eco-chic design

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.

for green dinner parties

It’s nice to know that spring is in full bloom on the other side of the globe, since it’s my favorite season. No wonder I’m a huge fan of Australia’s new blossom creations line designed by Erin Corvisy.  

She started her company out of a love for design combined with her passion for the environment. Her products range from notebooks and stationary made out of 100% post consumer recycled paper printed with soy ink to kitchen and table accessories made out of 100% hemp printed with water based solvent-free ink. I especially love her colorful table napkins and placemats with beautifully designed patterns inspired by sprigs, branches or figs. They would make any eco-host or hostess proud. And if you’re feeling really brave to bake your first pie for fall you might want to check out her cool aprons too.

modern tea leaves reading

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea, that in some cultures people practice reading tea leaves to predict their future.

Joey Roth's Sorapot has a new take on looking at tea leaves by letting the viewer watch their unfurling in the glass cylinder while water is turned into tea. This is quite beautiful to watch and I’m not even a tea drinker. It’s no surprise that Joey Roth wanted to be a storyteller before becoming an industrial designer.

The actual design of Sorapot looks more like a sculpture than a pot and its glass and metal parts are fully recyclable. This high-tech looking product stands in a stark contrast to the low-tech packaging, which is made out of post-consumer recycled cardboard and molded pulp. That’s the same material being used for egg cartons. This juxtaposition makes me appreciate the product even more. Who knows, Sorapot might be a peek into the future of modern tea making after all.

seaside living

In today’s real estate market the Riverside Design Group’s seaglass collection is probably the closest I’ll ever get to living close to the sea. The design of the collection is inspired by the look and feel of sea glass that has been shaped by ocean waves which looks stunning with its translucent effect. They are handcrafted of post-industrial/pre-consumer recycled glass and come in many shapes and colors that seem to be inspired by the ocean as well.

The plates, bowls, and platters come in 10 different shapes and sizes ranging from round, square to freeform. You can choose from more monochromatic color schemes like charcoal, pearl or copper to really bright and poppy ones like citron, red or blue. The possibilities are endless. I love the mix and match effect and my personal favorites are the more muted colors. To me they are the epitome of stylish green living.  But best of all everything is dishwasher and microwave safe.

good clean fun

To be honest I’m not much of a cook these days so that I don’t have much cleaning to do but these beautifully designed cleaning products caught my eye. The packaging is fun, clean, and colorful plus all twist products are eco-conscious.

Twist is a Colorado based company that believes in a cleaner world on many different levels. The owners Brian Ross and Egil Wigert ventured out in 2006 to develop a better, more eco-friendly line of cleaning products which are the Loofah Sponge, the Euro Sponge, and the Euro Cloth (a reusable product that does the work of 17 rolls of paper towels). The products are biodegradable and made in a Mexican plant that reuses 99.97 percent of all waste.

An added bonus to the modern looking packaging is that it can be transformed into a small birdfeeder. It’s probably more of a gimmick than practical, but I do like the thinking behind it. Especially since the packaging is recyclable.