# Koosh Ball Ottomans Eco-Conscious Furniture Made from Recycled Flip-Flops By Katie Cordrey | Published 2009-01-04 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nerfy-poufs-eco-conscious-furniture-made-from-recycled-flip-flops References: [curbly](http://www.curbly.com/Chrisjob/posts/4973-The-Miss-Rio-Ottoman-Created-from-Recycled-Flip-Flops-) & [dwr](http://www.dwr.com/product/miss-rio-ottoman.do) Merging creativity with social purpose, industrial leftovers from flip-flop factories are used to employ local people making *Miss Rio Ottomans*. Brazilian designer Karin Wittmann Wilsmann produces her flip-flop ottomans as part of the Ecodesign Ghetto project. The goal of Ecodesign is to develop projects with commercial viability that use eco-friendly materials and local labor. The result of combining design with [discarded material](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bultan-chair) is an end product that both surprises and delights the user. The [colorful ottomans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/palma-pouf) do not have a rigid structure. Their shape is supported by [knotting](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/knit-one), which means they can use a lot of material that would have otherwise been sent to landfills. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.0/10 - Popularity: 55% | Activity: 56% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Upcycling Manufacturing Waste:** Businesses can find opportunities to reuse manufacturing waste and transform them into creative and eco-friendly products. - **Socially Conscious Design:** Businesses can create products and involve local labor to support communities and foster eco-consciousness. - **Knotting as Structural Support:** Businesses can explore the use of knotting as a structural support method to reduce waste and incorporate more eco-friendly materials into furniture design. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Furniture Manufacturing:** Furniture manufacturers can explore eco-friendly materials and production methods for more sustainable and socially responsible products. - **Fashion Manufacturing:** Fashion manufacturers can repurpose waste materials, such as flip-flops, into unique and sustainable products. - **Environmental Conservation:** Organizations in the environmental conservation industry can promote and support sustainable design and production practices to reduce waste and environmental impact. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Recycled Shoe-Made Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/remix-maison.md) - [Discarded Shoe-Created Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wu-series.md) - [Contemporary Upcycled Bright Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/remix-maison-1.md) - [Waste-Incorporated Chair Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/knoll-chairs.md) - [Leather Waste Beanbag Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fourtenths.md) - [Geometric Upholstered Poufs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tait.md) - [Oozing Cake-Like Furniture Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roll-furniture.md) - [Olive Pit-Constructed Kids Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nontalo.md) - [Styrofoam Furniture Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trashy.md)