The Sustainable Furniture Design Contest invited designers to apply for a unique challenge: to imagine how ECOR panels, made from recycled and non-toxic materials, could be laminated with NeoLigno, a fully bio-based binder from Stora Enso, and brought to life in a real-world furniture concept. Each applicant was asked to explore the materials’ potential through the lens of circularity, functionality, and aesthetics.
The resulting submissions showcased the many versatile ways ECOR can be worked with, including bending, shaping, layering, and refining, which demonstrated its adaptability across a range of design expressions. The contest not only highlighted the creativity of the participants but also underscored the exciting possibilities of sustainable material innovation in contemporary furniture design.
Linus Hultgren, an Industrial Design Engineering student at Chalmers University of Technology, created The Dining Chair, a flatpack design that blends modern aesthetics with timeless functionality. Inspired by Finn Juhl’s Reading Chair, it nests efficiently to reduce waste while inviting shared meals and connection.
Charlotte Sol Kvande Hay, Agnes Falk, and Jeppe Mollestad Oppegaard, a Scandinavian trio studying civil engineering and architecture, designed The Transformational Wall, a self-supporting system that can divide, connect, or open spaces with ease. Built for flexibility and minimal waste, its offcuts become tables and chairs, extending its circular design philosophy.
Kajsa Åkesson and Antonio Sansone, architecture students at Lund University, created LUDOM. This is a modular furniture concept built for adaptability, sustainability, and connection. Designed like a puzzle, it minimizes waste and can transform into lounge chairs, benches, or sofas while maintaining its core form.
Claudia Plascencia, a designer based in Germany, created Alba, a minimalist stool that embodies Scandinavian simplicity and sustainability. Crafted from ECOR panels with NeoLigno and assembled without adhesives or screws, it combines clean lines, strength, and a natural finish for modern, Nordic-inspired spaces.
Maxim-Ferdinand Hahn, an Industrial Design student at Hochschule Pforzheim für Gestaltung, created MONO, a series of furniture pieces made entirely from ECOR panels and NeoLigno. Comprising a stool, table, and coffee table, the collection embodies clarity, functionality, and circularity for a more sustainable way of living.
Jacob Enger, a master’s student in Industrial Design at Lund University, created Sittvrå, a seating concept designed for social spaces where function meets sustainability. Inspired by mid-century designer Poul Kjærholm, it combines traditional forms with modern practicality through simple assembly, efficient transport, and eco-conscious materials.
Hedda Montgomery, Amy Sävström, Wendy Zhong, and Filip Olsson, Industrial Design students at Lund University, created Lena. This is a modular furniture piece built for adaptability and longevity. Designed to evolve from childhood to adulthood, it encourages lifelong use while reducing waste, embodying a timeless and sustainable design philosophy.
Junyi Lyu, a Chinese designer with an MFA in Industrial Design from Lund University, created The Arch Collection, a three-piece series blending Eastern aesthetics with Scandinavian practicality. Using panels as both surface and structure, the design minimizes connectors and material use while showcasing elegant simplicity.
Milèna Odile Marie Geneviève Gloinec, a French designer pursuing a master’s at Lund University, created Recto Verso – Front and Bark to honor Scandinavian craftsmanship. Using ECOR panels made from forgotten agricultural fibers and NeoLigno bio-based adhesive, the piece maximizes material efficiency while exploring duality in design.
Flora Lukovics, a Hungarian designer with an MA in Industrial and Product Design from Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, created FIBRA, a modular furniture system built for flexibility and longevity. Showcasing the raw beauty of recycled fibers, it’s designed to minimize waste and adapt over time as a simple, durable, and future-proof solution.
Arjun U R, a master’s student in Innovation at Linnaeus University, designed ECOR Kollektive, a furniture series inspired by Swedish modernism and postmodern icons like Uglycute and Mats Theselius. Combining ergonomic design with emotional appeal, it embraces flat-pack efficiency, minimal waste, and multifunctionality for modern living.
Niamh Ashley and Ewan Jones, master’s students in Architecture at Newcastle University, created the ECOR Unity Chair. This chair is a dynamic, interlocking seating solution for modern multifunctional spaces. Designed for flexibility, comfort, and accessibility, it offers a simple, stackable system that embodies adaptability and thoughtful design.
Martin Sundqvist, a Swedish designer studying Product Design at Beckmans College of Design, created Column. A stool crafted entirely from 18mm ECOR-PLY panels without glue or screws. Painted on both sides and left raw at the edges, the design highlights material honesty while allowing easy assembly, disassembly, and recycling.
Jukka Jokinen and Heikki Konu, Industrial Design graduates from Aalto University, created Fair—a modular collection of stools, benches, and side tables that embodies modern Scandinavian design. Showcasing ECOR-Ply in a raw, nestable structure, it combines timeless aesthetics with efficiency and sustainability.
