In honor of Earth Day this year, InspireDesign is taking a look at companies with sustainable products that reveal and utilize Earth’s natural design:
Native Trails
The Murano Collection from Native Trails is inherently sustainable in that the glass is fully recyclable and can be used over and over again to create new glass items. Also, it takes up to 50% less energy to produce these glass sinks than for porcelain and other common sink materials, thus reducing its comparative carbon footprint.
The collection consists of five design series—Beachcomber, Abyss, Bianco, Shoreline and Abalone—each offering multiple sink styles, though every sink in the collection is unique.
The colors and patterns of the Murano Collection are created in the molding and spinning process, and each glass vessel sink is hand-formed, giving each piece its own personality as a work of functional art.
“Preserving time-honored artisan traditions is a value that we as a company hold dear,” said Naomi Neilson, founder/CEO, Native Trails. “The island of Murano, just off the coast of Venice, Italy, renowned worldwide as the center of glassmaking since the 13th century, is famous for its celebrated artisan glass producers, each with their own family traditions.”
Paradigm Trends
Paradigm Trends presents the Barrington Bath collection, a striking range of bathroom accessories offered in a combination of natural materials and sustainable wood. The contrast between white-wash mango wood with gray marble creates visual appeal in the bathroom. The six-piece collection includes a tissue holder, wastebasket, soap dish, canister, amenity tray and toothbrush holder.
“Paradigm Trends offers bath and bar collections made from sustainable mango wood,” said Bette Lissak, owner, Paradigm Trends. “Mango trees are predominantly grown in India, they mature quickly and stop bearing fruit after several years. Instead of discarding these trees, the wood is harvested, providing us with a sustainable source of timber, and a new generation of trees is planted. Using the mango wood from cut-down trees reduces carbon emissions. As an alternative wood source to traditional furniture materials, mango wood products can withstand any wear and tear in a hotel environment. With proper lacquering, mango wood is water resistant and also comes in a wide range of stains.”
Fil Doux Textiles
Otratex—The Conscious Choice by Fil Doux Textiles is the first-ever, and only, degradable vinyl alternative for the hospitality industry, according to the company. Moody Blues, a recently launched sub-collection of Otratex, includes 18 cool color options that draw inspiration ranging from the various shades present in an early spring sky to the deepest depths of the ocean. Spanning expressive to relaxing, the line aims to evoke an emotional response from those who experience it. It is also the first Otratex collection to be treated with Fil Doux Textiles’ new proprietary protectant, Pro-Tech Plus, a bleach cleanable stain repellent that ensures the eco-friendly textile meets the rigorous cleaning demands of the industry.
Like all Otratex products, Moody Blues is manufactured in the company’s fully vertical mills located in Chile and Brazil, and is made with natural enzymes embedded in the material during production that create enhanced degradability. The collection is produced using sustainable practices on an industrial scale—production power is generated by wind and solar panels and leftover fabrics are repurposed for packaging.
“Fil Doux Textiles is inspired by nature’s allure and authenticity,” said Leonardo Novik, founder/CEO, Fil Doux Textiles. “With the love we have for the earth, we seek to create products that are not only designed to deliver on the high industry demands for a beautiful, durable, bleach cleanable product, but also ones that are immensely forward-thinking and environmentally conscious.”
Kirei
Since 2002, Kirei has provided design materials that are visually interesting, functional and environmentally friendly. Its foundational design element, EchoPanel, is a series of decorative and functional designer acoustic products made by Woven Image and distributed exclusively in North America by Kirei. The visually dynamic and versatile EchoPanel collection of panels, systems, tiles and partitions are available in standard or custom options to address various acoustic needs in commercial, retail, hospitality, healthcare and education environments. EchoPanel is responsibly sourced and made from recycled materials to qualify for LEED credits and other green building or sustainability certifications.
The company continues its mission to inspire a beautiful world via its sustainability efforts and overall design ethos. To date, that intrepid focus has resulted in saving more than 200 million plastic bottles from landfills, giving each one renewed purpose as part of the EchoPanel product line.
“Hotels recognize that their customers care about the environment and often make brand choices that align with their beliefs,” said John Stein, founder/CEO, Kirei. “Hotels that use environmentally friendly practices, whether that be in their design, water use, linens or use of plastics, see that their customers show increased loyalty. It’s not just a ‘tree-hugging’ idea—it’s a dollars and sense decision for hotel guests and hotel brands as well.”
Luxxbox
Luxxbox creates decorative acoustic lighting, flexible lounge systems and agile furniture designed for modern, collaborative workspaces, all in pursuit of passionate, curious and authentic design, according to the company. Clients are served throughout Australia, as well as through distributors in the U.S. and Southeast Asia.
Luxxbox acoustic materials are lightweight, low volatile organic compounds (VOC) products that contain no adhesives, are highly durable, contain 60% post-consumer recycled PET and themselves are 100% recyclable. The material has achieved globally recognized GreenTag Certification as well.
All products manufactured by Luxxbox can be returned through the selected distributor for recycling at the end of product life. Luxxbox ensures that all GECA-certified furniture and items returned at product end of life will be recycled through relevant resource recovery networks and will not be sent to landfill or incineration. In most cases where products are still functional, they will be repurposed or refurbished if necessary to prolong their functional life.
“Studies conclusively show that a person’s health and well-being is so intrinsically linked to their environment and surroundings, which also extends to furnishings and lighting,” said Jason Bird, creative and managing director, Luxxbox. “When you’re in a temporary space like a hotel room, particularly when it’s for pleasure and relaxation, the use of a sustainable product has a marked effect on the customer’s confidence that their surroundings are having low impact on the environment. In the hotel industry where it can be difficult to look for opportunities to establish eco-friendly, sustainable practices, incorporating this into the furniture and lighting can be done with minimal effort or cost.”
