String Furniture

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS 

• Sweden
• China 

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES 

String states that they have 40 direct suppliers, 35 of which are based in Sweden, whilst 5 are based in China. According to the company, 98% of their total volume of product is purchased from Swedish suppliers. 

To ensure responsible business practices, String has developed guidelines to conduct Due Diligence across their supply chain. They have also conducted risk assessments, and have identified areas for potential improvement. Currently, 89% of their suppliers have signed their Supplier Code of Conduct. String states that 2% of their suppliers are deemed high risk, and they are prioritising social audits for these facilities. 

MATERIALS 

• Wood
• Steel 

String states that 100% of their steel wires are made from recycled steel. Their steel panels use material sourced from Norway, from a manufacturer which uses 98% renewable energy in its production. 

68% of the wood used by String is FSC certified, which guarantees that it is sourced from responsibly managed forests. String states that all their wood is aligned with the EU Timber Regulations. 

PACKAGING 

String states that every product is flat packed to minimise the amount of packaging used. According to the company, in 2021 only 0.86% of their packaging was plastic, and their new packaging is plastic-free. 

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS

String states that 69% of their suppliers have ISO 14001 certification for environmental management and are working with water and efficiency measures. Their wooden surfaces are treated with water-based lacquer, which is compliant with European chemical regulation standards (REACH). Their powder-coated surfaces use a solvent-free technique. 

Additionally, in 2022 100% of the electricity used within the company directly came from renewable sources. 

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

String states that their furniture never needs to be recycled as it can be repurposed, rebuilt, repaired, and reused. They even offer a spare parts service to maintain the longevity of their products. String has however taken care to ensure that their products are recyclable too. Steel is their most frequently used material, and according to the brand it can be recycled infinitely without affecting its quality. 

The waste from their wooden shelving production is shredded and used as energy. 

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS 

Whilst String does not yet offer a take-back service, they do claim that there is a strong second-hand market for their products due to their longevity. 

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN 

Production locations: 

• Sweden
• China 

The majority of String’s production is based in Sweden, in close proximity to their Swedish headquarters. A small percentage of their suppliers are however located in China, which adds length to their supply chain, and means that their associated emissions are higher.

String offers shipping to the EU and United Kingdom. 

TRANSPORTATION

String states that for inbound transport they currently use road, with deliveries from outside of Sweden coming in via sea or rail. 

String does not use any animal-derived materials in their products. 

PRODUCT DESIGN 

String’s products are designed to last. To help ensure this, they provide care and maintenance instructions for every product. Their products can also be repurposed, reused, and reconfigured infinitely, keeping them away from landfills. For example, the String shelf is designed to be easily expanded, modified, and customised for specific storage needs and different interior spaces. 

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES 

The brand’s business model seems to align with slow fashion principles as String does not currently offer any of their products for sale. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT 

The product pages state what materials were used, but the production country is not provided. Although the majority of String’s production is based in Sweden, this is not always the case and consumers may therefore be uncertain as to where their specific purchase was produced. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES

String provides detailed information about all their designers on their website, and some insight into their manufacturers. COSH! would love to see more transparency about their processes, including where their raw materials are sourced from, to provide a more accurate overview of their sustainability efforts.