How a Japanese Designer Turns Forest Waste Into Furniture

Yuma Kano, 34, is the creative director of the Tokyo design studio Yumakano and crafts exclusive wooden furniture while helping protect forests.

The designer loves wood, calling it an invaluable natural material. But getting wood usually means cutting down trees, which runs counter to global efforts to conserve forests. So Yuma devised a way to avoid deforestation while still using natural wood in his furniture.

He invented an innovative material called ForestBank, made from natural waste: leaves, bark, seeds, branches, and soil. In the construction and furniture industries, these materials are typically seen as useless byproducts. Yet in the hands of an artist, the textures and colors of this diverse raw material come to life. The result: waste becomes unique interior objects, Design Milk reported.

The designer blends plant-based materials with a mineral base and acrylic resin. He emphasizes that his signature furniture does not contain organic solvents or volatile organic compounds. However, Yuma Kano keeps the technical details of his process under wraps.

The natural material ForestBank is one of a kind. Each batch is entirely different, because the raw materials change with the seasons. Green leaves turn yellow, orange, and brown as cooler weather sets in. The coloration of the plant components is strongly influenced by microorganisms living in the trees. The forest floor’s soil adds shades of brown and black to the material, while seed particles create distinctive patterns.

Before starting a new piece, Yuma Kano surveys nearby parks, gardens, streets, and even lumber yards. Each outing presents a new challenge for preserving ecosystems and an opportunity to create an object that’s completely unique.

Yuma Kano is one of the most acclaimed interior designers in Japan. He founded the Yumakano studio in 2012 alongside artist Yasuhiro Suzuki. Yuma says his studio breathes new life into natural materials that industrial manufacturers often overlook.

He showcased his eco-friendly furniture at the Designart Tokyo 2022 exhibition.