It is a story of passion, ecology and design. Julien Bulvestre is a young salaried designer at Rossmann. Large family business specializing in the production and processing of recycled cardboard. A company located in La Vancelle, about sixty kilometers south of Strasbourg. It is precisely within his design office that he, along with four other designers, carried out a one-year project to design original cardboard objects, a far cry from the company’s usual production. Initially offered by the latter as end-of-year gifts to customers and employees, it embarked on this niche production to offer it to the general public. With the desire to “continue to innovate while preserving the environment”. Escape game, lighting, every year for four years, flourishes a new project.
After a Christmas tree, available in several colors, they are now tackling a fireplace, still in cardboard, always reusable. Because if the idea that underlies all this production is to bring a fresh look “on this often badly connoted material” assures Julien Bulvestre, it is also “to imagine something else” than packaging.
Planet-friendly creations
“This is once again proving that in the era of new technologies, we can design innovative, expressive objects from a simple cardboard plate and above all, make people aware of the importance of protecting the environment. ‘environment. “If all their creations are 100% made in Alsace and promote short circuits, they are indeed also respectful of the planet:” We use 100% recyclable cardboard as well as ecological water-based inks for printing, specifies the designer. Our cardboard creations do not require any tools or accessories for assembly. No glue, cutters… ”
Thanks to an ingenious folding method, the cardboard elements fit together. And to guide users, an instruction manual is printed inside the boxes. Assembly videos are also available on their online store.
Simplicity, vintage look, transportable, reusable, we must not be mistaken: the productions are the result of “a long research effort” underline the designers and a European patent has also been filed by the company to protect the concept. This is also the case for the fireplace, which currently only lives on the drawing boards. At a height of 80 cm, about thirty centimeters deep and a small meter wide, it receives cardboard sticks and LED bulbs to simulate the fire. “Real piece of furniture”, the designers explain that they still have to wait to start production of the fireplace. But they assure her, she should be available very quickly. Fast enough to accompany the Christmas tree.