In a world where sustainability and style are becoming increasingly intertwined, and the demand for sustainable solutions gets louder, ‘Ekbacken Studios’ is at the forefront of a movement that champions a better future through design innovation. ‘Ekbacken Studios’ brings us innovation and sustainability by catering to individuals who demand both bold design and eco-conscious choices, harnessing the latest in 3D printing technology by turning unwanted waste into masterpiece furniture, in an effort to help keep our oceans clean. Ekbacken Studios was founded in 2022 by a team with the vision of creating furniture that was strikingly beautiful and completely sustainable. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge 3D printing technology, they are transforming fishing nets that are no longer viable into striking pieces of furniture. The fishing industry generates an alarming 50% of ocean waste: the environmental impact of discarded fishing nets, which often find their way into our oceans, wreak havoc on our marine ecosystems. The visionary minds at Ekbacken Studios have taken an inspiring step forward on the path to reversing this trend: they redefined luxury by turning old fishing nets into masterpiece 3D printed furniture. Each piece of Ekbacken Studio’s 3D printed furniture tells a story of innovation and environmental impact management, so product names and designs link back to the oceans that the team are so acutely aware need protection.
The nets are initially collected from fishermen in Portugal, nets that are no longer in use or cannot be repaired: thanks to Ekbacken Studios’ initiative these fishing nets do not end up in the ocean, but are cleaned and sorted by colour and eventually ground down and mixed with a form of stone powder that makes the material stronger. The 3D printing happens in Sweden, but Ekbacken have plans to create production hubs all over the world to ensure production remains as close to the customer as possible. Using a recycled material brings with it its own set of challenges, as the material can come with defects and the team must weigh up what type and how large of a defect can be accepted. The benefits are obvious, from saving emissions for the climate, to grinding the material down and using it again for something new if it doesn’t meet the standards the team have set. This is part of Ekbacken Studios’ sustainable business model: their products are designed to last a lifetime, but if, for whatever reason, you have decided that the life of your product has come to an end Ekbacken will buy it back and turn it into something new. It’s an example of ‘circular life of design’. Ekbacken’s designs are bold and adventurous but 3D furniture printing is not without limitations: for example, sharp angles or corners cannot be created, so they take these limitations and use them to their advantage. The strong lines of the ‘Eel lounge chair‘ and the undulating curves of the ‘Anemone coffee table‘ make these limitations feel like an intentional design choice, creating a design language that is as daring and eye catching as it is sustainable. The 3D printed furniture challenges conventional design norms, inviting customers to embrace bold choices that harmonise with their eco-friendly values. Also, the code for each piece of furniture can only be used one time, making each piece well and truly one of a kind.
Read more on Nordicnest.com and on Ekbackenstudios.com
3D furniture printing is a unique approach to a modern problem, pushing the boundaries of what we know and understand about furniture design: pushing the boundaries of what is possible is second nature to Ekbacken Studios.
