Driven by their pursuit of ever-greater sustainability goals, many of the industry’s top R&D departments are now adopting the same strategy: work backwards. By re-evaluating what happens to a rug or a piece of furniture after it hits the curb, manufacturers are introducing examples of circular design that prioritize the lifespan of our planet over their own individual permanence.

Mind you, this is not to say that they are creating throwaway designs. Indeed, this new generation of environmentally responsible statement pieces prides itself on being no less durable, comfortable or attractive than its predecessors — it just has the added benefit of also being easily composted or recycled when the time comes. Here are three examples of...