2024 Design Debrief Insights - Beyond Carbon: Where Sustainability's Going

Embracing a More Circular Approach

The growing shift towards circular economy principles is a significant development in the furniture industry. Both manufacturers and clients alike are increasingly focused on finding ways to improve sustainability performance and reduce their impact on the planet and people. As the demand for responsible design grows, brands are utilising waste-capturing materials, bio-based options, and designs that prioritise repair, longevity, and minimise waste.

Prioritising Repairability

A key theme this year has been reengineering products to prioritise repairability. For example, Modus’s Belt Stool, relaunched in 2024, incorporates replaceable parts and durable materials to ensure long-term use and adaptability. Walter Knoll’s Leadchair Evo follows suit, blending precision engineering with modularity, making disassembly and component replacement straightforward. Similarly, Fredericia’s Plan Chair features clean lines and easily replaceable or upgradeable components, while Blå Station’s Able Chair takes repairability even further, with a design that facilitates disassembly and material separation for easier repairs and recycling.

Material Innovation

Mater’s Alder Table, made from repurposed wood waste, and Fredericia’s Søborg Chair, crafted from Ribbon Fabric sourced from textile waste, show how manufacturers are addressing both sustainability and waste reduction. Meanwhile, Normann Copenhagen’s Mat Chair, made from hemp and eelgrass, and MycoWorks’ MushLume Lighting, made from mycelium, highlight the promise of natural, regenerative materials in creating truly sustainable furniture.

Explore More in Our 2024 Design Debrief

These insights, along with many others, are explored in detail in our 2024 Design Debrief. To read the full report and dive deeper into the themes shaping the future of design, click here. If you’d like to learn more about how these insights could apply to your projects, get in touch with our team