Fern
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
Fern by deardesign studio transforms Recycled Materials into Eco-responsible, High-end Office Furniture Built for Workplace Wellness.
The furniture collection highlights the potential of upcycled and recycled materials to reduce impacts on the environment, and to aid in achieving social and economic balance.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
A collection by and for people, based on the concept of “second life”.
This collection shows the vital nature of collaborative relationships between client, designer, and craftspeople. It supports the values of inclusion, humanism, and sustainability and their commitment to produce efficient, personalized pieces that bring balance to a resilient ecosystem.
The FD• desk, the centrepiece of the collection, features traditional craftsmanship, new materials and integrated connectivity elements adapted to modern working environments.
It combines two materials in line with the idea of sustainable design: French oak recovered from old SNCF train floors and Durat®, a recycled plastic solid surface. Complies with NF EN 527-1, NF EN 527-2 Office furniture/desks.
The AU• box is made of Cradle2Cradle certified MDF and recovered oak from train floors. AU• is a box for a tidy and organized space. Individual storage guarantees the confidentiality of your personal belongings. The drawers can be customised according to users' needs and include a locking system to ensure the confidentiality of documents and personal items. Complies with NF EN 14073.
The IL• storage is a piece of furniture for individual or shared storage. It is made from Cradle2Cradle recycled MDF, reused oak wagon flooring and reused steel.
The metal belt is a nod to a timeless line but also a feature to keep its surface tidy. The sliding doors are designed to minimise the use of space and to simplify handling. Complies with NF EN 14073.
The CI• table is made from recovered steel, recycled MDF and 100% recyclable post-industrial plastics, Durat®.
These tables are characterised by their sobriety, lightness and minimalist appearance. Complies with NF EN 15372.
These furniture pieces tell the story of collaboration between people who take a stand for integrity and sustainability. The collection aims to be the answer for professionals eager to have a positive impact on the environment.
Key objectives for sustainability
Fern· office furniture is based on a dialogue between reused, recycled and organic materials to ensure that our clients receive products that are environmentally friendly and healthy for their users.
Our purpose is to reduce environmental impacts of our products by adding value to waste, optimizing product life cycles. With particular attention to textures and details, this collection characterizes the second life of unwanted materials and demonstrates how each comes together for a new purpose. We prioritized the use of C2C certified products for the first office collection whenever possible. For instance, one of the widely used material for structure, MDF, is C2C Bronze certified and we have used it for our collection.
Based on the weight of materials used, the FD desk is 65.7% recycled (MDF and Durat®) and 34.1% recovered (steel and oak) what leads us to 100% recyclability at the end of life of the desk.
On the other hand, the production is eco-designed so that each component at the end of the furniture's life is possible. We also offer our customers to dispose of their old furniture responsibly, by offering recycling, recovery or second life solutions in partnership with the recycling and recovery sectors.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Much of our life is spent in offices, so it was important for us to balance environmental criteria with the well-being of users. Besides, our goal was to create furniture that will challenge the public bias on eco-friendly products.
The collection is characterized by its timeless form and refined lines with clean and honest detailing. The warmth of oak and white finishes provide luminosity to the space. Since the materials are recycled and recovered, the products present unique pattern that cannot be replicated.
In terms of durability, each piece was tested by an external expert and received a certification of compliance with NF EN 527-1, NF EN 527-2 Office furniture/desks, NF EN 15372 - Non-domestic tables, NF EN 14073 - Office storage.
Key objectives for inclusion
Our method is based on ecodesign tools and co-design to ensure the optimal use experience.
Our potential users were interviewed and surveyed during the research stage.
The decisions were made based on the gathered information directly from the users and behaviour observation in the workspace environment.
Results in relation to category
All materials used originated across Europe and were manufactured in Spain.
We prioritized the use of C2C certified products for the first office collection whenever possible. For instance, one of the widely used material for structure, MDF, is C2C Bronze certified and we have used it for our collection.
Based on the weight of materials used, the FD desk is 65.7% recycled (MDF and Durat®) and 34.1% recovered (steel and oak) what leads us to 100% recyclability at the end of life of the desk.
How Citizens benefit
Our concern about waste pushed us to create our first ecodesigned office furniture with recovered and recycled materials. The collection aims to raise awareness about the huge potential waste can have and it doesn't have to be explicit about its past life, what can be repulsive to some users. We achieved our goal to minimize the use of raw natural materials and give second life to the waste.
In our design process we take into account the complete life cycle of the products, what allows us to anticipate and avoid negative impacts.
In addition, our aim is to help companies to comply with CSR policies, reduce emissions and comply with EU regulatory terms for built environment.
Fern's furniture collection led us to scaling up the offer. Fern by deardesign studio creates eco-responsible solutions for spaces including the furniture. Our method is based on circular model, where waste does not exist and we design for disassembly to convert the "end of life" into new opportunities. Our eco-designed solution highlights that the workspace is a powerful driver for meeting the eco-responsibility expectations of corporate stakeholders. By creating eco-responsible workspaces, the business leader acts to preserve the environment, while having a positive impact on his employees, customers and the community he serves.
Innovative character
With Fern collection we have achieved unique office furniture made of recovered and recycled materials that is durable and safe. Close collaboration with skilled wood and metal artisans allowed us to bring together the dialogue of waste, materials and techniques. Traditional craftsmanship alongside industrial processes for material optimization were combined to bring Fern collection to life.
In continuity, Fern embarks the challenges of the built environment renovations from a circularity perspective. Our commitment to the circular model allows us to create holistic solutions for spaces, combining architecture and product design. To achieve circularity, the pillars of our design approach are material selection and design for disassembly.
Fern by deardesign studio executes project with a circular design methodology to provide solutions beyond furnishing, with a lifecycle thinking approach.
