ECO-ENGINEERED MATERIALS IN FURNITURE

We offer a story that looks at innovative new eco-engineered products in the furniture sector, with comments from industry experts. For example, Pinatex, a “­leather” crafted from the tropical fruit’s cellulose fibres, was used in everything from the upholstered seating and botanical-themed artwork to key cards, cushions and headboards, in a new all-vegan suite at Hilton London Bankside hotel.  In Yorkshire, a  material manufactured from recycled PET plastic bottles and other single-use plastics, which initially launched as an eco-engineered carpet underlay, is now also being used inside sofas. SpringBond offers maximum performance with minimal environmental impact. The product manufactured by Bradford-based Texfelt, is being used by a leading British furniture manufacturer, which will use the unique material inside more than 80% of its sofas and recliners. Further, US -based Knoll Textiles abacus upholstery for both furniture and panels looks like virgin wool, but is actually woven from 100 percent recycled polyester sourced from both post-consumer (soda bottles) and post-industrial materials (production scraps). Elsewhere, billed as the “the first luxury faux suede that’s eco-friendly, enviro-conscious and earth-conscious,” Sensuede is made entirely from recycled polyester fibre. This would be an eco-tech round up for the global furniture sector.