It seems you can make anything out of eco materials these days, with Swedish furniture chain Ikea is giving away a recyclable camera to promote the launch of its PS 2012 eco furniture collection.

The KNÃPPA flat-pack digital camera is made almost entirely from cardboard, and is being given to customers for free so they can take 40 photos of their eco furniture and then upload them to the Ikea website. Giving away a recyclable camera is a clever way for Ikea to gain column inches and to highlight the environmentally friendly PS 2012 range eco furniture range. Every item is made from sustainable and renewable materials, which include:

Wool – Synthetic textiles, like nylon and polyester, are made from petroleum and are very polluting to manufacture. Eco textiles made from wool, on the other hand, are far more environmentally friendly, and luxurious too. Other eco furniture textiles include hemp, organic cotton and silk.

Bamboo – This fast growing grass can be treated to create an elegant and light material for making eco furniture, like small tables and chairs, with a look that resembles hardwood.

Wood plastic – Plastic is combined with wood to create a hardwearing composite with the low environmental impact of sustainably harvested wood.

Flax – This is a bast fiber grown in cool climates. It’s a good conductor of heat and has antistatic qualities, making it perfect for creating attractive and cool fabrics for sofa cushions and eco furniture upholstery.

 

Eco furniture is also often made from water based glues and varnishes that don’t emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Along with being less polluting to manufacture, water based eco furniture treatment materials are better for your health and the environment too.

 

Along with its PS 2012 eco furniture range, Ikea recently bought a Scottish wind farm and plans to spend £4 million installing solar panels on the roofs of ten of its UK stores. Such a large investment can’t simply be dismissed as a marketing gimmick, and reflects how brands and businesses are becoming more eco conscious, both in the products they produce and their attitude towards environmental responsibility.