An increasingly popular force of furniture designers certainly think so with a focus on individualistic furniture, made from sustainable materials, including a well known craftsman in the field, David Colwell, of Caersws.

David Colwell said: "There are two approaches to sustainable design. In one the idea is to make recycling of materials a priority and essentially carry on as before. The other is to look at the process of making things with the intention of having as many benefits as possible.
"Or, seen another way, to recognise that there is no such thing as a side effect: there are only effects, and to arrange for as many of them as possible to be positive."

David Colwell graduated from the Royal College of Art as a Master of Design in 1977. Among his achievements David has produced a reception desk for the Scottish Parliament building and a selection of gallery seating for the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff – while also making furniture for both commercial and personal use out of his workshop at Trannon Studio, Llawr-y-Glyn, near Llanidloes.

When asked what made him choose a career in furniture design he said: "I got involved because I am fascinated by design.

"I love having things around us which dignify life, and furniture is very good for that because it is somewhere between sculpture and a practical object. Its actual function doesn't change very much but unlike other products there is so much scope. You can't do to a washing machine what you can do to a chair."

David has a philosophy of furniture design and production: "On the principal that an interesting answer is most likely to come from an interesting question, I designed this furniture with sustainability high on the agenda. Really good design is about visualising a better tomorrow.

"Everything has to be sustainable, not just furniture. We need to get into sustainable mode with regards to all things across the board, which means making lifestyle choices we might not want to make and generally consuming less.

"Visually what I am trying to say is that sustainability can be really good looking, it doesn't have to look bland and killjoy. Yes to have this sustainable lifestyle you have to make changes, but my gosh it can be so much better!"

David primarily uses locally produced ash thinnings, grown in a sustainable forest, to make his collection of tables and chairs. Trees are the world's only renewable structural material and yet 90 per cent of Britain's timber is imported every year with almost half of our own timber crop pulped, burned or left to rot. David focuses on using ash because it's stocks are fast growing and easily replenished and by using the thinnings – the young trees that are normally cleared and wasted in order to allow light to reach the main trees – it also gives a further income to the forestry community.
Ash is one of the strongest of all timbers and items such as axe handles, skis and walking sticks all traditionally used to be made from it. Another benefit is that the faster you grow it, the stronger it becomes, which obviously gives the foresters a quicker return on their investment.
David Colwell and his team use a process known as steam bending to shape the wood which uses a quarter of the energy of the alternative kiln drying process. David explains how when you use bent shapes it can simplify manufacture greatly and reduce the need for joints which are normally the weakest part. Also, having the chairs made from curved shapes introduces flexibility to the structure, making it stronger, lighter and more comfortable.

He adds: "I have used stainless steel and plastic in small amounts, I do this purposefully as these materials in combination with timber can greatly extend timber's use. I don't want to seem hopelessly romantic, I want to present timber as a high performance material for the 21st century.

"Plastic is really good stuff, we need to stop using it as throw away junk and packaging. It just doesn't make terribly good chairs. As plastic chairs get older they look worn whereas wooden objects look better as they get older. I find metal interesting because, unlike plastics, it doesn't degenerate in recycling.

"For me it is just a case of if you can do the same job with timber then it makes a lot more environmental sense."

When asked about the prospect of his sustainable furniture becoming the norm, he said: "If more people were doing it then it could become a thriving part of a local economy.

"What I am making is not wildly expensive. We are craft based producers but see what we are doing as a proto type for what could be mainstream industry. I would love my furniture to be produced in much greater volume."