6 tips for experimenting with ecological design

Ecological design, or eco design, has developed in recent years in the face of environmental challenges. Characterized by the use of natural materials, recyclable or from sustainable materials, it is betting on combining the beautiful, the useful and the responsible. We thus see the appearance of a range of industrial products manufactured locally and in compliance with working conditions.

Do you want to participate in this trend? To get useful and aesthetic objects while limiting your environmental impact? Follow our 6 tips for experimenting with ecological design!

1 - Stop overconsuming

With ecological design, and more specifically ecodesign , environmental protection is integrated throughout the product life cycle , from design to end of life. More and more designers and major brands say they are ready to consider this environmental approach on key pieces in their collection.

However, the current model remains volume-based. The design market is partly responsible for deforestation, with invasive production methods and often non-existent recycling solutions. As consumers, we have the power to act for sustainable development, by avoiding over-consumption and by choosing sustainable and eco-responsible objects .

2 - Ecological design: favoring wood

Wood is the preferred natural resource of ecological design. For your decoration or your everyday objects, choose wood that is biodegradable or from sustainably managed forests . Opt for example for oak or chestnut, which undergo less treatment than other species. Bamboo is also environmentally friendly : with its rapid growth, it is exploited without jeopardizing its ecosystem. Avoid exotic woods, which contribute to the scarcity of certain species such as eucalyptus.

For the design of the Potager Liv , we chose a compact laminate , produced very locally based on sheets of paper. Suitable for intensive use and humidity, it benefits from Ecolabels and has not undergone any polluting treatment.

3 - Choose natural floor and wall coverings

Are you renovating your apartment? It's not always easy to choose coatings with a low ecological impact . For the walls, we recommend a natural pigment-based paint or a lime plaster , biodegradable, with anti-bacterial properties. You can also fall for a tapestry made of linen , more expensive, but also more resistant.

On the floor side, some linoleums, made of linseed oil, cork, wood and colored pigments, are produced in an ecological way . Plant fiber floors such as coconut, sisal and seagrass can also be considered to bring nature into your home. To support you in your renovation project, do not hesitate to call on an architect , who will be able to advise you on the most environmentally friendly materials .

4 - Avoid plastic

According to the 10FactsPlastic study , global plastic production has grown exponentially, from 2.3 million tonnes in 1950 to 162 million in 1993 and 448 million in 2015. Disposable and non-recycled plastics are a scourge for the world. environment .

Manufacturers and researchers have experimented in recent years with many alternatives to plastic : the vitrification of wastewater treatment residues, recycled carbon fibers, waste recovered from the oceans, vegetable plastics, leather made from apples... However, none have managed to reproduce the advantages of plastic, hygienic and functional .

5 - Test the second hand and upcycling

Experimenting with ecological design also means testing the second hand . In France, the circular economy market is booming, for ecological reasons, but also budgetary. For certain pieces of your decoration, do not hesitate to hunt for furniture or durable objects, steeped in history.

Upcycling , or “surcyclage” in French, is also popular in interior decoration. This trend consists of recovering materials or products that are no longer needed to give them a second life and transform them into superior quality products. We can thus recycle a bathtub into a sofa, an advertising tarpaulin into a travel bag or a trunk into a coffee table!

6 - Turn to made in France for ecological design

Ecological design is above all a sustainable design , which meets quality requirements. Made in France guarantees you the know-how of French craftsmen and industrialists and the durability of the products . By turning to French manufacturing, you favor the short circuit, and therefore limit the carbon impact of your purchase. You promote job creation and respect for labor law.

Le Potager Liv is a fine example of ecological design made in France . Designed locally with sustainable and recycled raw materials, it takes into account the preservation of natural resources with its low water consumption and its compostable clods. Your fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs are grown directly at home, without pesticides, without transport . You avoid packaging and waste!