3 I am Green chairs: the Connubia's Green Commitment to Sustainable Furnishing Design

Sustainability has gone from being a mere trend to an essential requirement, driven by pressing environmental needs, conscious consumers and regulations that reward those who reduce CO₂. In short, it is absolutely necessary to change course and set humanity's McGyver Green in motion in every sector, including sustainable furniture. The I am Green chairs of the Connubia Collection, as we will see, is a perfect example of this.

In an increasingly digital market where transparency is just a click away, the choice of materials tells the story of the company better than any slogan.

The damage caused by unsustainable furniture

Every piece of furniture that enters your home brings with it a story: that of the trees from which it originates, the hands that shape it and the air we breathe. Every wardrobe made from uncertified wood or “easy” but harmful materials leaves behind a trail of damage that is no longer invisible.

According to the European Federation of Furniture Manufacturers, up to 90% of furniture at the end of its life still ends up in landfills or incinerators, dispersing tonnes of treated wood and releasing new CO₂. In addition, the demand for fine finishes often draws on tropical forests that are not managed responsibly, eroding entire habitats and worsening the loss of biodiversity.

The result is an environmental and health impact that goes far beyond the purchase price: soil contaminated by residues, increasingly saturated landfills, depleted forests and less healthy indoor air. A vicious circle that makes unsustainable furniture one of the silent protagonists of the climate crisis and our quality of life.

The “I am Green” programme Connubia: the ecological revolution in the furniture industry

I am Green is Connubia's new programme, promoting an exceptional ethical stance that is clear and forward-looking, channelling the brand's commitment in two directions: creating furniture from natural or recycled materials designed for circularity and, at the same time, rethinking every stage of the business – from design to logistics – to reduce its environmental impact.

Connubia, the young and contemporary soul of the Calligaris group, was founded in the heart of Friuli and brings with it over a century of craftsmanship intertwined with cutting-edge technology, proving that ethics and sustainability can coexist without compromise. An example of this is its FSC certification, the mark that identifies products containing wood from forests managed responsibly according to strict environmental, social and economic standards.

Connubia tells the story behind each product with total transparency, cultivating an international community of designers and conscious customers. An energetic, dynamic and versatile brand. Today we are here not only to present this innovative programme, but also its three new flagship products.

OPS! The I am Green chairs that challenges the boundaries of recycling

Presented at the Salone del Mobile 2024, the Ops! Connubia chair speaks the language of sustainable design with an avant-garde vocabulary. Designed by the Archivolto studio, it features soft, enveloping lines that combine visual lightness and everyday comfort. But above all, it is made from recycled Tetra Pak cartons: 600 containers for the version with armrests, 500 for the version without, transformed into a solid material that is still useful and full of life. Ops! is also available in 100% recycled polypropylene, in natural shades such as white, black, hemp, dove grey and earth, or in a sophisticated sand finish made from Tetra Pak itself. The dual configuration with or without armrests expands the versatility of the furniture, ensuring the same structural strength and green soul.

REEF: an armchair that cleans up the oceans

‘Not all revolutions are made standing up,’ says the brand, presenting the Reef Connubia armchair, the ‘100% green’ seat that transforms plastic recovered from the sea into pure domestic relaxation. Its Oceanic fabric covering is made from abandoned nets and post-consumer bottles: over a hundred bottles rescued from the waves and beaches for each individual armchair. For every 2 kg (4 metres) of Oceanic fabric, 1 kg of waste is removed from the ocean. Inside, FSC®-certified wood and padding made from old sofas and mattresses prove that circularity is not a utopia. Finally, the polyester fibre wadding is made from at least 70% recycled white polyester post-consumer containers.

Reef dresses your home in colours inspired by nature—coral pink, sand, lemon, lagoon green, taupe and saffron. And remember, every time you lazily sink into its soft embrace, you are cleaning up the sea: the most eco-friendly form of laziness there is!

ZERO, the child-proof (and planet-proof!) chair kit

Packaged in a slim 70 x 70 recycled cardboard box, the Zero Connubia chair is a kit solution that also reduces pollution caused by logistics activities. No tools are required: even a child could assemble it with a coin.

Zero is made entirely of thermoplastic technopolymer with 100% recycled polyolefins, so not only does it not use new fossil resources, but it also reuses industrial waste by reintroducing it into the production cycle. What's more, it is a recyclable chair. A concrete example of a successful circular economy.

I am Green is an extraordinarily concrete first step not only towards a new way of furnishing, but also of thinking and living. Ops!, Zero and Reef are featured in our catalogue, where you can configure them in your preferred colour and style. And for any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service.

So, are you ready to sit on change?

Your Vieffetrade Team