Tarkett participated in Matter Displaced, a Nordic event delving into designing with waste

Tarkett participated in Matter Displaced, a Nordic event delving into designing with waste

30th May 2022

May 19th 2022: Matter Displaced, an exhibition focused on the designers, studios and companies that find waste materials locally and reuse them to create new designs, took place as part of Southern Sweden Design Days. Highlighting the designers that are addressing the mountains of waste already produced and being produced, Matter Displaced offered a platform to illustrate Nordic examples of sustainable design that doesn’t compromise on attractiveness. Recycled iQ Surface by Tarkett was showcased in the exhibition.

On May 20, Matter Displaced's co-founder Anna Gudmundsdottir, an industrial designer at Malmö Upcycling Service, Dag Duberg, Nordic sustainability manager at Tarkett, and Wickie Meier Engström, director and partner at Kvadrat Really joined for a live talk moderated by Dezeen. They discussed the potential of treating waste as a resource in the design process.

Circular economy opens the door to new aesthetic possibilities

Questioned about the benefit of working with emerging designers, Dag Duberg highlighted that collaborating with small design studios and generally getting input from designers, architects, and artists enables the industry to think out of the box. Emerging designers and artists are also very talented at revealing how sustainable materials can look “cool”. Through their work, they carry a vision of how new aesthetics will look, as sustainability and circularity challenge our view on traditional aesthetics.

When it comes to the look of sustainable products, Dag Duberg explained that two streams need to be maintained: on one hand, clients expect that the products with recycled waste have the exact same feel and finish as the other products using virgin raw materials. On the other hand, the circular economy unleashes design opportunities to create new and bespoke aesthetics.

Putting waste streams in place is critical

Dag Duberg also insisted that to get the waste streams in place, a circular economy is only possible when you engage with others on the same path, including end users and property owners. A circular economy requires an open-minded approach, where the industry should learn from and work with supply chain partners, and even companies from other industries.

To watch the talk, click HERE.