Copenhagen, Denmark – Widely known for being a hub of architectural innovation, the Danish capital is home to several exciting startups pushing the circular economic agenda. Among them is mellow designs, a product design studio that follows the Scandinavian philosophy of smooth and long-lasting products. Initially a construction company, mellow designs shifted away from the linear economic model when the Danish government adopted the 'Climate Act', which pledges a reduction of 70% of CO2 emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Today, the startup strives to advance sustainable construction methods and spark global change by setting a benchmark for industries around the world. In their own words, it is about "[...] [generating] tangible value for our end users. at mellow designs we focus our efforts on challenges that have a global impact potential and are scalable across several countries".
mellow designs: mobilising Nordic expertise for a circular economy
Today, commercial spaces face three prominent issues: rising materials costs, labour shortages, and the construction industry's push towards sustainability. These factors make frequent renovations a financial and environmental burden. The traditionally used gypsum boards, a staple of commercial fit-outs, which are not designed to be disassembled or recycled, create construction waste and a high carbon footprint. Seeing these boards are still widely employed, mellow designs has, through the years, developed and perfected a set of specific products that help tackle the issues above.
Up first, the Frederiksberg-based studio's ingenious 'mellow wall™' is a modular wall system that utilises upcycled scaffolding as its core structure, offering a sustainable alternative for reusing idle or landfill-bound resources. On the outer layer, the finishing panels made from bio-materials (mainly hempcrete, eelgrass, and mycelium) offer a sleek visual to consumers. These materials can be easily recycled once they are no longer being used, and the internal structure can return to its original circulation in construction. On top of that, the modular design allows for easy construction and disassembly, further minimising waste and damage to surrounding structures, as well as maximising reusability. As such, businesses can leverage existing scaffolding materials, reducing the need for virgin resources.
Secondly, the so-called 'mellow joint™' is a highly adaptable connector used to create outdoor furniture from unused EUR-pallets (the standard for European pallets). This means that clients (in this case, festivals, street food venues, exhibitions, fairs, etc.) can utilise idle materials they already have on hand to their advantage. More than that, the joint requires no additional tools or construction expertise to transform the pallets many have lying around into temporary furniture, which thereby proves to be relatively cost-efficient compared to other solutions. Much like the mellow wall™, the joint allows for much flexibility in indoor and outdoor spaces while suppressing the client's carbon footprint.
Mellow also goes beyond manufacturing circular construction products. The startup further offers consulting services to companies wishing to integrate sustainable business solutions. This includes scaling an idea to a market strategy by creating a step-by-step action plan and offering advice based on their expertise. While the design studio integrates its wall and joint products, circularity remains at the core of its interests.
A proven track-record of climate-positive projects
As a catalyst for positive change, mellow commitment to circularity extends beyond their product offerings. By collaborating with clients across diverse sectors and locations, they demonstrate their versatility and their impact in applying real-world solutions.
Locally, the design studio has partnered with Glostrup Kommune, a Danish municipality hosting an event at their local library needing an outdoor seating solution. Seeing as the usual seating options involve significant time and effort to set up, they can generate considerable waste once they are no longer needed. The solution? Mellow's very own mellow joint™, which, as previously explained, utilised the standard EUR-pallets to create temporary outdoor furniture. After the event, the pallets and joints (which can be bought or rented) were dismantled and likely kept for future events. Today, the partnership serves as a prime illustration of how mellow contributes to shaping sustainable communities. It further shows potential clients how they can create practical public spaces and significantly reduce the time spent on assembly.
The studio's footprint extends beyond Denmark. Most recently, mellow collaborated with the Norwegian Neon Festival in Trondheim. For many festivals, seating is a crucial part of the setup and can be an essential element to improve guest experience. As in the previous case, the main challenge was to provide temporary, durable, and environmentally friendly structures. It also completely aligns with the festival's sustainability goals, which are reflected in its other partnerships with Norsk Gjenvinning (Norway's largest supplier of recycling and environmental services) and SJ Nord, for instance. Additionally, the joints used throughout the setup will be reused for future editions of the festival. Mellow further provided consultancy services to festival organisers, which reflects their desire to put clients first.
Finally, the mellow wall™, while less versatile in its application, is also a staple of mellow's product line. In 2023, they supported ARUP, a global sustainable development consultancy, in achieving their circular ambitions for the Warsaw office. The partnership was extended to other companies, which eventually revamped the 1800 sqm office space with 90% second-hand furniture and 25% cost savings from simply reusing materials. The design was recognised by the esteemed Frame magazine, which rewarded mellow and other contributors with the 'Best Small Office of the Year' award and PLGBC, which awarded the project with the Green Building Awards 2023 in the best sustainable interior design category.
Serving a larger picture
So far, we have gained a better understanding of what mellow designs does and offers. The use of their joint and wall products, as well as their consulting services, were further examined by looking at how they impact local communities and help operationalise their client's sustainability goals. But if we take a step back, we realise mellow seeks to tackle fundamental problems of the green transition: accessibility and affordability.
Implementing circular practices often requires specialised knowledge and expertise. Companies may lack the in-house design skills or technical understanding to develop products or processes that prioritise resource recovery and reuse. Secondly, the upfront costs associated with circular design can be significant. Shifting from traditional linear models might require investments in new technologies, infrastructure for disassembly or remanufacturing, or even redesigning entire product lines. These costs can be particularly daunting for smaller businesses with limited resources. Without readily available guidance and financial support, the path towards circularity can seem out of reach for many companies. In this sense, mellow designs solves both. Equipped with industry knowledge and a sincere dedication to the circular shift, its consulting services help identify critical areas of change and how these can be transformed and improved. Its product line further utilises often overlooked and readily accessible materials, making circularity more attainable for companies and municipalities of all sizes.
It's safe to say that among the many companies enabling the shift to circularity, mellow puts Scandinavian design at the service of practical solutions. As attention towards this transition is echoed by increasing regulation around the globe, the Danish design studio will inevitably be in the position to help those wanting to take the first step. With enough momentum, solutions can be scaled across multiple industries, eventually phasing out current linear options to the point where circularity becomes the norm.