The art of everywhere

VANK does things differently. As Citizen Zero discovered when we met Growth Marketing Manager Natalia Sochacka. Taking five minutes after a busy Milan Design Week, where the Polish design firm exhibited its innovative and sustainable circular furniture solutions, Sochacka discussed the company’s sustainable manifesto and how it uses natural products to transform interior spaces. 

VANK designs interiors and furniture using biocomposites made from things like hemp and flax, and incorporating recycled industrial materials. As Sochacka told us, it’s a design process underpinned by a desire to make intelligent products imbued with a deep respect for nature and the planet. 

Where does VANK’s sustainable ethos come from, and what are the core principles? 

We have a manifesto that responds to three trends: conscious consumption (particularly among the newer generations), the Symbiocene, and wellbeing.

The generations entering today’s labour market value freedom, and independence and strong personal values play a large role in their decision-making processes. Many in Gen Z believe it’s important that the mission or vision of their organisation aligns with their own values because they want to have real impact in what they do. Research also shows that a quarter of students want to know if their potential employer has a plan to reduce their CO2 emissions. It’s why our work has to meet expectations of office users and customers wanting to lower the environmental impact of their businesses. 

The Symbiocene megatrend is a shift from an anthropocentric (human-centred) approach to one focused on the entire ecosystem; a world where we care for nature as much as nature nurtures us. It’s a philosophical concept proposed by Australian philosopher Glenn Albrecht. Humans have caused significant harm to the Earth’s geology, climate, biodiversity, and ecosystems in the Anthropocene era; Albrecht suggests it is characterised by destructive and unsustainable practices that have led to ecological degradation and various crises.

VANK’s goal is to shape a new mindset towards a sustainable human-nature relationship, in which nature is no longer treated as a resource, but as an equal part of the whole system. This Symbiocene mindset opens up new perspectives for a livable future.

In interior design, the trend for wellbeing is focused on self-care and is also turning to slow design (a movement in which interiors, including everything from architecture to kitchen items, are made thoughtfully and responsibly) and circular design principles.

How do these trends influence the way VANK thinks, designs, and creates? 

We’ve proved that smart and durable plant-based materials are a suitable substitute for conventional raw materials in the manufacture of wall panels, movable partitions, and cubicles for work or meetings. 

In 2021 we set out to redesign our acoustic panel by applying circular design principles. At that time, it was manufactured from polyurethane foam which, due to its petroleum-based origin and inability to biodegrade or recycle, poses significant problems to the furniture industry. The new component had to be more sustainable without sacrificing functionality or contouring capabilities.

Since 2022 we’ve been using renewable fibre crops like flax and hemp to make a biocomposite, VANK_BIO. Biocomposites combine plant-based fibres with a polymer and bring clear environmental advantages  – VANK panels contribute to the development of a circular economy and have a negative carbon footprint, for example. After use, VANK_BIO panels can be disposed of as part of a composting process.

VANK’s technology produced shapes designed to guarantee soundproofing. Soon it became clear that we could give the panels an infinite number of shapes. By steering clear of primary petrochemicals and using renewable raw materials instead, we reduce CO2 emissions. Flax and hemp also absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and contribute to the climatic stability of the planet. 

Our green transformation was recognised by the German Sustainability Award, and in 2022 we won the Green Product Award and Iconic Design Awards, the competition of the German Design Council.

How is VANK accelerating circular economy principles, and why does creating with mobility and flexibility help? 

We believe in a circular economy model that limits consumption of natural resources, reduces the amount of waste generated, and increases the use of biodegradable, renewable, and recyclable materials. We also create with mobility, configurability, and flexibility of furniture in mind. 

Furnishing a space in an agile way became important during the COVID pandemic and it has remained a mainstay of the hybrid work model. The VANK_CUBE system, a modular cube system made of flax and hemp biomaterial, offers the opportunity to easily arrange offices and co-working spaces exactly as the organisation and its workers need. This is particularly important when the size of the leased space, the number of employees and clients, the functions of individual rooms, and the general arrangement of the office changes frequently.

Bringing VANK_CUBE into well-established and rigidly structured companies makes it possible to break down hierarchies and blur the lines between individual departments – the design fosters creative thinking and a culture of collaboration. It’s also easy to assemble and disassemble, enabling temporary workstations or exhibition spaces at trade shows, conferences, and workshops.

 Modularity means that a number of VANK_CUBES together can be used as a desk, a workshop meeting table, a front office desk, a storage unit, a shelf for household appliances, or a space-dividing unit. Anyone using it can create many different furniture forms and modify them as necessary, virtually without limits.

Our ACOUSTIC PODS make mobile rooms that can be reassembled or reused when an office is rearranged or a company moves location, reducing the amount of waste generated in the construction industry. The pods are made of biocomposite or non-woven recycled plastic (rPET), both of which can be composted or recycled after use. With wheels the pods can be moved within a room, making it possible to rearrange the space without any assembly or finishing work. The freedom of setting up mobile rooms fosters means the product can always meet the needs of the organisation. It also makes the workplace more employee-friendly and boosts creativity. 

The design of our VANK_RING collection also incorporates circular design principles. The range of chairs, sofas, and stools, are made from industrial polyurethane foam waste and use a design approach that makes it possible for components to be recycled after use.

Why is hemp such an important material for sustainable products, design and construction?  

The construction industry causes up to 40 % of annual global emissions. Hemp is an incredible alternative – it can be used for insulation material, in floors and walls,  and it actually stores more carbon than it requires to be made and transported. . 

The fashion and textile industries also use huge amounts of our planet’s resources. Right now the main raw material is cotton, but it can also easily be hemp instead as it’s more efficient, and needs less water and pesticides, making it a great replacement.

Hemp grows up to five metres in 3- 5 months and is one of the fastest ways to absorb CO2 – it binds up to four times more C02 than trees. Fast-growing fibrous plants are annually renewable, and hemp can be planted twice in a single year. Plants used for fibre production don’t require fertilisation and have low water consumption; their root system goes deep enough to supplement their water requirements from groundwater.

From a design perspective, hemp’s long fibres provide strength, while absorbing minimal water and remaining relatively tear-resistant, even when wet. Traditionally it’s been considered ideal for ropes, textiles and sailcloth but industrial hemp is increasingly being used as a sustainable textile and building material. 

Hemp has zero-waste potential. For VANK’s biocomposite we use bast fibres from the stalks, which remain in the fields after the seeds, flowers and leaves have been used. It means we don’t compete with food or medicine production because only waste parts of the plant are used to make our panels. This way there is no waste in nature, everything is recycled.

Are there any of your home products that encapsulate VANK’s sustainable design approach? 

VANK-LONG is a circular collection of industrial-style furniture designed for rest and relaxation, but with sustainability at its core. It makes use of waste from the textile industry, limited edition zero-waste natural leather dead stock, and an organic latex filling. It’s a modular design that lets users make sofas or seating units from armchairs and is made for home offices and living rooms, as well as office buildings, hotels, and other public facilities. After use, VANK-LONG can be disassembled and its components recycled. 

Tell us about VANK’s company culture and its championing of women 

We are a creation of modernity, and believe in a world where women are empowered to shape reality, make strategic decisions, and achieve success. The company’s board is 100% female, and most of our managers are women – it’s because of them that VANK is renowned in the worlds of business, design, and architecture. 

We’re driven by gender equality and providing equal opportunities for growth and development, and we foster a modern, empathy-based, democratic model of leadership where our passion for natural resources and the environment is prominent. This approach also extends to the local community where we are involved in and support initiatives that contribute to a better quality of life. 

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