Sustainability at the Salone 2025: an increasingly systemic approach

The Jannelli & Volpi brand also has a “Sustainability Project”.  In this charter, the optimization and monitoring of its production processes includes methods ranging from the eco-friendly management of raw materials and the progressive reduction of waste to its energy and water consumption and the use of natural inks for its wallpapers. There is no shortage of ambitions for the future, which as we know need long implementation times. The company is already working on the launch of PVC FREE and Phthalate FREE products, as well as replacing plastic packaging with biodegradable packaging.

The same systemic vision has also been adopted by S•cab. On the production side, the Comaglio-based company has reduced the use of fossil fuels through its photovoltaic system and energy efficiency strategies, and is already studying how to balance its CO2 emissions. Then it is exploring circular production methods. Each product is designed to ensure it can be disposed of with dismantlable components and recycled and recyclable materials. In the 2025 collection, the seat and back of the SI SI Vibes chair by Meneghello Paolelli are made from regenerated and certified plastic whose texture is inspired by the fluid and harmonious movements of sound waves. The Brezza Relax outdoor seat, by Alessandro Stabile, stands out like the whole Brezza line of recent years for its removable covers, so as to extend its life cycle. 

Still on the subject of new products, the German brand Brühl & Sippold – a zero-carbon manufacturer since 2017 – presented two new products at the Salone del Mobile.Milano: All Together and Bongo Bay Lounge. These ensure the quality of the padding and upholstery and the potential for personalization offered by modularity as ways to keep the product up-to-date and comfortable.  

The choice of high quality materials and components is also made by the Japanese lighting brand Ambientec, present at the latest edition of Euroluce. In addition, it features the use of interchangeable, easily repairable and recyclable parts. The Spanish brand Resol, which at the Salone also presented the expansion of its Baobab line of outdoor chairs and tables, has said goodbye to green plastic and is committing itself with the Green Thinking project to the exclusive use of post-consumer plastics. 

In the field of interior fabrics, there are many businesses that stand out for their eco-sensibility. A company specializing in the production of high-end jacquard fabrics, L’Opificio presented two new collections at the Salone developed in collaboration with Elisa Passino and Daniela Pinotti with STUDIOTAMAT. Featuring a deep and careful use of color, the fabrics are produced by methods having a low environmental impact so as to ensure durability and safety in the public and hospitality spaces where they are used. The R&B collection from Warli, a brand founded by Paolo Zani in 1998 in the contemporary carpet sector, gives a new face to a material that is only seemingly destined to end up as landfill. For every square meter of carpet, the company removes about 100 PET bottles from the environment (meaning the sea, cities and fields), offering the end consumer a 100% recycled bathroom and kitchen carpet, washable, stain-resistant and with a non-slip finish. The German furniture brand ClassiCon, which owns the rights for the production and distribution of many of Eileen Gray’s projects, launched the carpets this year. Produced in the Himalayas, for their raw material they use nettles, a native plant with particularly iridescent chromatic qualities, making the use of renewable raw materials and quality craftsmanship their showpiece to help revive the local economy. 

The young talents of the Salone Satellite likewise confirm the strong sensitivity of the new generations to environmental issues. Try to find a young designer who doesn’t aim to create a durable product, capable of performing its function and emanating its charm for decades. The difference, however, is also made by the technologies used. At the SaloneSatellite the Japanese brand SEKISAI presented a 3D printing technology capable of combining modeling and coloring in a single process, so expanding the production potential while reducing costs and environmental impact. The Norwegian studio Simo Lahtinen is also exploring the issue of longevity. In addition to materials and processes, Lahtinen – which presented its latest collection at the Satellite, with pieces such as the Kehikko chair, the lamps in the Pivot line, the Orbit tray and the Tre bench – insists on a central issue, that of longevity, namely “the importance of creating products that not only last a long time, but also maintain their relevance and charm over time”. They achieve this through evolutionary properties that are resilient, durable in construction techniques and the use of quality materials. And, last but not least, thanks to an aura of beauty and their ability to renew the emotional bond with their users.