THE STOOL - NO TIME TO WASTE is a unique collaboration among companies in design, furniture production, and environmental science. It showcase 13 distinct designs of the same basic stool, each crafted from waste materials to minimize our environmental footprint.

From leftover fabrics to upcycled carpets and wood, every waste material has been used to create beautiful, functional and playful stool designs.

Collaboration in the Design industry

This project embodies THE UPCYCL's spirit, applauding design companies that are typically competitors in the furniture industry but now come together with a shared desire and profound curiosity: to experiment with waste materials, learn from one another, and collectively expand our knowledge. We aspire to inspire you.

Collaboration is the path to responsible solutions. The furniture industry must evolve and reduce global waste. Through this co-creation, we aim to inspire reflection in design, production, and consumption, fostering a more circular approach.

Design Transparency

At the heart of THE STOOL-project lies a pivotal goal: measuring the CO₂ equivalents of each of the 13 stools. This enables us to assess the climate impact of the materials used in each design, facilitating comparisons between CO₂-e measurements. Discover how choosing upcycled materials over virgin ones can significantly reduce environmental impact. We firmly believe that by offering this transparency, we can encourage more sustainable practices within the furniture industry and help consumers to make informed choices.

The co-creators

THE UPCYCL, Kvist Industries, Wedowood, Mumutane, Sofacompany, Målbar, Warm Nordic, Paper Paste Living

The project idea and collaboration was initiated through the Circular Furniture Network & Circular Furniture Days. 

A huge thank you to our collaborators for making it possible: Kvadrat, Waiting for monday, AB vandskæring, Stål & Form, and Foreningen Maker.

THE STOOL Experienced

The exhibition can be explored at the Danish Architecture Center from June 6 until October 29. 

THE STOOL was showcased during three days of design in the garden of the Design Museum Denmark at Bredgade 68.

THE STOOL's

#1 - 10 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: The Naked Truth with colours

Material: Upcycled pine wood made from scrap wood from Danish timber factories, treated with linseed oil.

The Naked truth stool is the foundation for all the other versions. Please read the direct climate impact on each stool in every material used.

Pine wood is known for its durability and flexibility - and loved for its highly aesthetic appeal. By using the scrap wood from other productions and turning it into furniture like these stools, we’ll use its natural beauty and minimize the need for unnecessary wood production.

#2 - 34 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: Not just another stool

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool with a marble top made from waste from tabletop production, treated with linseed oil.

Provided with a thick marble top the stool is now a side table, a night table, or a small piece of furniture, both decorative and practical. Carry it with you in your home – or bring it outside to your balcony or terrace. The pink pine wood and the neat veins in the heavy marble create an interesting expression crammed with contrast. Also, use the stool as seating. The marble top is not affixed.

#3 - 36 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: Our Nordic Nature

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool with a patchwork cushion made of fabric waste from the textile industry. Treated with linseed oil.

A pine wood stool with many functions. The patchwork design is inspired entirely by the shapes of the fabric waste to eliminate any waste. The cushion core is made from waste material from rugs production pulverised and pressed again into thin plates and cut with high pressure stream of water. Furthermore, the core is wadded with recycled polyester fibres. The Nordic nature coloured fabric is woven from recycled polyester. 

#4 - 19 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: What a waste!

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool with a Corian top made from countertop cut-offs from the kitchen industry, treated with linseed oil.

We’ve made a beautiful coffee table out of cut-offs incorporating different Corian colours creating an upgrade to the classic furniture design. Enabling a quick change in the function of the furniture piece – and furthermore reducing the significant waste stream of cut-offs that accumulate during sink or hop installations.

#5 - 32 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: Clash of contrasts

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool with legs made of waste steel from production of wheelbarrows and a seat made of waste cork and rubber composite from pipe gasket production, treated with linseed oil.

Combining sensuous with raw this stool is a wonderful clash of contrasts. Black burned steel legs versus brown cork hues and a delicate tint of pink pine wood exposing its grains on the seat and feet. Furthermore, mixing the soft cork with the black rubber granulate the material has an inviting tactility.

#6 - 19 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: The Princess and the Pea

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool with stacked seat cushions from leftover fabrics, filling of recycled carpets, and treated with linseed oil.

What an eye-catcher this stool is. Stacked with seven seat cushions created with a wish to give you both a flexible and comfortable design for your stool and dining chairs. Not only serving you with many purposes but also allowing you to mix colours and patterns to create a unique look. A comfortable statement piece that’ll spark conversation.

#7 - 35 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: A warm welcome

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool, upholstered with waste sheepskin and filling of waste foam granulate and Fibertex, treated with linseed oil.

This stool is the very symbol of hope. A dream of living in a world where nothing is going to waste. Come sit here with us and start dreaming. And do make yourself comfortable (almost) all wrapped in welcoming sheepskin. 

#8 - 21 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: A perky paraphrase

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool and a cushion made from waste from rugs production, treated with linseed oil.

A paraphrase over the bobbin lace and the old peasant furniture tradition creating a perky contrast to the slightly rough pine wood stool. Uniting it all in a light and humoristic expression. The cushion is made from waste material from rugs production, pulverized and pressed again into thin plates and cut with high-pressure stream of water.

#9 - 36 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: A fashionable and voluminous hat and skirt design

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool, waste fabric and treated with linseed oil.

This stool is a playful, fun and whimsical edition. Imagine having several layered 'hats' of colours and patterns that can easily be added or removed to your stool to create a variety of looks, and a personalized piece of furniture. 

#10 - 10 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: The iconic Jane Fonda!

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool, waste yarn, and treated with linseed oil.

This stool is caught between fashion and furniture. Just look at those stylish leg-warmers. Celebrating playfulness by inviting everyone to express their unique style free from limitations of practicalities. Giving you a welcomed opportunity to involve your grandma to show her talent of knitting.

#11 - 47 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: Floating expressions

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool, scraps of fabrics, and legs made of waste steel from production of wheelbarrows, treated with wood oil. 

This bold and striking appearance comes from a wish to create a floating expression with scraps in multiple colours and lengths. Well, giving new life to materials that might otherwise go to waste is the whole idea, right?

#12 - 25 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: Naturalistic turned artistic

Material: Upcycled pine wood stool, patchwork from fabric waste of recycled polyester and waste from rugs production. Treated with linseed oil.

Artistic. Characteristic. And almost naturalistic where even the smallest bits of waste are transformed into cobalt blue fabric stems practically growing from the upholstered seat! The filling is made from waste material from the rugs production pulverised and pressed again into thin plates and then topped with a layer of recycled polyester fibres.

#13 - 65 kg CO₂e

Inspiration: Balancing contrasts

Material: Upcycled pine wood, brass, recycled paper and legs made of waste steel from production of wheelbarrows. Treated with linseed oil.

Focusing entirely on the sensory perception of the raw materials, this little masterpiece of furniture really rocks. The multi-functional lamp table finds a beautiful balance in the contrast between brass, black metal and pine wood. The delicate lamp shade is made from recycled paper.