The Sustainable Design Book
Tsukumogami
Tsukumogami is the collective name given to a type of Japanese spirit, which are haunted household objects. It is believed that objects mistreated by their previous owners become vengeful and cause havoc for their current owner. If a household object exists, there is likely to be a Tsukumogami version of it...
Is IKEA sustainable?
In 2020, IKEA released its ‘People & Planet Positive’ roadmap, a document outlining their objectives for 2020. One of the objectives in the report include sourcing 100% of its wood, paper and cardboard from more sustainable sources. These materials will then be defined as recycled or FSC certified wood. The company also promises that 90% of their products will be more sustainable with substantiated environmental improvements. In addition, the report briefly talks about IKEA as a global business producing as much renewable energy as it consumes. As a whole, they are working towards sourcing only renewable, recyclable or recycled materials. IKEA released a documentary in 2017 detailing their sustainability and where they source their materials.
Richard Hamilton
However, there are some beliefs and reasons to believe that IKEA is killing the planet due to their heavy involvement in fast furniture. Fast furniture refers to furnishings which are impulsively made and cheaply in order to keep up with current trends. A big brand like IKEA is a major proponent of fast furniture such as Boohoo are for fast fashion. Today, furniture is no longer seen as an investment for future generations like it once was; instead it is viewed as a throwaway commodity. In order to keep up with consumer demand, furniture is created from cheap and harmful materials or illegally sourced timber. In addition, they are all processed using wasteful and polluting factory techniques. As a result of being built cheap, they are not designed to last, hard to recycle or sell on and most likely ends up in landfill. If IKEA’s claims to being sustainable and eco-friendly are false, each and every pice of furniture they make is detrimental to the environment and to our planet.
Richard Hamilton was an English artist known for his collage and Pop Art style. During the mid - 1960's, he became friendly with Paul McCartney and as a result produced the cover art for The Beatles' White Album' (1968). What inspired me most about his work is the vast range of colours used; each piece has a sense of originality and a new persona hence why he became so popular. Going forward in the project, I intend on using the same type of collage style with the pieces of furniture I make. If the exhibition does not take place, I have an idea which revolves around me cutting and sticking my furniture into various different interior design spaces.
Forest & Maker
Forest & Maker began as two friends handcrafting pieces of furniture in their spare time, the company has now become an award winning workshop filled with passionate people who have utter most respect and love for craft and nature. Their main belief is that furniture made from sustainable, certified and natural timber can have huge positive impacts on our physical and mental health. Another reason I am fascinated by what this company makes and does is down to the fact that they hand pick the timber they use, which shows us that they deeply care about the environment and forests near them. I hope to continue with my passion for furniture in this project by creating sustaimable anmd eco-friendly furniture just like Forest & Makers do.