Visiting the world's most sustainable furniture factory
Lisa Jones, lead on Placemaking and Events at Hadley, recently travelled to Norway to visit Vestre, a Scandinavian sustainable furniture specialist. As a partner on an upcoming Hadley meanwhile use project and our Future Makers design competition, Vestre invited us to see their award-winning, sustainable facilities and furniture production.
Founded in 1947 by Johannes Vestre, the family-run business operates under the motto “Everything is possible for our Lord and a mechanic.” They exemplify dedicated values, blending Swedish and Norwegian materials to set new sustainable design standards and craft colourful and inclusive furniture that supports community interaction.
Lisa was first given a tour of Vestre's Oslo office, witnessing a time of significant growth for the company where their commitment to attractive, durable design and local production is evident. Central to Vestre's model is manufacturing all its products in Scandinavia, ensuring quality, sustainability and ethical manufacturing. Lisa then went on to see their steel factory in Sweden before heading to their state-of-the-art furniture factory in the Norwegian forest, based close to the town of Magnor.
Vestre's steel furniture elements are cut and moulded in its factory in Sweden. With its Lifetime Anti-Rust Guarantee and minimal material usage, this part of the production is working towards a significant leap in sustainable practices. In 2025, Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB will begin to use technology that replaces coal with hydrogen during production. Vestre will be the first furniture manufacturer in the world to use this fossil-free steel in its production.
Supporting circular economy principles, Vestre plans to introduce furniture passports for their products, allowing customers to access a digital record of each item's origins, materials and environmental credentials. In addition, Vestre provides their 'qualityprogramme,' ensuring the longevity of their furniture for customers.
Vestre's innovative and vibrant factory, The Plus, has achieved BREEAM Outstanding and focuses on advancing employee well-being, minimising carbon emissions and promoting circular economy principles. Jan-Christian Vestre, son of the founder, wanted The Plus to be a number one attraction for the area. It includes art installations, picnic spaces and hiking trails. Families of tourists and local school children regularly visit and play on its rooftop, making good use of Norway's longest slide, which propels one back into the surrounding forest. The forest trees sit a mere five feet from the charred larch-clad walls of the building.
Engaging with local educational institutions, Vestre seeks to inspire young people, educating them on green skills and the relationship between urban furniture and public realm design to support nature and connected communities. As a B Corp accredited business, Hadley recognises the importance of these principles, forging new pathways and processes for the built environment to ensure access to healthy outdoor spaces and opportunities to meet our neighbours in safe and inspiring places.
Aspiring to encourage new, diverse talent into the industry, we've launched the Future Makers competition in collaboration with Vestre, McGregor Coxall, landscape and urban design specialists, and the London Legacy Development Corporation. The competition invites young creatives of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Hackney to design a piece of public realm furniture for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to visit Vestre's factory in Norway and see their design come to life at our new site in Stratford.
You can find all of the information on the project, the detailed timeline and how to apply here. Our next online Q&A is on Tuesday, 15th of October, at 4 PM. If you or someone you know would like to take part, you can register here. The competition is open to those aged 14 – 21. Applications close on the 10th of January 2025!
Thank you to Matt King, Jack Arkney and Charlotte Hansson of Vestre for facilitating and organising a Hadley visit to their facilities. We look forward to the three competition winners taking the same trip in the Summer of 2025!
