Sustainable design furniture made from construction waste – the story of ECONOR Design and the innovation that earned recognition.
We are thrilled and deeply honored that the jury of the ELLE Decoration Hungary International Design Awards (EDIDA) has nominated us in the Innovation of the Year category. This nomination is not only a professional milestone but also a confirmation that our work represents a significant step toward the future of sustainable design.
The story of ECONOR Design started in 2020, when it became clear to us: PUR foam, which ends up as waste in massive amounts, poses a huge environmental problem. The core of sandwich panels used in the refrigeration industry is made of this material, which until then was considered almost impossible to recycle.
Nóra Sándor-Dávid, founder of ECONOR Design, witnessed firsthand the challenges of sandwich panel waste management in her family’s business. That’s where the inspiration came from: why couldn’t this material be turned into something new, durable, and valuable?
After years of research and development, and thanks to the collaboration with PURMAN Kft, we created a patented process: shredded PUR foam is compressed into blocks and reshaped into a stable, cuttable, and moldable material. This breakthrough opened the door to design furniture.
The first pieces were simple – cubes, rectangular blocks. Over time, we grew bolder: curves, rounded edges, lightweight structures, and even indoor furniture upholstered with zero-waste textiles followed. Today, our collection already includes a remarkably comfortable armchair with a footrest. These colorful, playful pieces are presented under the name reHAB – and you can increasingly spot them at design fairs, exhibitions, or community spaces in Hungary.
For us, this nomination is a strong affirmation: combining sustainability, innovation, and design is not only possible, it is essential. We are proud that our furniture, created from construction industry waste, provides not only an alternative but also represents a new mindset.
If you’re reading this as an interior designer, we know that design for you is not just about aesthetics, but about function, sustainability, and unique experience. ECONOR Design furniture is easily adaptable, customizable, colorful, and playful – giving you creative freedom in your projects. At the same time, they address a very real environmental issue.
These pieces allow you to integrate unique, sustainable, and meaningful elements into your designs. With them, you don’t just create spaces – you create stories that your clients will remember and talk about.
At ECONOR Design, our mission is to show that waste is not the end of the line. Recycling can be creative, inspiring, and value-creating. That’s why, for us, the EDIDA nomination is much more than an award – it’s a message to future generations: nothing should be thrown away, because every material can be given a new life.
Will you find your own cozy spot in it?
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