For 27 years now, [more] company has based its work on one simple principle: sustainability. It can be find it in clear lines, with their timeless appeal which will outlive any trend. It can be find it too in strong structures which we can rely on to last a lifetime. It can be find it in warm wood, fabrics, leather, natural materials from sustainable sources, and responsible production methods. It can be find it also in the passion and excellence of experienced carpenters, tanners and upholsterers, who, in their workshops, produce each piece individually to order.
How can we spare even more resources? What can we do without? Where can we replace conventional with eco-friendly materials? How can we organise production, packaging and transport in ways which are better for the environment? Sustainability for [more] is a way forward, where each small step is valuable. The company is driven, in this process, by its personal concept of aesthetics. From day one, [more] have built furniture as if it were for their own homes. Furniture with attitude. In [more] view, substantial design aims not only to achieve formal perfection, but also to find answers to the question of ‘how do we want to live?’
Solid wood
Wood is the main component of [more] furniture. The company is still fascinated by its life, warmth and individuality. No two pieces are alike in their feel, structure or grain, and this makes each of pieces of furniture unique. [more] uses only slow grown solid wood from sustainable forests in Europe. The long-standing partnerships and the trust that the company has in its sawmills – which guarantee the regional origin of wood and the respect of strict forestry legislation – are more important than a cluster of certificates (e.g. FSC), which have been criticised by Greenpeace and Robin Wood.
Oak, walnut, ash or cherry. Careful drying is vital to the production of high-quality, long-lasting furniture. The timber used by [more] is air-dried for two long years. When its humidity levels have dropped to 16%, it is moved to a special chamber with controlled air humidity, where the process is completed. Only when humidity levels fall to 8 - 12% is the wood ready for further processing. The wood is then sanded laboriously, to produce particularly fine and long-lasting surfaces. If requested, these can be varnished. As a rule, however, the wood is treated with hard wax oil from natural raw materials. These oils produce a slight shine, emphasise the structure and protect the wood, without sealing it completely. The material can breathe, stays alive, retains its authentic character and, over the years, becomes more beautiful with use.
Naturally tanned leather
The leather used by [more] for the chairs, armchairs and benches is produced in Germany, Britain and Austria. It is tanned in Italy and Spain. This allows customers to choose an innovative, 100% sustainable process based on olive leaves. This naturally-produced and fully biodegradable tanning agent makes for leather which is durable, supple and as soft as possible on the skin. A positive sustainability side effect: while in the past, millions of tons of leaves left over from the European olive harvest were burnt, now they can be put to good use. Just like wood, [more] loves leather for its individuality and authenticity. Instead of fully covering the surface with pigments, leather is dyed with soluble colours, a process which retains the natural marks and pores of the hide.
Fabrics with robust natural fibres
[more] sourches the fabrics in Sweden, Italy and England, especially keen on exciting combinations. Combining pure new wool and ramie, for example, gives a particularly fine, distinctive structure and feel. The materials, moreover, absorb the dye in different ways, which gives the fabric visual interest and depth. Ramie, also known as China grass, is a fibrous plant largely grown in Asia and which has been used for thousands of years. It can be produced without pesticides or irrigation. The fibres are very stable and naturally white, so there is no need for costly bleaching.
Upholstery from renewable raw materials
Even for those parts of furniture which will not normally be seen, [more] gives clear priority to the use of natural and sustainably produced materials. These are almost always renewable raw materials. As well as coir, the company uses kapok. The fibres of the so-called silk-cotton tree are extremely light, and also, due to their lignin content, very strong. They are water-repellent, breathable and have a low cellulose content. All these physical and chemical factors provide natural protection against bacteria, mites and moths.
Craftmanship
To produce the furniture, [more] relies on high-quality, individual manufacture and short distances. [more] furniture is produced in three medium-sized companies in Northern Germany, Ostwestfalen and the Middle Rhein region. The company has worked with these partners for many years, and value their relaxed entrepreneurial spirit. These people combine high standards of craftmanship, reliability and an openness to new ways of achieving sustainability. The carpentry businesses and upholstery firm are owner-managed, and have been for generations. They create local jobs and provide skilled training. They meet some of their energy needs by producing solar energy, use electromobility, and make use of waste materials as a CO2-neutral heat source.
