photo: Johan Daniel

The Soap

The Soap by APOKALYPS LABOTEK is made from recycled deep frying oil from kitchens in the south of Sweden. It is sustainable in the way that it’s made from recycled material and is a 100% vegetable product. The Soap consist of very few ingredients and is manufactured locally.

The packaging is printed and produced by an eco-labelled printer in Malmo and is made of recycabel paper that comes from an environmentally certified paper mill. All transports are done with the means of transportation least environmentally harmful for the actual route.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

photo: Henrik Rosenqvist

To work with sustainability is the only option for Apokalyps Labotek. When reflecting on and questioning our roll as designers when it comes to materials, production and consumption one automatically end up thinking sustainable.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

There’s a bunch of labelling systems out there to ensure sustainable consumption. Apokalyps Labotek thinks this should be reversed. Instead of unsustainable goods being the norm they should be labelled as hazard stuff. The rest, (the sustainable product) is ?normal? and therefore unlabelled. It’s also a matter of consuming quality instead of quantity.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

We must continue to talk about sustainability but it is also time for action. As designers, Apokalyps Labotek make products and projects that aim to raise the status of recycled materials, start discussions about sustainability and to show good examples. It’s time for action!……………………………………………………………….

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APOKALYPS LABOTEK
Industrigatan 20E
212 14 Malmö
SWEDEN
0046.(0)736.580.190
info@apokalypslabotek.se
www.apocalypselab.net

Clay Pot (Réttur)

The clay pot is manufactured by hand in the clay factory Leir 7 in Stykkishólmur. The clay comes from the sheep farm Ytri-Fagridalur where the farmers there harvest the clay and prepare it for production.

As Iceland was once part of the ocean floor, its clay was formed in oceanic sediment therefore the color of the clay can variate. The electricity that heats the ceramic oven comes from a sustainable source and the pot is only fired once. The glaze that covers the inside of the pot is made from the clay. The idea for the pot was to make a product that would encourage people to use all parts of the lamb for example cook the offal and other less used parts.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

Brynhildur Pálsdóttir & Guðfinna Mjöll Magnúsdóttir photographer: Viktor Svan Sigurdarson, artwork: Theresa Himmer

As creators of new products we feel it is vital to be conscious of sustainability and utility. We emphasize using materials that are sustainable and local.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

As consumers we carry a great responsibility and through awareness of sustainability and traceability we can influence production processes.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

We feel that as a responsible part of the environment one must be conscious of the use of earth’s resources and sustainability.

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Borðið
Brynhildur Pálsdóttir and Guðfinna Mjöll Magnúsdóttir
+354 8499764 (Brynhildur Pálsdóttir)
+354 6909874 (Guðfinna Mjöll)
bordid@gmail.com
http://leir7.is/page/27498/

photo: www.diephotodesigner.de

malva is a series of lights inspired by the natural qualities of cellulose and viscose: the objects are generated by the forming of moistened sponge cloth and its subsequent hardening by air drying on a mould.

The translation of this customary material into individual design pieces through basic processes of forming and drying measures up to the highest demands in sustainability and eco friendliness: all objects are compostable.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

Already while constructing a certain piece one should think about its future disposal. It is crucial
to design a product as envoronment-friendly as possible.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

We believe that every single one of us can help making a change. As an individual I have to find ways to adapt to certain needs, instead of simply waiting that someone comes up with the perfect solution.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

Sustainability should mean that a product is 100% neutral in its eco-balance, whether I use it or not. Renouncement is not a solution. But creating new approaches to sustainability is.

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ett la benn
bischoff & dürler
Schwedter straße 34 a
10435 Berlin
T 030 40 57 67 93
F 030 40 57 67 96
info@ettlabenn.com
www.ettlabenn.com

BOL: from useless to useful

The Bol lamp is made of carefully selected old fabrics with the light showing their patterns and texture, and evoking memories and images. Each lamp is characterised by the fabric details: summerhouse curtains, grandmother’s embroidery, or old tablecloths saved from the attic. The structure of Bol allows variations in size, textile patterns and colour. The basic sizes are Ø38 cm and Ø48 cm. Bol supports the use of an energy saving bulb with a normal E27 base. Bol lampshades are made by hand in Helsinki. Main challenge for the future is to develop local and ethical production in new locations, thus minimizing the need for long distance transportation.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

I’m inspired by reuse: turning unused or worthless materials, or spaces, into something new and valuable. I also focus on issues of social sustainability and local production. In the end the whole life cycle of a product is important.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

Appreciating quality instead of quantity. Many basic habits, like riding the bike and interest in local and seasonal food, are natural choices that I’ve grown into. I do have bad habits too, like flying at times.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

I think sustainable thinking can lead to better quality of living. Leaving out a lot of extra fuss and unnecessary things gives time and energy to enjoy the most essential, simple things in life……………….

