The journey to sustainable product design
Sustainable design principles are permeating various industries, highlighting pioneering companies at the forefront of creating a more sustainable future. These include several small companies with eco-friendly values.
Sustainable design starts at the beginning of a product’s lifecycle: production. The focus is on minimizing energy consumption, from sourcing local materials to the assembly and completion of the final product. Material selection is crucial, preferring natural, recyclable components that decompose quickly or can be recycled to minimize environmental footprint.
Reducing the use of adhesives and chemical components further diminishes the ecological impact. The type of energy consumed during production is equally important. Sustainable practices emphasize clean energy sources such as solar, hydroelectric, and wind to significantly reduce or eliminate their carbon footprint.
This shift not only addresses the immediate impacts of production but also aligns with broader efforts to combat climate change and adhere to global agreements like the Paris Agreement on limiting global warming. For example, Cosentino, a company committed to clean energy, established one of Europe’s largest photovoltaic installations to guarantee that 100% of the electrical energy used in the Dekton® manufacturing process comes from certified renewable electricity. Dekton is a material used in architecture and interiors, replacing natural stone for worktops, floors, and wall cladding.
Another essential aspect of sustainable design is product durability. The longer a product lasts, the less strain it places on resources and waste management systems. This approach is in stark contrast to lowquality products and single-use items, which epitomize unsustainability. A great exception, however, is composite takeaway serving plates made from plant fibers and organic materials, such as those developed by BioPak.
Natural materials like cork, orange peel, or clay have also been creatively repurposed to create lamps and chandeliers by the London-based Studio Arp.
Designing products for easy assembly and disassembly allows for the efficient recycling of components. For instance, traditional Italian techniques enable the assembly of mainly timber parts without the need for glue. This tradition has been embraced by famous design companies like Moooi, which has launched cabinets that revisit the classic “no glue, no screw” concept.
Various products are now made from 100% recycled plastic retrieved from oceans: cabinet handles, construction bricks, sunglasses, and fashion, including sportswear, are contributing to cleaning our waters. Another exciting development involves using these plastics to create 3D-printed new products or, as exemplified by Parley, collaborating with artists to create sculptures.
Organic clays, bearing the signature of the Italian Matteo Brioni, are now imported in Australia through Kastex, offering users a wide array of eco-friendly colour options for their walls.
The end of a product’s lifecycle and the concept of a circular economy are crucial aspects of sustainable product design. The system revolves around the idea of products being made to be made again, thus closing the loop on waste and creating a more efficient use of resources.
Pentatonic is one company at the forefront of this movement, creating contemporary designer homeware from post-consumer waste. Their approach involves consumers directly in the recycling process, offering a buy-back guarantee to ensure materials can be reused indefinitely.
Cover image: Studio Arp LED cork chandelier