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