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Hella Hernberg
+ 358 (0) 50 3779703
hella@hellahernberg.com
http://www.hellahernberg.com/

REMÖTIL- textile chair objects:

For our Diploma project in Textiledesign at the Kunsthochschule Berlin Weißensee, we are working on our object-project REMÖTIL at the moment. From donated and found old clothes and thrown away furniture from Berlin’s streets, we are creating a furniture-object collection. The used textiles and collected fragments are getting back to function and a new life by using handcraft techniques. We are fascinated by the principle to be inspired by used things with a personal history and to give the waste a new value. For the BERLINORDIK 2010 – BRIGHT GREEN DESIGN exhibition, we used the recycling principle of our diploma to create a textile chair collection.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

To preserve the value of forgotten
things

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

To recycle

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

To reflect and react

LUM!
Lisa Spengler
Moa Hallgren

reuterstr68@gmail.com

photo: Andreas Velten

“The Woodway” (German: “Holzweg”, this word also has the meaning “to bark up the wrong tree”)

In today’s design wood is mostly chosen because of its optic or haptic attributes. To use wood as a proper construction material there are plenty of requirements to pay attention to e.g. such as shrinking and moisture expansion. As an anisotropic material it can only be loaded in the direction of its fiber. To rely under these circumstances on this material to construct a high-performance device requires accurate knowledge of the material itself as well as new and innovative processing methods. This diploma thesis (master degree) demonstrates the performance of wood as a construction material using the example of a fully functional bicycle frame with the astonishing little weight of 2,3 kg.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

To me as designer sustainability means perfection. It is necessary to see a product within a chain of connections. This makes the design process significantly more complicated.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

To the consumer sustainability can be understood as a contemporary concept to consume politically correct without bad feelings. That also means that sustainability in this sense has been turned into a commercial notion.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

Sustainability can be understood as a closed circuit, applicable in various areas. That variety also means that this answer has to remain rather imprecise.

Arndt Menke-Zumbrägel
Lilienstr. 7
12203 Berlin
info@arndtmenke.de
+49 (0) 30 780 88 99 4
www.arndtmenke.de

BUOY:

We continuously pollute our oceans through our daily activities. This tends to happen largely unnoticed, simply because it occurs gradually. The BUOY changes from a soft blue into a bright orange and releases internal nano paper booms (a material that absorbs just pollutants and not water) at a predetermined concentration of pollutants. The BUOY, which will be positioned in harbors, will become a symbol of awareness about the daily pollution of the oceans and help ordinary people to engage.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

The challenge of maximum impact with minimum resources.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

A situation where comparing trade-offs becomes very important.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

A reminder to reflect on how all my actions and choices have an impact on my surroundings.

More information about this project: BUOY Adrian Paulsen

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Adrian Paulsen
+ 47 988 92 958
Konowsgate 87
0196 Oslo
NORWAY
tilpaulsen@gmail.com
http://aho.no/no/Arena/Studentprosjekter/BUOY/

“Jackenfuttertasche” (Lining Bag):

This bag is made out of used textiles. We found a great fascination for these materials, because they are affected by every person who uses them. To make this individual history visible for the new owner we had the idea to give each bag an ID-number and attach a RFID-Chip. This RFID chip and a suitable reader enable the user to access our archive and see the former use of his particular material. So the textiles are no longer anonymous objects but become part of the family tree of our products. Our great goal is that our production and material form a perfect circle. We also developed a shop installation with this technology, which shows the history of the bag.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

When we confront with the subject of sustainability, a rational way of thinking is required to provide products without reducing the qualities in terms of convenience, reliability and aesthetics, or in ideal case to increase them.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

As consumer, we deal with the subject more emotionally and intuitively. However we are aware of the hidden cost of the disproportional low prices, when we choose the products and the services, and the fact that we are going to pay them in other way.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

Sustainability can not be achieved with a single ultimate solution, but with diverse approaches and methods. There should be always a fair balance of the rationality and the intuition.

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schmidttakahashi
Eugenie Schmidt and Mariko Takahashi
c/o Atelier Botsch
Münzstrasse 10
10178 Berlin
www.schmidttakahashi.de

moebel 41|02, Foto: Peter Witt, www.werbemanufaktur.net

schubLaden reuses vintage drawers, so existing material, without altering its basic shape or original use. Subject, participation in process and appreciation fosters a link between the customer and furniture. Practical use, aesthetics and production set the basis for a long durability of the furniture. The production is contracted to small, local firms and the amount of furniture is based on demand and request.

What means sustainability for me as a designer?

Not only to design timeless, beautiful, functional and longlasting products, but also to create products that are really needed and wanted – to bear this responsibility.

What means sustainability for me as a consumer?

To reflect before I buy.

What means sustainability for me in general?

To deal with everyone and everything I encounter with attentiveness and respect.

schubLaden
Franziska Wodicka
Böckhstraße 46
10967 Berlin Kreuzberg
tel +49 (0) 30  61 65 11 49
fax +49 (0) 30  61 67 14 31
mail@schubLaden.de
www.schubladen.de

By living under poor conditions under the Vietnamese communist regime in the 1970s, it has forced me to think creatively and to live by the rules of nature. I made all my toys out of used materials or garbage. Therefore, the sustainability thinking is not new to me. Yellowone Needle Cap is a simple way of doing things – that is to exploit existing waste materials and turn them into useful products that benefit local communities around the world. It is a unique idea and a beautiful way of working around the sustainability issue – recycle, reuse and reduce.

What does sustainability mean for me as a designer?

To be responsible in my design developing process – issues like socially, environmentally and economically are carefully considered towards the end result.

What does sustainability mean for me as a consumer?

Longevity – emotionally, aesthetically or functionality – things that last from generation to generation.

What does sustainability mean for me in general?

To live by the rules of nature..

Film about ………………………………………

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Yellowone
Hân Pham
M.P. Bruunsgade 33.2
DK-8000 Aarhus C.
DENMARK
+45 61713554
info@yellowone.dk
http://www.yellowone.dk/

Watch Hân Phams film about the Needle Cap.