Plant Power!

Plants are the new design fuel: discover the names to know to finish and furnish your home as a plant-powered paradise

Under the banner of sustainability, we've seen organic cotton, hemp, linen and even cloth made from bamboo take over the fashion catwalks. Now, waving the eco-friendly — as well as cruelty-free — flag, are a wealth of new ‘bio fabricated’ ways to finish and furnish your home. And I don’t just mean feather-free cushions and soy wax candles. 

I’m talking about a new mode of making which uses what would ordinarily be thrown away. Think waste made wonderful. Materials that look like leather, can be sculpted like stone, or squish like feathers, but are made from cacti and apple cores, tea waste and recycled plastic bottles, even used tea leaves!

It’s also an industry on track to make some serious money: vegan ‘leather’ alone is reported to be worth over £61m ($85m) by 2025. Add in constantly evolving ways to recycle and reuse and it happily points the way to more care considered consumerism. After all, according to a 2020 World Economic Forum survey of 21,000 people from 28 different countries, 86% want more responsible, ethical and environmentally-friendly sourcing in all aspects of their lives.

So, whatever your dietary choices, this is the future for chemical-free, healthy (for planet as well as people), kinder homes.

Here’s the top plant-power materials you need to know…