Divert By Design: 14 Products Made With Recycled Content
Manufacturers are starting to normalize products with recycled content at a higher rate than ever, in their quest to reduce carbon emissions and curb waste.
DIVISION TWELVE COLLECTION Designed by Geof Lilge, Scott Laughton, and Sam Petterson, this wide array of durable bent-steel chairs, tables, and stools is 100 percent recyclable. Available in ten styles, each of which can be specified in 20 powder-coated finishes. DIVISION TWELVE division12.comCourtesy Division Twelve
It’s no secret that building materials contribute mightily to American landfills. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, of a total 267.8 million tons of solid waste in 2017 (the latest year for which data is available), 57.1 million tons, or 21.4 percent of that waste, consisted of durable goods, including such items as chairs, tables, and carpets. The good news is that a significant chunk of this category was diverted from dumps through recycling to the tune of 10.8 million tons in 2017, compared with 10.6 million tons in 2016, and roughly 6.6 million in 2000.
The number of manufacturers now touting their products’ recycled content and recyclability suggests reuse on the factory floor could become the rule rather than the exception. Consider Division Twelve’s tables and seating, for example, made with 100 percent recyclable steel frames, FSC-certified oak work surfaces and seats, and optional bio-based foam chair cushions. The line of seating, tables, and benches checks several boxes on designers’ lists of sustainability needs. In addition to this colorful collection, we came across many other instances in which companies are going beyond recycling ingredients and reining in production waste to promote these ecofriendly strategies as key design features.
RECYCLED KRAFT
Part of Formica’s SurfaceSet collection, this laminate features recycled pulp and natural additives such as coffee chaff. It’s offered in Natural (shown) or Black finish and boasts FSC 100% Recycled Credit, helpful in earning Chain of Custody certification. FORMICA formica.com
Courtesy Formica
RECYCLED KRAFT
Part of Formica’s SurfaceSet collection, this laminate features recycled pulp and natural additives such as coffee chaff. It’s offered in Natural (shown) or Black finish and boasts FSC 100% Recycled Credit, helpful in earning Chain of Custody certification. FORMICA formica.com
SUNNYSIDE COLLECTION
Interiors doyenne Ghislaine Viñas collaborated with industrial designer Brad Ascalon on the slatted frames and seven-inch-thick Sunbrella cushions that distinguish this outdoor furniture collection. It’s made of recycled plastic milk containers.
LOLL DESIGNS lolldesigns.com
Courtesy Loll Design
SUNNYSIDE COLLECTION
Interiors doyenne Ghislaine Viñas collaborated with industrial designer Brad Ascalon on the slatted frames and seven-inch-thick Sunbrella cushions that distinguish this outdoor furniture collection. It’s made of recycled plastic milk containers.
LOLL DESIGNS lolldesigns.com
ADELL The shell of this chair is made from 80 percent recycled polypropylene and is VOC-free, thanks to its glueless construction. Lievore and Altherr Désile Park designed it as a versatile, sustainable option for indoor and outdoor lounging. ARPER arper.com
Courtesy Arper
ADELL The shell of this chair is made from 80 percent recycled polypropylene and is VOC-free, thanks to its glueless construction. Lievore and Altherr Désile Park designed it as a versatile, sustainable option for indoor and outdoor lounging. ARPER arper.com
ASSURE A special bio-based formula makes these new outdoor textiles water- and dirt-repellent, but also free of the fluorochemicals normally used for such durability. The fabric is also Healthier Hospitals Initiative–compliant and GREENGUARD Gold certified. SUNBRELLA sunbrella.com
Courtesy Sunbrella
ASSURE A special bio-based formula makes these new outdoor textiles water- and dirt-repellent, but also free of the fluorochemicals normally used for such durability. The fabric is also Healthier Hospitals Initiative–compliant and GREENGUARD Gold certified. SUNBRELLA sunbrella.com
XOREL MATTE Expanding its Cradle to Cradle Gold–certified Xorel fabrics sourced from sugarcane, Carnegie has introduced a delustered option in three new patterns (Sahara Matte shown). All have earned the Living Product Challenge Certification. CARNEGIE FABRICS carnegiefabrics.com
