Material pyramid for Furniture and Design

The Material Pyramid for Furniture and Design, developed at the Royal Danish Academy is aimed at enhancing awareness of the climate impact associated specific with materials used in the furniture and design sector. 

It is made to support the dialogue in the design process for a more qualified and responsible choice of material. The core idea of the Material Pyramid is to assess and compare the climate impact of individual materials, serving as a foundation for more informed and reflective material choices in the early stages of the design process.

The Material Pyramid is intended as a tool for dialogue and as a starting point in conversations between designers and manufacturing companies during the early phases of design development or the initial stages of product development, where material choices play a decisive role in determining a product’s final climate impact. It is targeted at designers, architects, furniture and interior manufacturers, as well as related professional groups within the industry. Additionally, it is intended to be used as a discussion and dialogue tool within the educational environments.

The Material Pyramid for Furniture and Design is inspired by the Building Material Pyramid, developed and published by the Centre for Industrial Architecture (CINARK) at the Royal Danish Academy in 2019, which compares the carbon footprint of basic building materials. Its structure and visual identity are inspired by the iconic food pyramid from 1976, which illustrated the relationship between diet and health. The Material Pyramid is based on an ambition to minimize additional material consumption, which otherwise contributes to increased climate impact. When new materials are necessary, the pyramid serves as a guiding tool to support the selection of materials with a lower climate footprint—while also encouraging more conscious use of materials with higher impact.

At the core of the Material Pyramid is the assessment and comparison of the climate footprint of individual materials. Materials with a high climate impact are placed at the top of the pyramid, while materials with a low climate impact are located at the bottom. The climate footprint of each material is calculated using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which in this context analyzes the environmental consequences throughout the material’s entire life cycle—from raw material extraction and production, through manufacturing and distribution, to use and final disposal. The climate footprint is expressed in kg CO₂ equivalents (kg CO₂-eq) per kg of material, making it possible to compare materials across the pyramid.

The pyramid format translates complex LCA data into a clear and accessible visual structure. Its layered design makes it easy to compare materials and provides an overview of which materials have relatively higher or lower climate footprints.

For more information, background and purpose of the Material Pyramid visit the online Material Pyramid for Furniture and Design. Also check out the hole collection of materials, the data foundation and get downloads for poster and a Tabletop model of the Material Pyramid. 

Credits

Material Pyramid for Furniture and Design
Project group by Royal Danish Academy - Institute of Design, Product and Material 
/ Nicolai de Gier and Ditte Hammerstrøm
Royal Danish Academy - Material Lab 
/ Annette Kjær

Collaborators

Målbar A/S  by Anders Koefoed and Sasisa Singarasah Bylov

Image credits

Royal Danish Academy - Architecture, Design, Conservation / Annette Kjær
Poster & Cut-out Sheet: Grafics / Rasmus Koch Studio

© Royal Danish Academy & Målbar A/S.

Disclaimer

* The Material Pyramid for Furniture and Design is made freely available. Data used in the Material Pyramid is based on averages, calculated by the European PEF standards and must not be used commercially, as documentation or official reporting on material, product or company level. Data is provided solely as guidance. The Royal Danish Academy and the project's partners disclaim any responsibility for direct or indirect consequences of use beyond the intended purpose.