Thinking Beyond Sustainability

The furniture industry has been buzzing about sustainability for as long as I've been a designer. Before we get too cynical and start talking about greenwashing, green-hushing, or—green-shushing (okay, I made that last one up, but the others are real problems)—I want to focus on the real progress happening—and where design can push it further.

It’s encouraging to see big furniture companies set ambitious ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals. We, creative types, don’t always turn to corporate reports for inspiration—but maybe we should. These reports led us to ask: Where can design make the biggest impact?

We’re designers, which means we love asking questions (you’ll see). But you’re probably wondering: What do oversized, wool-filled acoustic dividers have to do with any of this?

Well…

We Are Regenerative Design Explorers

Let me take a step back and introduce myself. I’m Fernando Ramirez, co-founder of Common Object Studio, alongside my friend and fellow designer, Justin Beitzel. Our studio is built on a shared passion for exploring how sustainability, materiality, and community can create meaningful value in design. At our core, we are an industrial and furniture design studio, but more often than not, we find ourselves exploring new materials and addressing problems that extend beyond the objects we create. I’d describe us as a product development studio that likes to put its nose where it doesn't belong.

Our day-to-day work involves designing new products for companies while helping them take steps—sometimes small, sometimes bold—toward sustainability. In recent years, we’ve focused heavily on our own regenerative furniture exploration.

Our regenerative journey started long before we founded the studio. Both of us were independently exploring materials and using our design skills as tools for social impact. It was only when we stepped back that we realized how deeply interconnected sustainability and equity are. When we launched Common Object, we built it on those values. Now, we use this people-and-planet philosophy as a filter for our projects. Every piece we create must connect to one or both.

What Is Regenerative Design?

Regenerative design goes beyond sustainability. Instead of just minimizing harm, it aims to contribute positively to the environment and society. It challenges us to design holistically—considering materials, production, travel, usage, and the afterlife of a product.

In human-centered design, we focus on deeply understanding users' needs and experiences to create solutions that serve them. In regenerative design, we take that same empathetic, systems-thinking approach—but extend it beyond people to the entire ecosystem. Simply put: planet-centered design. Like I said, we love questions, and this one started our journey: Can the act of creating give back more than it takes?

Our First Case Study: Applying Regenerative Thinking to Furniture

At our studio, we believe the future of design lies in creating products that actively heal ecosystems and uplift communities. Just as human-centered design prioritizes well-being, regenerative design focuses on enhancing the well-being of both the planet and the people who create and use these products. Through our exploration of regenerative solutions, we've gained clear insights into how materials, supply chains, manufacturing, and transportation impact the life cycle of an object. This approach goes beyond traditional design—it’s a systems challenge, and systems require systemic solutions.

Rethinking Materials: From Waste to Wonder

Most furniture brands choose materials based on availability, cost, and aesthetics. We start with a different question: What impact does this material have on people and the planet?

We spent time talking to farmers and producers, learning about the waste and challenges they face. That led us to explore these materials:

• Wool from regenerative farms – Waste wool from rotationally grazed sheep is repurposed into furniture components. These farms restore soil health and biodiversity while producing an incredible natural material.

• Urban salvaged wood – Trees naturally fall in cities, yet most end up in landfills. We work with local salvage programs to turn fallen timber into long-lasting furniture.

• Hemp fiber & bio-resins – Locally grown hemp captures carbon while producing strong, biodegradable fibers for furniture. Even its waste can be repurposed to create new value.

By exploring these materials, we collaborate and explore innovative ways to ensure our materials don’t just reduce harm—but actively improve ecosystems.

Rethinking Supply Chains: Keeping It Local (and Fun)

Global supply chains are too messy for us—materials crisscross the planet before reaching their final form, racking up emissions and losing transparency along the way. So we asked: What if we kept things closer to home?

With our project OkaTerra, we’re building regional supply networks that work with regenerative farmers and material processors. This means:

• Less transportation waste

• Stronger local economies

• Fairer wages for suppliers

• More transparency in sourcing

It also means we get to collaborate with amazing craftspeople, farmers, and makers who share our love for experimentation. And honestly? That makes the process way more fun.

Designing for a Full Life (Not Just a Sales Cycle)

Most furniture today is designed to meet a low-cost target, leading to disposability. Even when built to last, its potential for circularity is often overlooked or unattainable due to limitations in materials and supply chains. We take a different approach. Our furniture is designed to grow, adapt, and ultimately return to the earth, promoting a more sustainable lifecycle.

• Modular & Repairable – If a part breaks, it can be replaced. If your needs change, the piece can evolve with you. Designed for serviceability and repair.

• Biodegradable or Recyclable – Materials are chosen with the end in mind—so they can decompose safely or be repurposed. If it falls off the back of a truck, the birds would love it.

• Non-Toxic & Natural – No weird glues, foams, or harmful finishes—just clean materials that are safe for people and the planet. We have to live with these objects, so we keep them healthy.

"Understory" by Common Object Studio

We originally collaborated with Haworth’s DesignLab, led by Patricia Urquiola, to explore sustainability and circular design in the future of the furniture industry. While we love working with new sustainable materials, we wanted to focus on the systems surrounding an object—because that’s where the biggest, most scalable impact happens.

Our goal was to find a natural next step—one that feels both bold and familiar. We looked to traditional, more sustainable practices like localized production and regenerative farming and combined them with modern technology and manufacturing.

To us, sustainability is built on transparency. This means sourcing materials with a clear story—knowing exactly where a tree fell, the name of the sheep that provided our wool, and how far each material traveled. On the human side, we partnered with a nonprofit that trains individuals from urban communities in craftsmanship, empowering them to build valuable skills while creating our furniture frames.

At the end of the day, it’s not just the furniture that makes an impact—it’s the entire ecosystem in which it exists.

The Bigger Picture: Making Regenerative Design the Norm

Design isn’t just about objects—it’s about systems. And those systems—how materials are sourced, how products are made, how waste is handled—can be reimagined.

We’re not saying we have all the answers. But we are asking better questions. We’re experimenting, making mistakes, learning, and having fun along the way. Because figuring out how to make furniture that heals rather than harms is a challenge worth getting excited about.

So, here’s a question for you: Can the future of furniture be regenerative?

We believe it can. And we’re building toward it—one object at a time.