Sustainable Stair Design: New Wave of Eco-Friendly Style

The commitment to the environment has now become the responsibility of everyone and big names in the design industry are taking notice, making every effort to associate their brand as a “green label.” But what exactly does “going green” mean for brands? Companies like Fontanot, an Italian staircase designer and manufacturer with an international presence, has been established as a company dedicated to eco-friendly design and business practices. Here, they explain what that means and how to bring this into the future.

Sustainable design starts with innovation and Fontanot has spearheaded the market on this, especially recently with their new eco-friendly staircase, Techne. As the product of in-depth research and creative, avant-garde design by Fontanot’s expert team, this spiral staircase was realized using a particular material called technopolymer. As the first staircase in the world to be built using this plastic-like material that is 100% recyclable, Techne is also reinforced with fiberglass, giving it an exceptional mechanical and shockproof resistance as well as elevated levels of tenacity.

“It starts with the materials,” says the Fontanot research and design team. “Finding a sustainable option in something that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional means being innovative when considering the base materials. For this you won’t see many spiral staircases around made of technopolymer. We are pioneers in this sense.”

With most of their modular staircases made of wood, Fontanot also imposes the same standards of environmental quality by using only wood certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for their products. They have also explored the use of bamboo, which grows quickly and naturally so as to not cause any harmful effects on the environment. In addition, water-based paints are used for their models as well. In the Techne model, for example, an advanced coloring in the mixture process is done, making it resistant to UV rays and atmospheric factors.

Going green also means responsible business practices. As a design company dedicated to the environment, Fontanot’s stairs may be broken down and subdivided after their “life cycle,” their single components recycled by material: iron, steel or wood.

The importance of a green initiative is not only beneficial for the environment, but for the design company as well. From a reputation point of view, companies that emphasize this quality tend to engage a wider audience that includes those eco-friendly interior designers. This in turn will also help in the response to increased consumer demand for green products as this trend continues to grow. Not to mention focusing on energy consumption will help the company save costs in the long run.

Design companies like Fontanot are dedicated to green: a commitment to the earth, their consumers and the challenge to create a sustainable product that simultaneously emanates beauty.