Too Good to Waste questions the validity of the relationship between trends and consumption of wood. Contrary to popular perception, not all forests are disappearing. In fact, the extensive American hardwood forest is rapidly expanding and the volume of its standing timber has doubled in the last 50 years. However, because of fashion and colour trends, demand is too often focused on a few species, while many others are being left underutilised, which is creating a missed opportunity for carbon storage and design.

The project is an invitation to reflect on the responsible use of these forests and to discover species and grades of American hardwoods rarely found in homes or furniture stores in Europe, but that need to be considered if we want to contribute to a balanced and sustainable use of the forest.

“So many wood products available to us are limited to certain colours and hardwood species; it’s depriving consumers and designers the freedom and excitement to experience what comes from using much more of the material that is available.” - David Venables, AHEC Europe

The design of the structure is by Benedetta Tagliabue, co-founder of EMBT Miralles Tagliabue. Having previously worked with Benedetta in The Workshop of Dreams, where she chose to use a mix of underused species for her table designs, it felt only natural to work with someone who was born and raised in the city where the installation was to be originally presented.