Instead, a French company specialising in the design of sustainable furniture created by recycling grain from beer brewing, has announced the launch of its new collection. Previously known for its brewed stool, the brand has expanded its range to include tables, chairs and decorative items designed to meet the needs of professionals while respecting the planet. The brand recently exhibited its new products at the EquipHotel show in Paris.
Furniture brewing: a new job in the circular economy
Instead collects spent grains from brewers, dries them and mixes them with a second waste product made from recycled single-use food packaging.
No epoxy or petrochemical binder is used: by mixing the 2 recycled materials and caramelising the sugar from the brewing process, they obtain a material that is 100% recycled and 100% bio-sourced. Instead uses this material to produce seating, tables and decorative elements for professional use.
The steel structures of the furniture, meanwhile, are manufactured just a few minutes from their warehouse in Nantes using 30% recycled steel.
'When you consider that the environmental footprint of a piece of furniture made in locally is half that of one made in China, it's essential to offer a sustainable, local alternative to fast decoration', explains Franck Grossel, founder of Instead.
A complete range to meet the needs of professionals
While the first Instead product was a stool designed for restaurants and bars, the new collection has been designed to meet the needs of all establishments open to the public: offices, retail outlets, hotels, public or private establishments, etc.
All the products can be customised in terms of colour to meet the specific needs of professionals.
Turn beer into beautiful
That's the challenge that Franck Grossel, founder of Instead, set himself when, in 2020, he developed a process for recycling spent grains from breweries into furniture.
'Last year in France, more than 2 billion litres of beer were drunk. This production generated more than 600,000 tons of spent grains. This residue poses an ecological, economic and logistical problem for many brewers,' explains the environmentally conscious beer enthusiast. 'That's why Instead has created a new recycling chain: which is economical for brewers, good for the planet and innovative for the home: brewed furniture.'
A collection designed for a changing furniture market
A growing number of designers, interior architects, decorators and interior fitters are looking for low-carbon, local materials to incorporate into their projects. Just as fast fashion is currently under legislative scrutiny, fast furniture is next in line for regulation. The legal framework has already begun to evolve.
'The AGEC (Anti-Waste and Circular Economy) law now requires that 20% of office furniture purchased by public companies should come from re-use or include recycled materials. Every 3 years these quantities will be revised upwards to reach 50% by 2030,' explains Christophe Pilcher, co-founder of Instead. 'If they were already personally convinced, these measures are encouraging housing professionals to rethink the way they work.'
The ability to design tailor-made projects
Faced with growing market demand, Instead has made its eco-material available to professionals who want to design spaces that are more respectful of the environment. And Instead is not limited to the furniture sector. 'Today, we're talking to professionals in the housing sector, but we're also in discussions with product designers about using our recycled material in consumer goods and luxury goods,' Franck Grossel explains. '2025 will allow us to try out new applications with our partners.'
Towards products made from 100% recycled materials
In a constant quest to reduce its impact, Instead has designed new products made from 100% recycled materials.
'The bedside table, coat hooks and serving tray are the latest additions to the collection and are entirely recycled and bio-sourced,' explains Franck Grossel. 'These products have enabled us to experiment and test the limits of our eco-material. The development possibilities are now infinite.'
More information:
Instead
[email protected]
www.insteadmobilier.fr