of the side table can be used to store a variety of items from books and magazines to tealights or smaller flowers

What we dislike

  • The curved under-table is not a storage-intensive design as it leads to a waste of space

9. The Bündner Side Table

The Bündner Side Table is designed by Portuguese architecture and design studio Joana Vilaça Studio. The solid wood table is inspired by the Swiss Alps lifestyle.

Why is it noteworthy?

Joana drew inspiration from her own experience of living in Switzerland, where her studio is located. “Having lived for five years in the beautiful Graubünden canton of Switzerland, the collection is inspired by the art of living in the Swiss Alps,” she said.

What we like

  • The self-assembly design is ideal for residential or public interiors, where it can be utilized as a bedside, coffee, or side table

What we dislike

  • Would be great if there was a folding/space-saving version of it as well

10. ChatPod 700

The Chatpod 700 is a sleek and minimal office booth that is supposed to be “the most sustainable office booth on the market”.

Why is it noteworthy?

Made entirely from recycled materials such as post-consumer cardboard, sawdust, rubber, and plastic bottles, the Chatpod 700 is quite proud of its sustainable composition, and with reason.

What we like

  • Made using recycled materials
  • Excellent and convenient space to hold casual informal meetings

What we dislike

  • Large space-consuming design, not intended for smaller office spaces

The post Top 10 Sustainable Furniture To Make Your Home An Eco-Friendly Dwelling first appeared on Yanko Design.

McDonald’s Opens Its First LEED Zero Carbon Restaurant in Hong Kong

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Living in a sustainable, conscious, and smart manner has become not only a necessity but our moral obligation and duty toward the planet. Our homes should seamlessly integrate with, and nourish the planet, not drain her resources and reduce her lifespan. Being at one with Planet Earth, while taking rigorous care of her has never been more of a priority. In an effort to encourage an eco-friendly way of life, sustainable architecture has been gaining immense popularity among architects. And, McDonald’s has jumped onto that bandwagon with its outlet in Tai Wo, Hong Kong.

Designer: McDonald’s

McDonald’s Tai Wo outlet in Hong Kong recently underwent a renovation that transformed it into a prime specimen of sustainable design and architecture. The restaurant is a testament to how sustainability can be incorporated almost anywhere with the right direction, effort, and intention. The Tai Wo location is Hong Kong’s first LEED Zero Carbon restaurant certified by the US Green Building Council. The building will save 848.22 metric tons of carbon dioxide which equates to planting more than 36,000 16-foot-tall trees!

The space is defined by twenty commendable sustainability efforts, which are working throughout it. McDonald’s collaborated with eco-social startup HK TIMBERBANK, and designed the exterior facade which is crafted from local trees. These trees fell either due to old age or typhoons. In fact, even the furniture and décor inside are built using recycled materials. McDonald’s also teamed up with CLP Power Hong Kong to set up a solar power system on the rooftop.

The entire building is marked with smart devices to monitor energy consumption and indoor air quality. In fact, the restaurant has also signed a “green lease” with the landlord to share data connected to sustainability and lay down low-carbon operational guidelines. It incorporates an education corner that is packed with sustainability-themed books, providing integral reading material to the next generation. Cool phone-charging bikes that can be ridden by visiting families have been added to the space as well. McDonald’s is also releasing a new line of Happy Meal books and coloring games that encourage children visiting to learn about environmental protection.

The post McDonald’s Opens Its First LEED Zero Carbon Restaurant in Hong Kong first appeared on Yanko Design.

Salvaged E-Scooters Salvaged From The Swedish Canals Make Up This Collection Of Lamps, Seatings & Grills

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The world is drastically changing, and it’s affecting the way we live and function. However, the irony is that the world is drastically changing because of our unhealthy practices and us! It’s now imperative to live more sustainably, carefully, and consciously. Integrating sustainability into our day-to-day lives has become crucial. I’m all for swapping my everyday mass-produced products for recycled or sustainable alternatives, but this is the first time I’ve come across something as unique as ‘E-metabolism’.

Designer: Andra Formen

Designed by Andra Formen, a design studio based in Malmö, Sweden, the E-metabolism is a unique and innovative collection of table lamps, indoor garden systems, seating, floor lamps, and a grill made from the salvaged and recycled elements of e-scooters. The studio took it upon itself to research how electric scooters could be recycled into various smaller products. The E-metabolism collection was produced by four designers of the studio’s team along with two divers, who dived into the murky canals of Malmö to salvage electric scooters that had been carelessly discarded. The parts were disassembled to explore their possibilities and utility.

“Our mission is to turn toxic waste in the form of electric scooters from the bottom of the canal into pieces of art,” says Oskar Olsson of Andra Formen. E-metabolism is an effort on the part of the studio to utilize existing waste as resources to build with. “With the project, we investigate how electric scooters can be seen as materials and how their inherent design can create inspiration for new objects. Built of ancient skeletons and artifacts,” concludes Olsson.

The scooters used in the project were collected from remote areas in and around the canals, where they were discovered in a broken state, or in states of disrepair. The design studio transformed the broken-down vehicles into brand new designs with a recycled chic appearance, although certain pieces such as the floor lamp and the desk lamps have a more raw and ragtag style, which intrigues you with their colorful and evocative visual appeal. The E-metabolism collection is on display online, and you can inquire about purchasing them if you’re interested.

The post Salvaged E-Scooters Salvaged From The Swedish Canals Make Up This Collection Of Lamps, Seatings & Grills first appeared on Yanko Design.