What is your definition for ‘waste'?
We see waste as a resource for raw materials that we can use for our products. Does waste really exist if we can reuse it? The problem now is that, for example, in The Netherlands, there are 135 million kilograms of textile waste every year and only 1% will be recycled. As long as we continue to create waste instead of reusing it, the earth will be filled with unnecessarily textile overstock.
How does Planq engage with sustainability?
We conducted a study about how we could transform waste materials into valuable products. From this study, we could conclude that next to biodegrade products, such as flax and jute bags, we could also create products from sources of waste, like denim. We managed to create a non-woven material from jeans which are then pressed into veneer which we call PlanqTextile. We use the PlanqTextile for the seating of our chairs, for tabletops, and our cubic shelving systems.
Your motto says ''Let honest materials speak through timeless designs’'. I’d love to know more about your honest materials...
The fact that we have created our own PlanqTextile makes our products more honest. Besides, the wood we use is FSC certificated, which means that the wood is from sustainably managed forests.
Sustainable choices and businesses require courage, and some sacrifice too, what are yours?
Due to Covid-19, we wanted to focus more on the consumer, and therefore we are building an online store. However, many retail companies trigger potential consumers with, for example, discounts. But we think that discounts and sustainable products don’t go well together. Also, the process to create sustainable furniture takes much longer, and is therefore, relatively more expensive. It is thus important to create high-end products to encourage ordinary consumers to buy our products.
Tell us about your personal relationship with nature?
And how do you transform it’s teachings into your work and design process?
Nowadays, you can’t avoid the news about how the earth is filled with waste and that we should change it now. Such news articles or documentaries make us more aware to try to create a better tomorrow. Of course, we are not perfect, but we think every little bit count.
How do you see the post-COVID consumer; are they more actively engaged in sustainability? Do you think there is a growing awareness on environmental impact of choices they make?
Pre-corona we focused more on the business market, however, we noticed that probably due to COVID-19 people got more aware regarding sustainability. We think that ordinary consumers realize that not only multinationals are responsible for sustainability but the individual too. So yes, they are more actively engaged in sustainability and there is a growing awareness of the environmental impact of choice they make.
How is your consumption behaviors as a responsible citizen, in your ordinary personal life?
We try not to throw clothes away very quickly and not to buy at the fast fashion stores. Also, regarding furniture for our own home we try to buy second-hand.
Tell me something to inspire the readers, to become more aware and live consciously?
It is important that individuals need to realize that, for example, the fast fashion causes a lot of waste, which eventually get burned. But why are we still burning it, while we can reuse it or create new things from it. Therefore, we create unexpected and sophisticated furniture from waste materials. Sustainable products doesn’t have to be boring!