If over the years the keywords of the Salone del Mobile.Milano were quality, innovation and beauty, now the fundamental themes of sustainability and ecological transition have been added to these.

The Salone celebrated its 60th edition by focusing on the commitment and attention of the sector towards circularity and environmental impact, aware that the beauty it produces every year must be in harmony with the planet, and, therefore, ethical and sustainable. 

 

Green guidelines for exhibitors

The Salone del Mobile wanted to reaffirm its commitment to sustainable development, both environmental and social, of the entire furniture system. First of all, it has identified partners and suppliers of recycled and recyclable or reusable materials for the construction of the common parts, compensating, or rather, regenerating the resources used.

He then suggested that exhibitors follow green guidelines for the construction of the event: prefer the use of plastic free materials, reusable (such as wood or 100% reusable plastic), recovery (upcycling)FSC and PEFC certified. Consider the logistical sustainability of the sources of supply of materials, adopt environmentally safe products and equipment in the realization of the fittings and avoid wasting materials, electricity and water.

Make the concepts of "adaptability" and "disassembly for reuse" key principles in the choice of the components that make up the project, already knowing where and how they can be reused or disposed of and highlight, in institutional communication, the corporate commitment for sustainability.

 

“Design with Nature”: how to systematize circularity

The themes of the circular economy, reuse and ecological transition were above all at the center of the exhibition-installation "Design with Nature", curated by architect Mario Cucinella and housed in pavilion 15 of S.Project.

In the intention of the Salone, "Design with Nature" was intended to be the concrete demonstration of how circularity can be put into a system: the exhibition argues that eco alternatives already exist, produced on an industrial scale, used in the furniture system and in the sector of 'building.

The exhibition has collected and explained them, whether they are microfibre coverings or salmon and sardine scales; of acoustic panels in fungal mycelium and waste fabric or cellulose fiber; of recycled plastic or regenerated polyurethane.

It was thus possible to understand how plant and animal waste and those generated by human beings are, already today, transformed into "other", into new raw materials that give a second and third life to the material generated, demonstrating that it is possible to imagine a another way to build and make products in complicity with nature, without continuing to consume raw materials, but activating virtuous ecological paths.
 

UN Global Compact for a “healthy” and responsible society

The Salone del Mobile.Milano finally announced its adhesion to the United Nations Global Compact, the most important global initiative for corporate sustainability, which brings together over 15,000 companies from more than 160 countries around the world. The UN Global Compact is a real appeal to companies all over the world to support, apply and promote the values ​​of sustainability in the long term. Maria Porro, President of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, explained this initiative as follows: "We have started the procedures to become part of the UN Global Compact because we believe that the actions of every company, organization or federation must be guided by a deep sense of responsibility: the future of our planet and of the new generations is in our hands. We need to change the mental paradigm, share knowledge, continue studying and developing innovative solutions, aware that what we do today will determine the future of our children. The ten principles of the UNGC promote the protection of human rights, the promotion of a more responsible approach to the environment and the fight against corruption in all its forms. The furniture and design system is also being asked to be part of a transformative change, necessary to break down or at least reduce the environmental and social impacts of current industrial development. Aware that we are all part of the ecosystem, we are honored to take this path together with many other players. This is the only way that the Salone del Mobile.Milano will truly be the stage for the progress made to date and the first trade fair in the world in the sector to become sustainable and virtuous ”.