I stopped by seeking 'Green' designs at the 20th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair held May 17-18 in NYC. The ICFF is the largest furniture fair in North America that exhibits exclusively contemporary designs. Amazed by the vast display, I wandered throughout the more than 600 exhibitors' booths from 38 countries which showcased fascinating products and innovative materials.

I was very happy to see the Sustainable Furniture Council represented at one of the booths. This non-profit organization promotes ecologically and socially responsible practices within the home furnishings industry. One new member, Animavi, just launched its line at ICFF. Lisa Russell, Director of Sustainable Design Services, stated that her company 'demonstrates that even the little guy can do it. From day one, sustainability has been on equal footing with good design.' Animavi products have GreenGuard certification, which rates furniture as having no off-gassing after final assembly. They use soy-based foam cushioning, wool that is free of formaldehyde and free of heavy metals from the dying process. The leathers used are vegetable-tanned and also heavy metal-free. One material used is ecoresin, which has 40% post industrial recycled content, and a reclamation program. Animavi also uses North American steel that has a minimum 25% recycled content.

Exhibitor Nature's Legacy, is an eco-friendly home and garden products provider. Pete Delanter, president of NaturesCast - a product manufactured by this company, explained his unusual source for materials and inspiration. Pete Delanter is from an area in the Philippines where there is seasonal clean up of forest scraps such as dead twigs, barks and leaves. These efforts are for clearing the roads and also preventing forest fires. Traditionally the gathered materials have been burned. However, Pete's wife Catherine Delanter, currently NaturesCast Vice President for Administration and Strategy, had the idea that these materials could be used as a resource for the company's designs. The Delanters worked with designers and technical staff at Nature's Legacy, finding a way to shape these forest materials into furniture, planters and vases using an odorless, water based binder. “

Some booths represented material resources. One example was Plyboo, a brand of bamboo products used for making interior surfaces for cabinetry, flooring and furniture which has just been granted FSC certification. A Plyboo spokesperson explained that the product is free of disruption to the eco system as it is free of pesticides, clear cuts, irrigation, fertilization and formaldehyde. The bamboo forests that Plyboo comes from completely regenerate themselves in 5-6 years, with poles reaching maturity at about 64 feet in height.

Presented by Material ConneXion, “Sustainable Materials for a Better World”, was 'an introduction to more than sixty innovative materials', stated Sarah Natkins, Director of Marketing and Communications. A resource for material innovations and solutions, with its library of over 4,500 materials, the company, 'advises Fortune 500’s, smaller forward-thinking companies and government agencies seeking a creative or competitive edge through strategic material selections.' Materials shown at their ICFF booth were there because of characteristics such as being biodegradable, recyclable, efficient, light weight, durable, nontoxic, and being made from resources that are easily renewable.

One contingent of the ICFF was the designboom, a display of products such as accessories and jewelry that could be purchased as souvenirs for $10 to $100. Selling their work also allowed smaller, emerging designers to be a part of ICFF. My favorite designboom exhibitor was Re-silicone, by Lucy Fergus from the UK. I fell in love with the soft, stretchy silicone bracelets at ICFF, but there are also lighting and rug designs in her collection. I asked about Lucy's source for the silicone. It turns out that during art school she had worked at a silicone factory. There, she came across a 'fantastic waste supply. Fresh, exciting ideas came with each new batch of the material.' Stated Lucy, also commenting, 'The only by-product of silicone manufacturing at my supplier is steam.'
 
I feel that Lucy's experience with the 'element of unpredictability' in her work that comes from using discarded materials, and celebrating the 'concept of waste and re-use to inform the design process'is representational, not only of many exhibitors whose work I saw at ICFF, but of artists and designers all over the world, working towards exploring responsible ways to create without sacrificing the quality of their work.

Though many companies at the ICFF this year were far from 'Green,' I was greatly encouraged by the presence of exhibitors who were stong proponents of sustainability, and look forward to seeing many more environmentally concious exhibitors at next year's show!