Every year, designers face the challenge of dealing with Europe’s enormous furniture waste stream: more than 10 million tonnes are thrown away annually, and most end up incinerated. Conventional board materials such as MDF contribute to the problem, as their synthetic adhesives make them difficult to recycle and potentially harmful to both health and the environment.

GreenEdge, developed by Anne Julia Ländle as part of her graduation project at Konstfack University in Stockholm, offers an active response. Instead of relying on toxic resins, it shows that sheet materials can be sustainable, recyclable, and expressive at the same time.

From roadside hay to high-value board

The boards combine 40% roadside hay with 60% wood waste from CNC milling. Roadside hay usually decomposes in place, causing eutrophication and damaging ecosystems. By harvesting it, the project supports biodiversity and transforms neglected biomass into a renewable feedstock.

Casein, a natural protein found in milk, binds the fibres together. Historically used by furniture makers, casein is durable, water-resistant once cured, and completely biodegradable. Natural pigments and dried flowers add colour and character, creating a terrazzo-like surface that looks striking while staying free of toxins.

Design and aesthetic potential

The designer tested the material through mould pressing, sawing, and CNC milling, which proved its stability and versatility. By embedding flowers and fibres, the boards achieve a mosaic-like effect that celebrates nature’s diversity and creates unique visual textures.

To demonstrate its design potential, Ländle created a prototype cabinet. Inspired by historic herbarium cabinets, the piece integrates flowers gathered along Stockholm’s roadsides. A glass top allows daylight to filter through the surface, while rounded forms highlight the expressive side of sustainable design.

Towards circular interiors

GreenEdge turns discarded biomass into a material that is functional, biodegradable, and visually engaging. For architects, interior designers, and product designers looking for circular alternatives to MDF, it offers a concrete example of how ecological responsibility and aesthetics can work together. By turning hay and wood waste into high-value boards, the project proves that the interiors of tomorrow can be both sustainable and beautiful.

Source & photos: Anne Julia Ländle