# Discarded Shoe-Created Stools The WU Series by BENTU Design is a Sustainable Alternative By Amy Duong | Published 2024-09-04 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wu-series References: [bentudesign](http://www.bentudesign.com/)  The WU Series is a range of mosiac-style stools designed by the team at [BENTU Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/w10-terrazzo-chargers). It boasts a distinctive artful look which also boasts a sustainable process. The company knows that about 20 billion pairs of shoes are produced at a yearly rate and about half of that amount will sooner or later end up in landfills. Footwear is often made with half a dozen synthetic materials specifically the outsoles crafted from rubber, which takes hundreds of years to decompose. The WU series tackles that issue as 90% of the stool's raw materials are made using [recycled rubber shoe materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shore). Due to this process, the colors create a visual mosaic similar to a terrazzo effect. Image Credit: BENTU Design ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.4/10 - Popularity: 66% | Activity: 8% | Freshness: 27% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Recycled-material Furniture:** This trend involves creating high-design furniture items using repurposed materials, characterized by eco-conscious and artistic aesthetics. - **Waste-to-product Innovation:** Companies are discovering innovative ways to transform waste, like discarded shoes, into valuable consumer products, reducing environmental impact. - **Sustainable Design:** Designers are increasingly focused on sustainability by integrating recycled materials into their designs and emphasizing long-term usability. ### Where This Applies - **Furniture Industry:** The furniture industry can greatly benefit from sustainable practices and materials, creating eco-friendly and stylish products that appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. - **Footwear Manufacturing:** Footwear manufacturers face increased pressure to address the environmental impact of shoe disposal, driving innovation in material reuse and recycling. - **Sustainable Manufacturing:** Manufacturers across various sectors are adopting sustainable practices, repurposing waste materials into new products to reduce their ecological footprint. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Colorful Sustainable Recycled Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stump-recycled.md) - [Contemporary Upcycled Bright Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/remix-maison-1.md) - [Recycled Shoe-Made Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/remix-maison.md) - [Rice Husk-Made Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rice-husk-stool.md) - [Sustainable Biophilic Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inspired-by-nature.md) - [Recycled Paper Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-plod-stool.md) - [Recycled Plastic Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bit-stool.md) - [Recycled Dynamic Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bultan-chair.md) - [Organic Sustainably Crafted Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luffa-stoolita.md)