eco-chic design

chic and compostable dinnerware made from fallen palm leaves

It was great to see VerTerra’s products mixed in with reusable dinnerware at the St. Julien Hotel in Boulder during the LOHAS Forum last month. I've always loved the elegant design of the disposable plates, bowls and trays but never had a chance to use them. They are made with fallen palm leaves, steam, heat, and pressure only. You can’t get more pure than that. The idea originated during a trip to India where VerTerra’s founder Michael Dwork witnessed a local woman pressing leaves fallen from trees into plate like objects that were used to serve food. Now fallen leaves that otherwise would get burned are collected from plantations, then cleaned and pressed into contemporary looking dinnerware at local factories in India. Over 80% of the water used during the steam process is recaptured and reused. Even the waste products are powdered down into fertilizer that’s returned to the farmers who supply the leaves. I love eco-friendly products that close the loop like that. 

The results are organic looking plates and bowls that are non-toxic, biodegradable and even compostable. The great thing about being compostable is that these sustainable products will not only break down within 2 months after use in home or industrial composting but also release valuable nutrients into the soil. VerTerra’s dinnerware is intended for single-use and a green alternative to plastic and paper plates. Something that certainly comes in handy these days for eco-friendly BBQs, beach parties or rooftop gatherings.

the perfect blend of sustainable cuisine with green decor

One of the advantages of spending summer weekends in the city is that hard-to-get reservations at restaurants are available. That’s how I got a table at ABC Kitchen without reservations. And not just any table but a table made from salvaged wood since ABC Kitchen is committed to sustainable décor as much as sustainable food. All food is prepared with organic and local ingredients whenever possible. None of their produce uses pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, insecticides or GMOs and most meat, fish and dairy is locally sourced. The same commitment to sustainable cuisine can be found in their selection of beverages such as tea, coffee or wine that are organic or fair trade. The restaurant’s location close to the farmers market at Union Square doesn’t hurt either. 

The restaurant was co-created between ABC Carpet & Home with chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Phil Suarez. It perfectly fuses a pre-dominantly white and sustainable décor with seasonal produce to create a pleasantly airy atmosphere. I’ve always loved the sustainable products at ABC Home & Planet and it’s great to see them utilized in a restaurant. The food is served on handmade porcelain dinnerware by local artisan Jan Burtz. Each piece is hand-built and hand glazed. The bread baskets are handcrafted by the indigenous mapuche people of Patagonia and are part of the ABC Goodwood Collection that also includes Jim Denney’s dining table made from salvaged wood. If you happen to be in town I can highly recommend the peekytoe crab toast appetizer.

green your lunch with hand embroidered reusable snack bags

Packing my own lunch for work has been an ongoing battle for me since there’s great take-out in the city everywhere. But when I look at the statistics that almost 1/3 of waste in the US is produced through packaging there’s really no excuse. Especially if there are such cute lunch bag options as BleuRoo’s reusable snack bags with hand embroidered designs. I had discovered them on Green Depot’s website and finally bought a bird design after seeing them in person. Of course I love the fact that the outer shell is made of 100% unbleached cotton. But what really won me over was that they are really well-made with their inner liner of water and stain resistant nylon and the double stitched side seams. The velcro closure sealed the deal for me. All eco-friendly designs are hand embroidered and you can choose your own colors.

The designs for BleuRoo’s reusable snack bags include birds, stars or even customized lettering. You can choose from several different typefaces and then create your own personalized message. I’m toying between my first name or “mine” since it’s my snack after all. Or simply “bon appetit”. Please leave a comment if you have any suggestions.

nature inspired water filtration design

On my annual trip to ABC Home & Planet before the holidays I saw the stylish OVOPUR by AQUAOVO that was part of a special display about sustainable living. The contemporary egg-shaped design stuck with me since every year I make the resolution to drink more water. And the sleek design of the OVOPUR water filtration unit gives water the central role in any eco-modern home or office that it deserves. After all the average human body is about 60–70% water and needs plenty of hydration.

AQUAOVO was founded in 2007 by brother-and-sister team Manuel and Noemie Desrochers in Montreal with the goal to keep plastic water bottles out of landfills. Taking some inspiration from nature the egg-shaped design combined with the thermal properties of porcelain allows the filtered water to move freely and naturally. This movement prevents stagnation and revitalizes the water. The actual filtration happens through the multilayer AQUACRISTAL filter cartridge that removes chemicals and organic pollutants through a 4-step filtration process. It’s reusable for 4 months and 100% recyclable. OVOPUR by AQUAOVA comes in white or black lead-free glazed porcelain as a limited edition. Either one holds 11 liters of water. I love that these eco-modern water filtration units are a stylish alternative to traditionally unattractive water coolers. Plus they make it easy to stick to my resolution in green style.

modern recycled glassware

Upcoming Thanksgiving makes me realize how grateful I am for everyday things like access to clean water. That’s why I love the sustainable concept behind the tranSglass tumblers that are part of the Design w/Conscience program founded by Artecnica in 2002. The program combines modern design with the traditional craft of artisan-made goods to promote self-sustaining communities in underdeveloped countries.

