For many editions, sustainable development has been in the genes of Maison&Objet trade fair in Paris. As a Sustainability Ambassador of Maison&Objet, I wish to highlight its Corporate Social Responsibility engagement and celebrate its ongoing efforts to take trade shows into a more responsible and sustainable future.
Maison&Objet Paris is not just a trade fair about the lifestyle sector exploring the best decoration and home interior solutions organized by style. The Maison&Objet team has recognized that, more than ever, how we produce and consume are pressing global issues, so they formalized their initiative to recognize sustainability within the organization in 2011.
Since then, they have upped their commitment to making their events more sustainable and supporting ethical brands and thought leaders shaking up the design world. Indeed, their waste recovery rate has increased from 38.48% in 2020 to 42.06% in 2023, thanks to these efforts.
Some of the impactful changes they’re making to their shows in the interest of sustainability include:
→ using 100% recycled carpeting
→ an objective to recycle 50% of the waste following the session
→ storing and reusing signage (94% of which is printed with eco-responsible materials)
→ show furniture made with wood recovered from previous sessions
→ unsold food donated to the Red Cross
→ reduced energy consumption via heating and cooling, and more
Twelve years after it started as a format “Le Fil Vert” (The Green Thread), Maison&Objet remains committed to its quest for virtuous and inspiring design through their “Sustainable Itinerary,” which comprises a selection of French and international furnishings, textiles, and lifestyle exhibitors distinguished by a judging committee of independent experts, and meeting the criteria of the charter defined by Maison&Objet around three central pillars:
- sustainable supply (prioritizing energy-saving, sustainable, zero-waste, and healthier materials)
- less is more (how to produce better with less through reducing, reusing, recycling, and DIY)
- respect for human beings and their environment (compliance with the health and social conditions of local producers or artisans, consideration of eco-toxicity, and respect for biodiversity)
The distinguished members of Maison&Objet “Parcours Responsable” judging committee currently include:
Sandrine de Bruyne | Directrice de la rédaction (Editor in Chief) | Maison Créative
Laurence Carr | CEO and Founder | Laurence Carr Inc. and Studio Laurence
Catherine Dauriac | President of Fashion Revolution France | RC adj. aux impacts: Revue Hummade
Brigitte Kahane | CEO of PimliKo Innovation EcoDesign Agency and Founder of the Observatory of EcoDesign and EcoDesign Cafés | Professor of Innovation-Design: ParsonsParis
Click here to learn more about Maison&Objet’s sustainability resolutions for the year 2023, and learn even more about their ongoing commitments to a greener show and industry here.
Kudos to Maison&Objet trade fair for taking on such a vital role of responsibility and making tremendous steps toward a more sustainable future via their trade shows and the standards they set across the industry with these efforts! Be sure to check out the sustainable itinerary at Maison&Objet September 2023.
For your next visit to Paris, have you booked your ticket for the next edition yet? Here’s the link. I hope to see you there.
Image Credit:
1, 3, 4: Courtesy of Maison&Objet
2: “Circularity in Action” by Laurence Carr x Council Denmark @ Maison&Objet 2023
