FRITZ HAEG If you feel that we’ve paved paradise, this may be for you. The Edible Estates book describes how we can ‘eat our cities’ by transforming featureless lawns into productive oases. Not only sprouting the seeds of biodiversity, a garden in front of every house transforms a community by encouraging exchange and neighbourly action.
BOMBARDIER One of the oldest forms of mass transport, trains are such a good idea that they’re making a return journey into our lives. And, as Bombardier shows, they’re coming back quieter, sleeker and smarter and energy efficient. The train is a solution from the past that’s providing a great idea for the future.
BIOMEGA For pure ‘head turning’ appeal, the bike has long been overtaken by the car. But now with Biomega, the race is on again. Designed with style and performance in mind, the Biomega range of bicycles are not only turning heads but over-turning perceptions. ‘Biomega proves that, for 21st Century urban transportation, two wheels can keep pace with four.
3XN Materials, from being something to design with, have become something you actively design. 3XN put a little knowhow into Showhow by presenting one of their many experiments in new materials – a new organic compound that combines cork, hay, corn and soya beans. It’s just one of the many recipes for a sustainable future that are coming our way.
IDEA OF A TREE How would it be to manufacture within natural cycles rather than outside of them? ‘The idea of a tree’ provides the answer. Powered by the sun, the intensity of the sunshine determines the size and appearance of the finished object. Each item is unique, just like the products of nature. Combing mechanical and natural processes in this way is the freshest of 21st Century thinking, and plants a seed that may make us rethink mass production forever.
ILLUMINATI II It’s cool to wear your principles on your skin but maybe not on your sleeve. Made form certified organic fair-trade cotton. Illuminati II fabrics are used by leading fashion brands around the world – including the company’s own ‘Noir’ and ‘Black Noir’ labels. This is sustainable fashion that aims to seduce your aesthetic sense as much as your conscience, demonstrating that doing good while looking good is a match made in couture heaven.
SORT OF COAL If we’re looking for sustainable answers, it’s not always necessary to devise new materials and processes. This product from Sort of Coal updates a traditional Japanese technique. Producing ‘white charcoal’ by taking wood from trees that continue to grow after harvesting creates a renewable resource that captures and stores carbon. With great presentation and a sustainable business model, Sort of Coal is the sort of company that we’ll be seeing more of.
NIKE Taking a sustainable approach to performance footwear, Nike ingeniously designed a new basketball shoe made from manufacturing waste. The Nike ‘Trash Talk’ is not only environmentally friendly, it also meets the stringent on-court performance requirements. The result of Nike’s ‘considered’ ethos that challenges designers to use innovation to help reduce overall environmental impact, Trash Talk is a slam dunk of a good idea.
FREITAG Made from recycled materials – old truck tarpaulin, a car seatbelt and a tire inner-tube – Freitag is a success story that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Established with the simple desire for the perfect messenger bag, the company has grown into a hip global business that shows the potential of sustainable business. And they’re more than happy for others to recycle their ethos.
I DO 30 Even a small change, if enough people do it, can make a big difference. That’s the idea behind the ‘I DO 30’ campaign, which recommends that we wash our clothes at 30 degrees. Turning down the dial a notch or two will help keep your conscience whiter than white.
HARRY VRS LARRY Unless you’re familiar with the Copenhagen bike paths, you might not know the feeling of being stuck behind a wide cargo bike. This concept from Harry vrs Larry takes the opposition out of cycle rush hour. It’s sleek and narrow design means it’s keeping to its half of the bike path. But, with a name like the ‘Bullet’, perhaps you won’t be needing to overtake after all.