The essentials of eco-design
- Eco-design is a new approach to decoration that emerged in Northern Europe in the 1990s.
- It could be defined as the art of imagining a product by starting at the end: we consider the life cycle of a piece of furniture or decorative accessory, anticipating its end in order to better minimize its environmental impact.
- Four practical levers: recyclable or sustainably managed materials, reduced packaging and transportation, consumer education, and giving the product value at the end of its life.
- Eco-designed furniture favors wood from sustainably managed forests, such as the acacia outdoor living sets and eucalyptus gazebos from Maison Pavane.
- Two French names embody this approach: the 5.5 designers collective, which has been giving used furniture a second life since its graduation project Réanim, and Mathieu Lehanneur, creator of the Bel Air plant-based air filter.
- Recycling inspires many designers: Claire Danthois's “Re-Inspired Elements” wine bar is made from wine barrels that are more than 300 years old.
What is eco-design?
Eco-design is a new approach to decoration that emerged in Northern Europe in the 1990s. It could be defined as the art of imagining a product... by starting at the end! With eco-design, we consider the life cycle of a piece of furniture or decorative accessory, anticipating its end in order to better minimize its environmental impact.
This week, Maison Pavane offers you a brief overview of a new form of design whose name you have probably already heard: eco-design.
How is eco-design applied in practice?
Eco-design highlights areas for improvement to make a product's life cleaner. This can be translated very concretely into four levers, from the choice of materials through to the end of the product's life:
- the choice of recyclable, sustainably managed, biodegradable materials whose processing requires little energy
- the reduction of packaging and transportation
- education: encouraging consumers to reuse the product
- better recovery and reuse of the product at the end of its life
Is eco-design a constraint or an opportunity?
Eco-design is both at the same time. It is a constraint! The challenges of design are already complicated enough without adding the ecological aspect! It is also an opportunity, because it opens up a field of innovation and sources of savings for creators.
Today's companies and designers are aware that they must follow this trend in order to better meet the needs of increasingly eco-conscious consumers.
It is an opportunity! For innovators, eco-design is a fantastic source of inspiration that leads to surprising, useful creations that help consumers save money... and even creators themselves!
What materials are used for eco-designed furniture?
When it comes to eco-design, we very often encounter furniture and accessories made of wood. But you need to be very careful about where it comes from. Sustainably managed wood comes from a forest exploited according to a regeneration plan, which guarantees its renewal.
At Maison Pavane, the acacia outdoor living sets and eucalyptus gazebos are made from highly durable wood sourced from sustainably managed forests and are therefore part of a genuine environmental approach.
Cardboard is the other emblematic material used in eco-designed objects. You can find designer cardboard coffee tables with a very low environmental impact. The cardboard and finishing materials they are made from are entirely recycled and of high quality. A visually original, practical decorating idea designed to last!
What eco-designed objects are made from recycled materials?
The theme of recycling inspires many designers around the world. Reusing materials at the end of their life often results in truly unique creations because they are made entirely from reclaimed elements. In furniture, this approach takes the form of reclaimed wood: our guide explains where recycled wood comes from and what it brings to a piece of furniture.
This is the case with the now-iconic “Re-Inspired Elements,” an eco-designed wine bar commissioned by Nexton Vineyard from creator Claire Danthois. At first glance, you would never guess that the wood comes from wine barrels more than 300 years old! A magnificent example of a “second life”!
photo: Vino Family
Which designers embody eco-design?
Two French names clearly illustrate how eco-design concretely changes a creator's work: the 5.5 designers collective, which starts with existing furniture, and Mathieu Lehanneur, who places living matter at the heart of the object.
5.5 designers: repair rather than throw away
5.5 designers is a Paris-based design studio founded in 2003 by four graduates of the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Appliqués et des Métiers d'Arts: Vincent Baranger, Jean-Sébastien Blanc, Anthony Lebossé and Claire Renard. The collective advocates eco-design and responsible design, and is now among the 10 largest design agencies in Paris.
It all began with their graduation project, Réanim: reclaiming old furniture from Secours populaire and giving it a second life. Through this “object medicine,” they give outdated furniture a designer, contemporary touch by adding fun, sometimes completely offbeat accessories, rather than replacing it. This simple idea shaped the entire working philosophy of their studio: seeking alternative modes of production and consumption, where the product's lifespan, and therefore its environmental impact, are better controlled.
Two creations sum up their approach: floor lamps made in 2007 from the trunks of discarded Christmas trees, and the Cloning furniture range, fully customizable using the client's biometric data (height, weight, age, hair color) to create bespoke furniture and lighting.
Mathieu Lehanneur: living matter as a material
French designer Mathieu Lehanneur seeks to make everyday products both beautiful and functional, including for people facing difficulties. In 2001, he transformed medicines into designer objects and founded what he calls pharmaceutical design, working alongside medical professionals and psychologists.
His creation most closely associated with eco-design remains Bel Air, an ecological air filter designed in 2006 that harnesses the power of air-purifying plants through a ventilation system. This piece launched his career. He also created Local River, a combination of an aquarium and a vegetable garden: he was one of the first designers to address the need for water and food in his work, rather than leaving the environment in the background.
Where can you see eco-designed creations?
And to admire original eco-designed creations for yourself, head to the Tuileries in Paris for the 9th edition of “Jardins, jardin.” From May 31 to June 3, 2012, creators and landscape designers will exhibit their work and engage with the public on the theme of micro-gardens. For more information, head to the Lieu du Design.
FAQ: eco-design questions
What is the difference between eco-design and traditional design?
Traditional design starts with usage, while eco-design starts with the product's end of life. From the design stage onward, it incorporates the complete life cycle of a piece of furniture or decorative accessory to minimize its environmental impact, from the choice of materials through to the recovery and reuse of the product once it has been used.
When did eco-design emerge?
Eco-design emerged in Northern Europe in the 1990s. It is a new approach to decoration, born from the desire to make a product's life cleaner by identifying areas for improvement at every stage, from manufacturing to recycling.
Which materials should be favored for an eco-designed object?
Recyclable, sustainably managed or biodegradable materials whose processing requires little energy. Acacia and eucalyptus wood from sustainably managed forests, as well as entirely recycled cardboard, are the most common materials in eco-designed furniture and decoration.
Which designers work in eco-design?
The 5.5 designers collective, founded in 2003, is the best-known example in France: its Réanim project involves repairing and redesigning old furniture rather than throwing it away. Mathieu Lehanneur, creator of the Bel Air plant-based air filter, is another prominent figure in the field of objects and living matter.
Is eco-designed furniture durable?
Yes. Maison Pavane's acacia outdoor living sets and eucalyptus gazebos are made from highly durable wood. The cardboard coffee tables, meanwhile, are made from high-quality recycled materials: original, practical and designed to last.
