Our bad habits and way of life are really damaging the environment and slowly leading to its degradation. And the world has changed (for the worse) because of it. Therefore, it is very important to live sustainably and consciously and take care of the environment in 2023! Integrating sustainability into our daily lives has become essential. And we can do it in different ways. Designers and creators are creating sustainable alternatives for almost everything. Every product that we need and use in our daily routine has an eco-friendly alternative to it. Replacing our usual mass-produced designs with these greener options can make a big difference to the environment and Mother Earth. From a sustainable and modular coffee machine to a bicycle seat made from cork– we’ve curated a whole collection of sustainable product designs to help you go green in 2023!
1. The Kreis Cup
Meet the Kreis Cup, a coffee cup that is durable, strong, and designed to enhance your coffee drinking experience! Available in a cup and travel-mug styles, the Kreis Cup is a reusable cup made from used coffee grounds and plant-based materials, free of petroleum-based plastics.
Why is this noteworthy?
It is heat resistant and designed to keep your coffee hot longer. That said, the Kreis Cup is still ultimately biodegradable, unlike the plastic-based to-go mugs you get at your local cafe or the breakable ceramic mugs you use at home. When it reaches the end of its lifespan, the Kreis Cup quickly disintegrates into the ground, leaving nothing behind.
What do we like?
- Made from spent coffee grounds that are dried, treated, and then suspended in a natural, plant-based polymer
- There is a faint, unmistakable smell of coffee
What we don’t want
2. Root tree
At the 2022 London Design Festival, Zena Holloway presents a fascinating collection of sculptures, products, and wearables grown entirely from grass roots! Called, ‘Rootfull’, the collection was presented at the inaugural edition of the ‘Materials Matter’ design fair.
Why is this noteworthy?
The collection includes a dress with a collar piece, other sculptural pieces inspired by coral, several wall hangings, and lamps grown on roots with interesting coral textures. Holloway’s collection explores the possibilities and scope of root-grown textiles, and how they may be widely used in the future.
What do we like?
- Creating a new type of sustainable material
What we don’t want
- Root grown fabrics can be very uncomfortable to wear
3. Karen Ultralight Electric Violin
Although the name Karen Ultralight Electric Violin might not be the best moniker for this instrument, it’s definitely the kind you can’t ignore. Anima Design for Katahashi Instruments envisioned the Karen Ultralight a dynamic electric violin that ditches the conventional wooden acoustic chamber for something far more appealing.
Why is this noteworthy?
The violin has a relatively hollow body made through generative design, which still provides strength with minimal use of material. The 3D-printed generative frame sits on a carbon fiber body, with a birchwood fingerboard for a long yet familiar playing experience. Working like an electric guitar, the Karen Ultralight has a 1/4-inch jack output, but even sports an internal 9V battery and a headphone jack so you can ‘quietly’ play music directly on your headphones without disturbing the neighbors!
What do we like?
- Uses a popular design technique called generative design
- A slot on the back allows you to put in a 9V battery and put your own Karen headphones, which will give you the ability to play silently, in your ear.
What we don’t want
4. Bamboo Washing Machine
It does not require additional water cycles, and it runs completely without electricity. Meet the Bamboo Washing Machine, a smart low-tech appliance that can wash your clothes efficiently without waste or emissions.
Why is this noteworthy?
A winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award, the machine is made entirely of bamboo wood, and is mounted directly on a shallow river bed, using the currents of the river to turn the drum of the machine. The water flowing through the machine also helps to wash the dirt off the clothes, giving you a fully automatic device that runs on its own, using the powers of nature and human creativity!
What do we like?
- There is zero waste and emissions
- Runs completely on its own
What we don’t want
5. Kara
Coffee machines may not be the most common consumer electronics in homes, but their widespread use and the way they operate make them ideal for a thought experiment. The Kara is the result of one such process, resulting in a modular coffee machine that is meant to last forever, even if the manufacturer stops making replacement parts.
Why is this noteworthy?
The secret is that these parts can be 3D printed when access to the original is no longer possible. More technical components can be replaced or replaced by other electronics, assuming they are still in production.
What do we like?
- Unlike most designs that emphasize healing, Kara does not require advanced knowledge or skills to make that possible.
- Sustainable design
What we don’t want
6. Oakwood MagSafe Collection
This Oakywood MagSafe collection uses Apple MagSafe chargers to provide actual charging functionality to these beautifully designed products. What they offer, however, are strong and multi-functional bases that will not only keep your iPhone or Apple Watch in place but also increase the life of your desk.
Why is this noteworthy?
With a mix of wood and matte aluminum materials, these stands and mounts look great with any motif you may have on your table, providing eye-catching decorations without being distracting.
What do we like?
- The MagSafe charger they hold can be removed and used as usual
- Prevents more e-waste in the long run
What we don’t want
7. FR-1 Bike Saddle
This Scottish brand is one such company that wants to bring more sustainable solutions for the bikes and bike parts they produce. Their first product was called the FR-1 Bike Saddle and it was made of cork
Why is this noteworthy?
At first, you would think that this is not a strong and comfortable material for something that you can sit on for a long time. But cork is actually quite strong and lightweight so it should be something that will last a long time and not harm your tushy. It is also water resistant and provides better cushioning compared to other materials.
What do we like?
- Stronger but also lighter compared to the more common steel used in many bicycle seats
- Sustainable + supports historic local cork farming
What we don’t want
8. B-Smart
Unveiled at this year’s Dutch Design Week, ‘B-Wise’ is a unique looking lampshade made from mycelium – the vegetative part of a mushroom or fungus that usually grows under the surface as we notice the mushroom caps making. their way through the ground or tree bark.
Why is this noteworthy?
The pendant lamp, which measures an impressive 60cm wide, has a grungy look that is unique to every lamp. To create each lamp, Myceen designers take an empty mold and fill it with mycelium along with waste organic material from the timber and agricultural industries including sawdust and straw to feed the mycelium. In just 5 weeks, the mycelium grows into a mold and is then de-molded and dehydrated to prevent any further growth.
What do we like?
What we don’t want
9. Zens
As a step from the trio of charging options, Zens – a considered manufacturer of wireless chargers that give power to freedom – has a 4-in-1 Modular Wireless Charger. Designed to power an iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and Apple Watch in one go, the wireless charger is a durable and quick charging solution.
Why is this noteworthy?
Since an organized desk is a dream for every systematic worker, this Zens charger can be great to ensure that. The idea of having all of Apple’s prized devices charging on the go, in one location, is nothing short of peace of mind. Plus, it leaves the desk or the nightstand organized. What more do you want? Before you go ahead and answer that with “Nothing”; the Zens 4-in-1 Modular Wireless Charger, with its nice features, comes for a $180 price tag (more on alternative pricing options later).
What do we like?
- This modular charger is a convenient solution for a quick and easy charge of all your Apple devices
What we don’t want
10. The Plastic Translation Stool
The design of the Plastic Translation Stool tries to translate the lines of the plastic stool, resulting in a form that is somewhat similar but also unique, giving the wooden stool its own character.
Why is this noteworthy?
The legs alone, however, are not enough to provide the same stability as the plastic counterpart, so an additional element must be added. Birch plywood buttresses distribute some of the force equally with the beechwood legs, which, in turn, hold the buttresses. These interlocking parts provide not only architectural strength but visual accents to what could otherwise be a plain-looking stool.
What do we like?
- Does not require screws or nails to assemble
- A more sustainable alternative to plastic chairs
