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The Evolution of Passion: Jill Salisbury’s Journey to Green

The Furniture designer balances craftmanship with sustainability.

Penny Bonda -- Interior Design, 5/27/2005 12:00:00 AM

The Takira ottoman and table are crafted from formaldehyde-free sustainable wheat-board. Finishes are naturally derived and non-toxic.

The Origami lounge chair is part of the El series, which uses nature as its mentor in order to advance sustainable solutions. Aluminum frames are designed to be recycled and reused.

El's furniture balances well-being with a pure design aesthetic that celebrates sustainability and a high sense of style.

All recommended upholstery fabrics for the El Prasada club chair come from environmentally responsible manufacturers such as those utilizing the McDonough/ Braungart lifecycle climatex protocol. Leathers are chromium-free.

Salisbury's Zen nightstand features an inlay mosaic of tagua, a non-edible nut from Ecuador that mimics ivory.

The Eureka Moment

Life changed for Jill Salisbury at an environmental conference four years ago. Working as the interior design manager of an architectural firm, a client requested a green project. Clueless as to what that meant, Salisbury attended EnvironDesign 5 in Atlanta and had what she calls her “eureka moment” when she realized that as a designer she had an important role in incorporating environmental integrity into her projects and a responsibility to know what kinds of products she was putting in people’s residences and offices.

“My passion was developing,” she states, “but as I began to try and incorporate sustainability I wasn’t able to find furniture that combined both style and environmental integrity—what was out there was an either/or—and so I took that leap of faith, quit my job and founded my firm, El Furniture, an acronym for environmental language.”

Research on the Protocols

Not surprisingly, Salisbury and Clark decided that her furniture would be a bio-nutrient made from materials that would safely return to the earth at the end of their useful life. Together they developed a list of materials that met their strict criteria: natural with no additive chemical treatments, made with recycled content, recyclability, locally available and rapidly renewable. They searched out vendors and manufacturers willing to open their minds and do things differently. Using the by-products from another industry evolved as a high priority and led to some interesting partnerships. A local tree removal contractor, for example, turns the trees he takes down into lumber rather than sending them to the landfill. “When an order comes in,” Salisbury says, “we contact him to see what he has in inventory. I try to use his woods before going to another resource. In addition, the granite we use for the smaller pieces comes from a local kitchen cabinet shop – remnants that would otherwise be thrown out. I like taking materials out of the waste stream and concurrently help businesses that share my same passion.”

The Challenge of Chemicals

Multiple chemical sensitivity is a problem for many people and Salisbury is committed to ensuring that her products are benign, going so far as to guarantee, when necessary, that her organic cottons are handpicked. Mechanical harvesting can crush the seeds, releasing oils that become rancid and hence toxic to highly allergic people. Salisbury will send cuttings of the actual materials to be used to her clients to test their reactions. This extraordinarily high level of customer service is a source of pride for the designer and often leads to ongoing relationships with her clients.

End-of-life issues for her products are considered throughout the design process. 100 percent biodegradability and recyclability are the goals, and each material is examined to see if it will safely return to the earth or become a technical nutrient for something else. Aluminum frames, for example, are highly recyclable and designed to be easily detached in order to facilitate the process. In addition, Salisbury designs for the long term by avoiding trendy aesthetics and hopes that her customers will keep her furniture for a lifetime. In cases where the customer wants to dispose of an item, she is working on take-back options but is finding the challenges very difficult.

Sustainability and Success Hand-in-Hand Salisbury’s mantra is “designing to inspire change.” Other values include prosperity, defined as the long-term value of environmental improvements, and design integrity that she characterizes as heirloom quality craftsmanship that is elegant, fresh and stylish. “I like to think of my furniture as eco-chic alternatives for the residential market,” she states. “There have been great advances in the commercial sector but there’s been a need for the same kind of inspiration for the home.” Her eco-smart furnishings are not only filling the niche but also proving that one doesn’t have to choose between sustainability and success. Research has led to unusual challenges. For example, the cotton used to make the batting wrapped around upholstered cushions is typically chemically treated to prevent the down feathers from poking through. Salisbury had to find organically grown high thread- count fabrics to keep the fillings in their place. Salisbury knew she had to begin with research on the protocols with which she would evaluate materials and, at first, tried to tackle the task on her own but soon realized her mistake. She needed to bring science to the table and her search for an expert in chemistry and biology led her to Paul Clark, an environmental consultant and engineer who previously worked for Bill McDonough and Michael Braungart’s firm, MBDC. She was also very influenced by biomimicry expert Janine Benyus, a proponent of looking at nature for inspiration by systems that have been in place long before humans came along.