May 22, 2023, 3:31 am | Read time: 4 minutes
In the interest of saving the climate, modern interiors should no longer consist solely of new furniture, according to myHOMEBOOK author and interior designer Odett Schumann. The industry is currently experiencing a shift in thinking. Recycled furniture made from electronic waste or food scraps is now taking over the market.
The serious situation surrounding the climate crisis forces us to rethink many areas of life. Added to this is the equally concerning supply chain problem. To quickly get both crises and the associated material shortages under control, immediate innovative solutions are needed. Within the furniture industry, initial trends are emerging that lean toward sustainability. We’re talking about recycled furniture: Whether made from food waste or electronic scrap, the potential for new, eco-friendly ideas seems enormous.
Furniture from Electronic Waste
As digitalization progresses and becomes part of our daily lives, our consumption of electronic devices increases. Consequently, more electronic waste accumulates each year. In 2020, Germany generated over one million tons of such waste, marking a nine percent increase compared to the previous year.
The problem is not just the enormous amounts of electronic waste but also its environmentally harmful disposal. To counter this complex issue, it’s crucial to recycle as many components of a device as possible. Some manufacturers specialize in recycled furniture using glass from ovens or microwaves. Combined with other remnants, they create recycled glass tiles. The company Pentatonic developed the recycled chair “Airtool,” made from various smartphone components and plastic bottles.
From Byproduct to Recycled Furniture
In the context of recycled furniture, byproducts that are usually considered waste are gaining more attention. For example, the cultivation of plant-based foods like pineapples, rice, cocoa, and flax yields tons of valuable byproducts. Flax is already being processed into textiles and used as upholstery fabric for outdoor furniture due to its dirt-repellent and moisture-resistant properties.
Pineapple leaves can be turned into a leather-like material called “Piñatex,” known for its durability and water resistance. Rice husks, a byproduct of rice harvesting, have been developed into a wood substitute. This material can compete with common tropical woods in quality and may be used as recycled furniture in the future. Currently, research is underway to create a new type of bioplastic from cocoa pod husks, which could be either rubbery or solid.
6 Tips to Avoid Plastic in the Garden
10 Online Furniture Stores You Won’t Find Everywhere
Betting on Hemp
Alongside flax and cotton, hemp is one of the oldest cultivated plants. For several years, this valuable raw material has been successfully used in home textiles. Now, hemp is making waves in the furniture market as a sustainable option. This makes sense because hemp is much less demanding to grow compared to cotton.
The natural material grows quickly, requires significantly less water, and is resistant to cold, pests, and fungi. Once processed into a product, it impresses with its high tensile strength. Additionally, hemp is antistatic, has a temperature-regulating function, and is suitable for allergy sufferers. Today, hemp is not only used in kitchen towels or bed linens but also in carpets, mattresses, and upholstery covers.
As a modern building material, hemp is also gaining attention. In the form of hemp concrete, which is fully recyclable, initial designs for vases, bowls, and other containers have been created. As a composite material, combined with natural resin, hemp chairs as recycled furniture are already on the market.
Also interesting: 6 Tips to Make Your Balcony More Sustainable
Creating Sustainable Furniture from Food Waste
Innovation can still be found in food waste. Currently, the enormous sustainable potential of waste is often overlooked, and compost is underutilized. However, this recycling approach could be promising for the furniture industry.
New furniture creations, made partly from compost waste, are pioneering this effort. Specifically, these include lampshades made from orange peels and coffee grounds. The advantage is that no new raw materials are needed, and the seemingly “new” product is fully biodegradable. In Tulln, Austria, a new eco-friendly wood adhesive made from sugar beet waste is being developed. Many wooden furniture pieces are still made from particleboard containing formaldehyde-based adhesives.