The WU Series is a range of mosiac-style stools designed by the team at BENTU Design. It boasts a distinctive artful look which also boasts a sustainable process. The company knows that about 20 billion pairs of shoes are produced at a yearly rate and about half of that amount will sooner or later end up in landfills.
Footwear is often made with half a dozen synthetic materials specifically the outsoles crafted from rubber, which takes hundreds of years to decompose. The WU series tackles that issue as 90% of the stool's raw materials are made using recycled rubber shoe materials. Due to this process, the colors create a visual mosaic similar to a terrazzo effect.
Discarded Shoe-Created Stools
The WU Series by BENTU Design is a Sustainable Alternative
Trend Themes
1. Recycled-material Furniture - This trend involves creating high-design furniture items using repurposed materials, characterized by eco-conscious and artistic aesthetics.
2. Waste-to-product Innovation - Companies are discovering innovative ways to transform waste, like discarded shoes, into valuable consumer products, reducing environmental impact.
3. Sustainable Design - Designers are increasingly focused on sustainability by integrating recycled materials into their designs and emphasizing long-term usability.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Industry - The furniture industry can greatly benefit from sustainable practices and materials, creating eco-friendly and stylish products that appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
2. Footwear Manufacturing - Footwear manufacturers face increased pressure to address the environmental impact of shoe disposal, driving innovation in material reuse and recycling.
3. Sustainable Manufacturing - Manufacturers across various sectors are adopting sustainable practices, repurposing waste materials into new products to reduce their ecological footprint.