In the case of the tranSglass tableware collection designers Emma Woffenden and Tord Boontje collaborated with Guatemalan craftsmen through the help of the non-profit organization Aid to Artisans. The results are these gorgeous glass vessels made from recycled post-consumer wine or beer bottles. All bottles were collected from local restaurants or recycling plants around Guatemala City then cleaned, handcut into new shapes and polished. The collection includes eco-modern vases, carafes, tumblers and candleholders in different shades of green, clear and brown with a polished or satin finish. The sleek and sustainable glass designs are perfect for modern eco-homes. It’s no surprise that the sustainable tranSglass collection is part of the permanent collection at the MoMA here in New York.

go green with your daily coffee fix

It’s much easier for me to cut my paper and plastic consumption than coffee. That’s why I love that these chic insulated mugs from Earth Lust are a stylish green alternative to take out coffee that typically comes in a paper or styrofoam cup. They are cool enough to bring to the office or the park during the summer. Just think about all the paper cups, plastic lids and cardboard cup jackets that you’ll be saving every single day if your coffee consumption is similar to mine.

The 20 oz insulated mugs or thermos come in two sleek designs that are both inspired by nature and reflect the company’s commitment to promote a green life-style. One is a simple feather design and the other one has a botanical design with the word change. It’s a great reminder to change your coffee consumption habits to reuse, refill and recharge. The double walled #304 food grade stainless thermos keep your cold drinks cool for up to 16 hours and your warm drinks hot up to 8 hours. They are consciously produced in China with fair trade and labor conditions but designed and tested in California. Both designs feature non-toxic paints and BPA-free safe polypropylene #5 caps. Now go ahead and enjoy your cup of organic, shade-grown and fair trade coffee.

celebrate summer in green style

It’s time to pop the cork and toast to summer in an eco-modern way with these recycled cork coasters by Australian company Lightly. They are part of Lightly’s dEco range of environmentally-friendly products that include recycled cork and rubber placemats as well. Earlier this year the company introduced three new botanical designs inspired by patterns in nature and  blossoming flowers: Daphne Daffodil, Dahlia Daisy and Eco-sphere. All designs come in red, white, black and green. As a big fan of turning waste into something useful I was glad to discover that they are made from 100% recycled cork and rubber gathered from Australian wineries. They are heat resistant and perfect for indoor or outdoor entertaining.

What I love about the Eco-sphere Placemat/Coaster design is the playful approach to dining. The coasters pop out of the center of the placemats allowing you to mix and match colors. It’s a fun way to entertain guests and makes setting a table more creative. In addition to the brighter colors they also come in the three natural colorways tan, Van Dyke brown and slate black. The designer behind these modern eco-designs is Melbourne based Cindy-Lee Davies who launched her company in 2005. I was introduced to her work through Design Abroad, which represents other great eco-conscious designs here in the US like the Electric Firefly lightshades.

meet Ben the recycling bin

Recycling should be fun and Ben the Bin from reestore definitely makes it look that way. Let Ben open your old shopping bags for you to separate paper, plastic, or glass from aluminum. The obvious question is: why would you want to use plastic bags to begin with? We all know how bad they are for the environment. But let’s face it: even that I always carry a reusable shopping bag those nasty plastic bags seem to sneak their way into my home once in a while. At least with Ben the Bin I can reuse them.

Ben the Bin is manufactured from 100% recycled polypropylene and comes in blue, pink and green. Kudos to the designer since it’s hard to find a modern recycling bin made of recycled material. It’s perfect for small studios with its space saving and stackable design. The bright colors and cheeky look make Ben great for teaching kids that recycling can be enjoyable. UK product designer Max McMurdo founded reestore in 2002 while still designing cars in Cologne, Germany. His goal is to design environmental products that don’t compromise style, quality or desirability. The company now based in England sells contemporary eco design products that reclaim and recycle discarded products in a stylish way. Max is able to turn a washing machine drum into the modern lamp Silvana or an aeroplane wing into the futuristic looking table Deborah. You can watch him explain the eco-ness of Ben the Bin to the tough judges of the British show Dragons’ Den. It’s quite entertaining.

a modern take on sustainable Italian cuisine

Instead of just recycling kitchen waste you can now even recycle your kitchen design thanks to the new base unit system INVITRUM by Valcucine. Its structure is made of drawn, recycled aluminium that requires only 5% of the energy needed to obtain primary aluminium. You can recycle 100% of the unit through the exclusive use of glass. It’s easy to assemble and disassemble while eliminating glue and formaldehyde emissions. Valcucine’s philosophy of dematerialization takes shape in the replacement of traditional double side panels with single 10mm glass panels. And yes, the design is as gorgeous and sleek as you would expect it from the Italian kitchen maker.

I’ve always loved Valcucine’s stylish designs ranging from their Free Play kitchen that can double as a workspace to the Hability kitchen that’s wheelchair-accessible. Valcucine supports Bioforest, an organization that’s committed to environmental preservation.

a recycling bin that’s actually recycled

Currently I’m researching recycling bins with three compartments made of eco-friendly materials for my own kitchenette. To my big surprise there are many great, modern designs out there but most are made out of plastic. How come trash bins that are designed to sort your recyclables are not recyclable themselves? That doesn’t make any sense. 

Hence I was really glad to discover the Ovetto Recycling Bin designed by Italian architect, designer and art director Gianluca Soldi. The look is very organic yet futuristic with its egg-shaped design. Best of all it’s made from recycled polypropylene. The recycling bin has three compartments and a central bottle and can crusher to compress the waste. It’s also great for small spaces or even corners since the design rotates around its central axis. It comes in white (made from 40% – 70% recycled plastic), black (made from 100% recycled plastic) and color. It’s perfect for modern homes or offices that want to make a future forward statement about their green commitment. Unfortunately the Ovetto is a bit too modern for my current home even that I love the design. Please let me know if you know of other modern eco-designs for recycling bins preferably for small spaces.