de Le Cuona is a pioneer of sustainable luxury in interior textiles, knowing the origins of all the raw materials used, from sourcing the finest natural fibres for fabrics right through to designing stylish recycled packaging. Sustainability is a core part of the brand identity.

de Le Cuona’s flagship Pimlico Road store opened in November 2018, and used mostly recycled materials in its design. As opposed to using plastic, the store comprises of stunning pieces made from compressed paper, such as the large play table on the ground floor, ironwork along the railings, concrete, terrazzo and resin. The decision to avoid plastic where alternative materials can be used came from a conscious choice, in founder Bernie de Le Cuona’s attempt to take on the ever-growing plastic pollution issue, currently dominating climate change talks.

Smaller changes have also been implemented in the store. From compostable cups which take approximately 12 weeks to completely decompose, to the recyclable coffee pods and even the pencils used in store; all made from recycled CD cases.

The retail packaging for handmade accessories has been specifically developed with sustainability in mind. Beautiful boxes are made from 100% recycled tactile paper in subtle, neutral shades.

As a luxury brand with a global presence, it is important to de Le Cuona to reduce their paper waste and use FSC approved paper for their packaging. FSC certified forests protect waterways and wildlife habitat, conserve regions of high biodiversity, and minimize the impact of harvesting. Our clients can be sure that the paper products we use come from well-managed forests and verified recycled sources.

It is with this sustainable mindset and dedication for the Pimlico Store that influences larger parts of the business; every small change goes a long way.

SAMPLE RECYCLING SCHEME

Our new sample recycling scheme is a small solution to a wider problem. A WRAP study into the composition and re-use potential of household bulky textiles found that of all bulky waste in the UK, around 19% (310,000 tonnes) consists of textiles.

In an attempt to cut down our textile waste and promote a circular economy, whereby resources are kept in use for as long as possible and the maximum value is extracted from them, clients are now encouraged to recycle their unused and unwanted samples, by dropping them off at one of our London locations – 44 Pimlico Road or Design Centre Chelsea Harbour showroom, posting them back to our UK warehouse, or returning them to your local representative.

As landfills contribute a large amount to greenhouse gases and global warming, recycling is a small step in the right direction, helping us to reduce pollution. We encourage everyone to do their part in preserving the earth for future generations.