Courtesy Carnegie Fabrics
XOREL MATTE Expanding its Cradle to Cradle Gold–certified Xorel fabrics sourced from sugarcane, Carnegie has introduced a delustered option in three new patterns (Sahara Matte shown). All have earned the Living Product Challenge Certification. CARNEGIE FABRICS carnegiefabrics.com
UP COLLECTION These fabrics are manufactured using postconsumer recycled polyester that’s processed by family- and employee-owned mills. The bright colors are also bleach-cleanable and third-party-certified SCS Indoor Advantage Gold. HBF TEXTILES hbftextiles.com
Courtesy HPF
UP COLLECTION These fabrics are manufactured using postconsumer recycled polyester that’s processed by family- and employee-owned mills. The bright colors are also bleach-cleanable and third-party-certified SCS Indoor Advantage Gold. HBF TEXTILES hbftextiles.com
MEDINPURE Engineered for health-care settings, this flooring is a PVC-free sheet that is also free of ortho-phthalates, halogens, isocyanates, and Red List Chemicals of Concern. ARMSTRONG FLOORING armstrongflooring.com
Courtesy Armstrong Flooring
MEDINPURE Engineered for health-care settings, this flooring is a PVC-free sheet that is also free of ortho-phthalates, halogens, isocyanates, and Red List Chemicals of Concern. ARMSTRONG FLOORING armstrongflooring.com
ON THE WALL AKUART offers the sound control of Kirei’s recycled PET, Green Tag–certified EchoPanels in the form of framed art prints, which measure 2.36 inches thick and have a noise reduction coefficient of .9. KIREI USA kireiusa.com
Courtesy Kirei USA
ON THE WALL AKUART offers the sound control of Kirei’s recycled PET, Green Tag–certified EchoPanels in the form of framed art prints, which measure 2.36 inches thick and have a noise reduction coefficient of .9. KIREI USA kireiusa.com
REFORM This chair, reminiscent of Frank Gehry’s 1972 cardboard Wiggle side chair, is actually 3D-printed recycled plastic and biocomposite material. SANDLER SEATING sandlerseating.com
Courtesy Sandler Seating
REFORM This chair, reminiscent of Frank Gehry’s 1972 cardboard Wiggle side chair, is actually 3D-printed recycled plastic and biocomposite material. SANDLER SEATING sandlerseating.com
THREAD STORY
Carbon neutral across its life cycle, this carpet collection is made using recycled nylon and comes in six styles inspired by the craft of weaving techniques.
INTERFACE interface.com
Courtesy Thread Story
THREAD STORY
Carbon neutral across its life cycle, this carpet collection is made using recycled nylon and comes in six styles inspired by the craft of weaving techniques.
INTERFACE interface.com
LOFT SERIES WITH HYBRIQ+
Silestone’s latest collection features a new production process, in which parent company Cosentino recycles the quartz surface’s raw ingredients, water, and energy to reduce the silica in it—a step that improves worker safety during production and fabrication.
COSENTINO Courtesy Cosentino
Courtesy Cosentino
LOFT SERIES WITH HYBRIQ+
Silestone’s latest collection features a new production process, in which parent company Cosentino recycles the quartz surface’s raw ingredients, water, and energy to reduce the silica in it—a step that improves worker safety during production and fabrication.
COSENTINO Courtesy Cosentino
COIL COLLECTION
What appears to be a ceramic pendant is actually made from plastic waste. The material is 3D-printed in a process engineered with parent company 3form, and features a PVC-free power cord and TGIC-free powder-coat finish.
LIGHTART lightart.com
Courtesy LightArt
COIL COLLECTION
What appears to be a ceramic pendant is actually made from plastic waste. The material is 3D-printed in a process engineered with parent company 3form, and features a PVC-free power cord and TGIC-free powder-coat finish.
LIGHTART lightart.com
LUD’O Patricia Urquiola designed the shells of this chair and pouf, which are manufactured from recycled plastic, as is the optional nylon upholstery. The innovative lounge is a collaboration between the designer, Cappellini, and Haworth. HAWORTH
haworth.com
Courtesy Haworth
LUD’O Patricia Urquiola designed the shells of this chair and pouf, which are manufactured from recycled plastic, as is the optional nylon upholstery. The innovative lounge is a collaboration between the designer, Cappellini, and Haworth. HAWORTH
haworth.com
