Resolutely responsible, deeply desirable

In Poland’s Beskid mountains, Wooden Story crafts children’s toys and furnishings from wood. Inspired by the majestic natural surroundings, the firm is committed to banishing chemicals from its production processes and encouraging recycling, with beeswax and natural oils giving their products their beautifully smooth, polished finish. Their canvas bags and packing boxes have also been specifically designed to be reused or easily recycled. The quality of these furnishings, toys and games, all crafted with the utmost care, encourages the younger generation to adopt certain consumption habits, in turn inspiring them to protect the environment. 

This year, the firm has launched a contest inviting designers to come up with “A child’s place in public space – an inclusive table and chair for learning and playing”. Entries must accommodate children’s needs, including children with sensory or motor disabilities, and, of course, the furnishings must be produced in a way that is in keeping with Wooden Story’s eco-friendly stance. The winning designs are set to be showcased at Maison&Objet Paris. 

Protecting the environment, adopting an ethically responsible approach, passing on a culture and encouraging new consumption models - buying less but better -, launching a competition to raise awareness amongst designers and the general public alike: Wooden Story is a shining example of how so many firms are now committed to shaping a more desirable future for the world.

Such firms arm themselves with a host of labels and certifications, such as GOTS, FSC and ISO, endorsing the quality of the materials used or attesting to their manufacturing processes’ exemplary nature. All these assets help them tick the reasonable and sustainable consumption box, and certainly don’t make their products any less enticing. Using fewer raw materials and being less energy-intensive actually makes them all the more attractive, and more often than not the constraints serve to spark innovation and boost creativity, giving rise to new types of objects, new sensations and even new ways of doing things. The Sustainable itinerary at Maison&Objet Paris will shine a light on firms who are at the top of their game in this sphere, with a committee of industry professionals hand-picking the brands set to feature in the trade fair’s green and virtuous itinerary. A number of criteria have to be met in order for a firm to be selected, ranging from the manufacturing methods used to attention to working conditions. And, of course, the choice of materials. 

Just as cuttings can be taken to create new plants, newly launched design house Boutures (the French word for “cuttings”) breathes life into new objects from scrap. The Vaseas vase, which is crafted from a variety of materials including recycled oyster shells, surprises not solely by virtue of its silhouette and dual function but also because of its unique appearance. The same can be said of the Solarium lamp, with its unusual translucent look. Both were designed by Valérie Windeck, the brand’s artistic director.

What could be done with this stiff piece of leather? And how could this exceptionally soft hide be used? Over at Bandit Manchot, the material itself is what shapes the collections. Each season, new accessories need to be designed - slippers, pouches, bookmarks... - inspired by the offcuts that have been salvaged from luxury leather goods firms or premium shoe brands. 
Certain materials are welcomed with open arms... whilst others are banished outright. Atelier Majeur produces bespoke contemporary furnishings that are industrial in appearance and, of course, sustainable. The paints and treatments that are applied to the Burgundy-grown wood are produced using VOC-free products that contain no volatile organic compounds. The metal is treated with eco-friendly chemical-free paints. This is a firm that makes a conscious effort to avoid using products that could be harmful to the environment or mankind, and absolutely nothing goes to waste. It has implemented a system for recycling its consumables: old worn-down sandpaper is removed from the machines and then used to hand-sand items instead; all the waste is sorted and any leftover wood shavings are mulched, composted or used for heating. The workshop itself is heated with the help of production waste and sawdust.

Manufacturing goods locally using materials sourced nearby is also extremely important for a good many firms. It’s not simply a case of minimising transport costs and keeping a handle on supplier quality, but also about breathing new life into a region and harnessing its expertise. 
Cushions, crockery, stationery, boxes and trays... Raumgestalt’s business is primarily run from the Black Forest. Nestled in the heart of the German woodland, working out of an old house that has now been renovated and turned into a low-energy building, the firm has partnered up with numerous local suppliers, notably for its wooden and ceramic objects.

The French city of Thiers, meanwhile, has been a centre for knife production for many centuries, and Jean Dubost has been making knives since back in 1920. The firm, which is still based in the country’s knife-making capital, markets itself as “100% made in France, 100% of jobs protected, 100% traditional French know-how, 100% short supply chains and limited carbon impact”. Singled out as a Living Heritage Firm (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant), the company also champions 100% recyclable products and is positioned as being eco-responsible by nature. The handles on the knives in its Sense® range are made from Le Pavé®, a material derived from recycled plastic. 

Although far less visible, a brand’s ethical credentials are nonetheless equally crucial and, indeed, proudly asserted by all the firms chosen to be part of the Sustainable itinerary. 
Tadé, a cosmetics firm that also markets objects made from recycled tyres, works directly with artisans from around the Mediterranean so it can keep a close eye on their working conditions. One of the brand’s flagship products is the world-famous Aleppo soap from Syria, inspiring the company to support Baroudeurs de l’Espoir, an NGO that is helping the country’s children get back to school. 
The Brooklyn Candle Studio, meanwhile, is totally transparent about its methods and working conditions. Before Covid sent the world into lockdown, anyone could go in to meet the team and observe the production process. What’s more, all the firm’s employees enjoy access to subsidised healthcare, a much-coveted perk in the USA.

At Arecabio, all the palm leaf tableware is made in India and Nepal, where the firm not only has its own workshops, but also provides vocational training and scholarships for local children. 
Lastly, there’s the highly rigorous B Corp certification, an accolade awarded to firms whose business model and operations incorporate social, societal and environmental objectives. Today, just under 4,000 firms scattered across 74 countries have been granted B Corp status, 3 of which are set to feature on Maison&Objet’s Sustainable itinerary: Parafina, which makes eco-friendly eyewear from recycled materials; Gifts for Change, a firm that retails gifts that also support social or environmental causes; and Lineage Botanica, which draws on heritage traditions to turn antique Eastern European textiles into home decor products. 
These firms may all have sought out different ways of addressing the demand for more responsible design, but they all agree on one thing: their top priority is to create sustainable and desirable objects that will be loved and cherished for many years to come.