Thank gosh it’s finally here! Watch this year’s John Lewis Christmas ad now

Don’t worry, it’s not kids singing Fix You to their grannies over zoom...

from It's Nice That https://ift.tt/38F3tyU

Sweden tops sustainability audit but furniture sector "turning a blind eye" to environmental issues

Swedish furniture brands are the most sustainable in the world, according to a survey by design procurement consultancy Dodds & Shute.

Firms from the Scandinavian country scored highest in an environmental audit conducted for the Dodds & Shute Sustainability Report, with German firms coming second.

Nick Shute and Stefan Dodds, founders of Dodds & Shute

"Swedish companies are best positioned to benefit from people’s shift in attitude on sustainability," said Dodds & Shute co-founder Nick Shute.

"As consumers learn more and begin to expect more from the brands they buy from, most companies have realised there are a lot of things they need to improve on before they can be considered sustainable."

However, the survey accuses the furniture sector in general of "turning a blind eye" to environmental concerns. Many brands fail to provide adequate information to designers seeking to make their projects more sustainable, it said.

Sector "turning a blind eye" to sustainability

"We see the traditional shortcomings of our sector and the role it has played in turning a blind eye to these issues," says the foreword to the report.

"Research has shown that the furniture, fixtures and equipment [FF&E] fit out has a significant impact on the environmental performance of a building because of its comparatively short lifespan," it continues.

"It is essential that more care and consideration is taken to what is put inside our homes, hotels, restaurants, offices, schools and developments."

Swedish office furniture brand Edsbyn scored highest in the audit

According to the survey, seven of the ten most sustainable international brands are from Sweden, with Edsbyn in first place and Minus Tio in second ahead of German firm Zeitraum, the highest-placed non-Swedish manufacturer.

Flokk, Johansen and Lintex, which are also from Sweden, are placed fourth, fifth and sixth, with Baux and Lammhults in eighth and ninth places.

British designer Tom Raffield came seventh and Finnish brand Artek came tenth.

Sweden "dominated" sustainability rankings

"Sweden has dominated our survey because sustainable living is a core part of the Swedish DNA and, as a result, their businesses are founded on strong environmental principles," Shute told Dezeen.

"It helps that they have good infrastructure that encourages a lot of local production and the support of the Swedish government where all parties believe in the importance of a green energy policy, which is something all Swedish companies benefit from."

Sweden and Italy scored highly on local manufacturing

To compile the report, Dodds & Shute audited all the brands it buys from by asking them about their sustainability policies, sourcing of materials, production methods and locations, employment policies and innovation.

Each brand was scored out of 100, with suppliers who failed to respond to the survey automatically scoring zero.

Swedish brands scored 92 on average, compared to 82 for Germany and 69 for the UK. Italy scored 68, Spain achieved 67 and Denmark got 65.

Dodds & Shute, a London-based firm that supplies responsibly sourced furniture to architects and designers, carried out the audit so that its clients could see how well its suppliers perform against a range of environmental benchmarks.

"We want to be held accountable"

"We want to be held accountable for our global impact and only by working closely with our network of manufacturers will we address wider industry issues," said Shute.

"Our aim is to radically overhaul the way our industry considers what is acceptable in terms of manufacturing and specification."

Dodds & Shute has pledged to stop working with brands that have poor environmental records.

"Our audit has hugely influenced the products you will find in our shop, which is dedicated to those suppliers who share our commitment to sustainability," said Shute.

Claesson Koivisto Rune tops the list of brands working with sustainable manufacturers

Sweden, along with Italy, scored highly for the way brands rely on local supply chains, meaning components do not have to travel far and standards can be easily monitored.

Other countries, notably Denmark, scored poorly on this criteria due to their reliance on global supply chains with little oversight.

In total, 110 brands responded to the audit, which began in 2018, while 20 companies ignored it.

Designers play "essential role to influence change"

Germany, UK and Sweden were the three countries where brands showed the most willingness to be transparent in their response to the survey while Italy and Spain were the least forthcoming.

Swedish designers are ranked highest for their engagement with brands with good environmental track records.

Claesson Koivisto Rune led the field, having worked with the largest number of high-scoring brands. Front came second and Monica Förster came fourth, behind British designer Jasper Morrison in third place.

"No conclusions can be drawn here but designers have an essential role to influence change at manufacturers where ignorance is still prevalent," the report said.

The post Sweden tops sustainability audit but furniture sector "turning a blind eye" to environmental issues appeared first on Dezeen.

from Dezeen https://ift.tt/32Goztb

IOC Project Partners designs Solari workstation in collaboration with Gensler

Dezeen Showroom: trestle legs and a customisable, J-shaped privacy screen distinguish the Solari desk system, developed by Italian office furniture company IOC Project Partners in collaboration with Gensler.

The workbench can be electronically height-adjusted and used in both a seated and standing form, with an integrated alarm alerting the user when it's time to change positions.

On its own, the desk encourages collaboration and can even be used in a domestic set-up, while an optional, noise-absorbing divider screen can be added to facilitate deep work and concentration in an open-plan office.

The Solari desk system includes an optional, J-shaped privacy screen

The divider curves in at the bottom to form a distinctive J-shape that holds all of the necessary wiring while keeping floor space clear.

"Solari was conceived with a casual but distinct design language that recalls the aesthetic of a design atelier," said Mark Morton, a design director and principal at Gensler.

With a mission to "give every occupant a sense of personal space" each of the dividers is outfitted with a fabric panel, which comes in a range of vibrant Kvadrat colours and can serve as a backdrop for personal photos, notes and reminders.

Additional storage can be added on in the form of a suspended pedestal or cabinet.

Product: Solari
Product design consultant: Gensler
Brand: IOC Project Partners
Contact: n.mismara@ioc.it

About Dezeen Showroom: Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.

The post IOC Project Partners designs Solari workstation in collaboration with Gensler appeared first on Dezeen.

from Dezeen https://ift.tt/2IB0exM

Vivid, raw and nostalgic: Yavez Anthonio uses photography as a medium for storytelling

Based in New York and Amsterdam, the photographer and creative director shares his mother’s advice that never left him.

from It's Nice That https://ift.tt/36vHXdj

Thomas by name, trenchant by nature: Meet Studio Thomas and its rigorously reductive practice

We talk to the perceptive pair about simplicity, collaboration and the excitement of a blank canvas.

from It's Nice That https://ift.tt/3kpChXb