My Eco Picks from the Milan Furniture Fair Part Due

“green” is always a tricky term….

“Sustainability has been an embarrassing aspect of past fairs. (Cue cringey memories of woefully unsustainable products amid splashes of green paint, cheesy eco-slogans and tinkling New Age muzak.) More manufacturers are now investing in it seriously, including Flos, the Italian lighting company, whose new products focus on energy-efficient LED and OLED designs.”

In response to a drop in attendance, and a lingering recession, the intellectual focus of the Show has swung away from producing tangible things, like furniture, toward the abstract process of applying design thinking to ethical issues, such as social, environmental or humanitarian problems.

This is part two of my eco-picks from the show:

From the Designersblock: Furniture from Assembly Room

Made from eco-friendly materials, the AR line includes a two and three-seater sofa that blend the design styles of the past and present. One particular stunner is the AR004 design, a lightweight stackable chair created with FSC certified wood and 100% pure wool that is both renewable and compostable.

Designer Ingo Maurer revealed this stunning new energy efficient chandelier, celebrating OLED technologies by showcasing the technical components and dispensing with any casings or coverings. The super tech-style pendent lamp features nine suspended OLED panels and was realized with help from lighting manufacturers Osram and Novaled.

Disney’s eco-chair for Adults?

Yes, Disney….Kiddie Co.- Walt Disney teamed up with Italian furniture makers Cappellini to create a fancy “adult lifestyle brand” called “Walt Disney Signature”, which even includes some eco-friendly designs such as the recycled plastic Fish Chair. Although I’m happy to hear that Disney is using some eco materials in its designs, I’m a bit confused by the whole collection and partnership.

Moroso‘s New Spring Sofas and Chairs:

The cushy, sleek, and classic New Spring upholstery line by big-name designer Patricia Urquiola utilizes an innovative and renewable plant-based fiber. New Spring’s organic cotton covers are completely removable — a feature which, frankly, all sofas should have.

Moroso’s Beth Chairs:

Philippe Bestenheider‘s mod and colorful indoor/outdoor Beth chair is made of 100 percent recycled materials — the cover is recycled rubber from tires and the stuffing is polyester from recycled PET bottles. According to the press release, Beth is also sturdy and easy to take apart for recycling at the end of its life cycle:

Autarchy by Studio Formafantasma:

For an authentic touch of Italy, I love the installation “Autarchy” by Studio Formafantasma. The project celebrates an autonomous way of producing goods, using bio-materials. It is a fresh take on crafts and design, tradition and the uncomplicated in everyday life.