Cardboard Future Ltd recently launched the world’s first fully-specified mass production workstation made entirely of cardboard. The Paperweight Desk was designed by Mary Dorrington Ward and engineered by Pat Doyle. It is manufactured in the UK from 76% recycled paper and it is 100% recyclable.  Measuring 1500mm x 750mm it is built to meet European legislation for strength and stability and can take up to 100kg. It is the first of a series of cardboard furniture products to be launched by Cardboard Future over the next 12 months.

The specially made corrugated board is coated with a highly water-resistant cellulose varnish and can be assembled in just a few minutes.  It comes complete with full cable management and the adjustable legs can be positioned inset or outset.

No screws, staples, glues or tools are required for assembly and the desk comes with a 12-month warranty. The product is currently available in pure white, a palate of standard colours will soon be available and customers will also be able to specify their own colours or designs.

Cardboard Future is working towards creating a true ‘cradle to cradle’ product for clients whereby all of the materials in the product are contained within a closed loop manufacturing system. Clients can already buy into the cradle to cradle service by leasing the products for as long as needed and are guaranteed 100% reuse of these materials into new products.

Full details of the company and the product are on www.cardboardfuture.com

Statistics from European Environment Agency – www.eea.europa.eu

Report on paper recycling see – EEA Technical report No 5/2006, Paper and cardboard — recovery or disposal? Review of life cycle assessment and cost-benefit analysis on the recovery and disposal of paper and cardboard, ISSN 1725-2237

The production of paper impacts the environment on several levels such as the use of wood, fresh water, the use of energy, waste water and the management of the paper ‘waste’. In Germany 70 per cent of all paper produced is recycled and recycled paper is also used widely in the production of wallpaper. In Germany alone 80 million roles of wall paper are produced every year.

The use of recycled paper reduces the consumption of primary wood fibres and protects forests and wildlife habitat. It also reduces the use of primary fossil energy as the key driver of climate change.  

The primary wood fibres used in the production process should come from sustainable sources. Two labels indicate the use of sustainable woods: FSC and PEFC. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) were both founded in the 1990s and they not only guarantee social responsibility in manufacturing but also the minimisation of the negative impact on climate and biodiversity. 

High quality wallpapers with long lifecycles make ecological sense as they can be redecorated when faded or the colour is out of fashion. It reduces the use of new wallpaper, saves resources and avoids ‘waste’.

MissPrint launched its Dandelion wallpaper at 100% Design in London last year. All MissPrint products are produced in the most environmentally friendly way wherever possible. The complete wallpaper range is PEFC certified, it is printed with organic pigment inks, which are non-toxic, free of heavy metals and classed as non-carcinogenic. In addition to being beautifully designed, each of the products sold by MissPrint also helps preserve the planet.

www.missprint.co.uk

For sustainable wood sources please see www.fsc-uk.org and www.pefc.co.uk .