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Formland, the Danish design fair that takes place in Herning twice yearly, was a platform for not only the best in Danish brands, but also in sustainability. Danish companies both large and small have found ways to make their work more sustainable, from a focus on packaging and logistics to creating zero-waste loops for their materials.
Touring the fair offered a unique opportunity to see how Danish brands have brought sustainable design into the fold. Some have made larger strides than others, while some brands have built their whole identity on being as environmentally-friendly as possible.
Take a look at the most sustainable design we saw this season at Formland:
Rosendahl
Rosendahl is all about making functional and beautiful pieces for everyday use. Their latest series, Grand Cru Sense, takes the traditional Grand Cru series and reimagines it as stoneware. Not only is this new material more tactile, the pieces have been made to fit together so that the plates become lids on top of the corresponding bowls; that way, food can be saved easily without having to purchase more plastic food containers.
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Bodum
Danish kitchenwares brand Bodum is celebrating 75 years. While their French Press is their most iconic and popular coffee brewing item, they have a number of other excellent coffee makers that are notable for their environmentally-friendly features. They make two vacuum brewers, the Mocca and the Pebo, which of both brew coffee without paper filters. The Pour Over coffee brewer also features a reusable mesh filter. Not having to use a paper filter for your coffee saves a significant amount of paper. And the fact that the machines are sleek, minimalist, and work beautifully is the cherry on top.
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Træfolk
Træfolk makes custom wood furniture in Denmark. All their pieces are handmade by highly skilled artisans; they’re truly unique and beautiful. In addition to their larger pieces, all leftover wood is turned into smaller objects like trays, cutting boards, step-stools, and shelves. They don’t waste any product, and they only make large items to order, resulting in an extremely sustainable and thoughtful business model.
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Paper Collective
Want beautiful art for your home but can’t afford to buy original works just yet? Paper Collective has the answer. By working directly with artists and photographers, the Danish brand produces photo art, prints, and posters that are reasonably priced and suit a number of artistic styles – from minimalist and geometric to colorful and fun. All of their paper and frames are Nordic Swan Ecolabel and FSC-certified, and they print in Denmark. They also donate money from each sale to a charitable cause of their choice; this year, it’s building a school in Nepal.
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Umage
Imagine flat-packed design items that are extremely high-quality. Umage’s vision is to streamline transport and other packaging logistics while delivering easy-to-assemble and extremely well-made interior design items. The ease of storage and transport means the product costs less, both for the producer and the customer. Their portfolio includes lamps, sideboards, chairs, tables, and more; all designed with a bit of flair. This is a brand that has fun with their design while improving on all of the admin we don’t think about, so that the value actually gets passed down to the end user.
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The Organic Company
The Organic CompanyFounded by Joy Vasiljev in 2007, The Organic Company was way ahead of its time, even in Denmark. Built on the idea that a company should both produce beautiful things and be socially responsible, the brand focuses on GOTS certified organic cotton textile. They started with cotton pads and buds, and quickly grew to include textiles of all kinds – from kitchen towels to oven mitts to soft lunch bags. Their products help you live a more thoughtful life, such as their gift wrapping textiles that are reusable and so beautiful, or their thin cotton reusable food bags, perfect for no-package grocery stores. If you’re looking to start incorporating more sustainable practices into your daily life, The Organic Company can help you get started.
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See our preview from this season’s Formland.
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