Flos: New Sustainable Releases

Sustainability is extremely important to us here at David Village Lighting, so we are always on the look out for brands that are going the extra mile. At Flos, design and innovation have been the two pillars of their business since 1962; taking care of the Planet and its inhabitants through sustainable lighting will soon be the third. Flos believe sustainability is not ‘a’ key point, but ‘the’ key point for getting through present and future times – which is why they have been working towards an eco-friendlier way of designing and producing their products, they are determined to make sustainability their main commitment. This has created 'Flos For Planet', a creative plan that places emphasis on sustainability within every aspect of Flos.

Our team are incredibly excited to introduce the latest releases of sustainable lighting from the brand. These lights are engineered for efficient lighting functions, made from recycled and recyclable materials, designed to be long lasting and can be easily disassembled at the end of their life. So not only has 2022 been the year of many new Flos designs, but it has also become the year of sustainable designs. Here we take a closer look at the latest eco-friendly Flos releases.

Skynest LED Suspension

Marcel Wanders Studio designed the Skynest, which blends elegance and technological innovation, utilising LED strips with textile cable to create a basket effect. After experimenting with light source options, the design team decided upon LED light strips covered in fabric. This suspension light is in fact composed of 24 LED light sticks covered with a two-tone textile texture. The light is emitted from one side only, while the colour of the fabric remains visible on the outside. These light strips are intertwined to create a captivating kaleidoscopic effect. The Skynest is a technological light, made up of various small inventions, including the built-in balancing system at the top which assists the light in remaining perfectly stable.

As part of the Flos For Planet scheme, one of the most impressive features of this luminaire is the fact it is fully recyclable – this is down to the fact it is assembled with absolutely no glue. All parts are also replaceable, you can even easily remove and add a new strip yourself, which connects via a USB connection to the frame of the light. We’re excited to welcome the Skynest into the Flos display in our showroom this year so you can experience it up close and personal!

To-Tie LED Table Lamp

The To-Tie lamp was designed by Guglielmo Poletti, it is a minimalistic lamp stripped down to the bare minimum and held together by mechanical tension alone. This table lamp becomes a decorative piece even when not in use and is available in three sizes. The smart structure of To-Tie allows its components to perform multiple functions - the light source is integrated in an anodised aluminium bar that not only emits a soft diffused light, but also acts as a handle to lift the lamp. Likewise, the textile cable, as well as supplying power to the bar, allows to fix the latter to the borosilicate glass cylinder.

As with other new Flos products, as part of Flos For Planet initiative, no glue or screws were used to assemble the lamp, allowing it to be easily disassembled to replace the components or to dispose of them correctly. This helps to facilitate the recycling process at the end of the product's life. The high efficiency LED source also offers a lifetime of more than 50,000 hours and is replaceable when the time comes.

Gustave Portable LED Table Lamp

The Gustave Lamp has been designed to be future proof and is the latest addition to Flos' portable collection. Designed by Vincent Van Duysen, the Gustave was specifically conceived for the hospitality business, this light emits a 360° asymmetrical light, brightening a wide surface. It is the perfect addition for a dining table in a restaurant hosting four guests. This portable and self-powered luminaire is rechargeable, using the USB-C cable provided and has replaceable Lithium-ion batteries. A touch dimmer, located on the lampshade, also allows you to adjust light intensity - from 100% to 1%, or on and off with a single touch.

The purpose of this creation was to create the first portable luminaire on the market with circular design awareness, ecological and honestly conceived against obsolescence. The lamp has also been designed to be future proof. All parts can be easily replaced, and no glue or screws were used for assembly to ensure the product can be disassembled and recycled correctly. Flos has made every effort to ensure that the lighting device is made of replaceable components to extend its life as with the rest of the Flos For Planet products.

Mayday Table Lamp

Designed by Konstantin Grcic, the Mayday is an incredibly versatile light, which provides a diffused light output perfect for illuminating darker corners of rooms or alternatively, you can suspend the Mayday in the kitchen or lounge as an extra source of light. The large hook positioned on the end of the handle incorporates an on/off switch and comes in useful to install the lamp wherever needed, whilst the funnel shade both reflects and protects the bulb. There is nothing ordinary about the way Mayday achieves such a power of expression, it is exactly what you'd expect of an object which is designed to solve your problems rather than creating new ones.

The Mayday boasts a long-lasting and robust design, made from sustainable materials obtained from industrial processing scrap, it comes to no harm even if you let it fall to the ground. The Mayday lamp is constructed entirely from hard-wearing, water-resistant, injection-moulded polypropylene. As with other new Flos products on this list, no glue or screws were used to assemble the Mayday, allowing it to be easily disassembled to replace the components or to dispose of them correctly. This helps to facilitate the recycling process at the end of the product's life.

Almendra Pendant

Inspired by the natural formation of an almond tree, the Almendra represents the branches and almonds that have opened to reveal the seed within. This suspension light was created with adjustability in mind, the shades can be adjusted with ease, allowing you to create a unique structure that provides the ideal lighting solution for you. This nature-inspired design can immediately be seen and demonstrates the vision that Flos has for the future of lighting design. The Almendra is a unique and innovative light, designed by Patricia Urquiola its connection with nature, is not strictly aesthetic based. On the contrary, it underlies a careful design aimed at minimising environmental impact.

Thanks to the Flos For Planet campaign, the Almendra has kept sustainability at the core of its design. This suspension light is made from 100% recyclable materials, the faces of the petals are made of a special polycarbonate deriving in part from a by-product of paper production rather than from petroleum. Almendra can also be completely dismantled, carrying several advantages. First, it makes replacement of the LEDs very easy in the event of any malfunctions. Second, each part can be recycled properly depending on the material. To ensure correct disposal markings with the recycling class are engraved on the aluminium body and polycarbonate petals.

In Conclusion...