Northbrook, Illinois, USA

In a world increasingly shaped by environmental consciousness and responsible design, Crate & Barrel has emerged as a leader in sustainable home furnishings with its groundbreaking Revive Sofa.

Recently honored with the prestigious 2025 Green Good Design Award  by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, the Revive Sofa is more than just a stylish addition to the modern home — it’s a bold statement about the future of furniture.

Crafted from 99% post-consumer recycled materials and designed for easy disassembly and recyclability, the sofa embodies the intersection of innovation, comfort, and ecological responsibility.

As consumers demand more from the products they bring into their homes, the Revive Sofa shows that high design and high ethics can — and should — go hand in hand.

The upholstery industry stands as a testament to evolution within the furniture world, particularly in the realm of sofa design.

While the exact timeline of mass sofa production is debated, it’s safe to say that over the last century, sofa construction has undergone a remarkable transformation.

Early sofas, often filled with natural materials like horsehair and down, have given way to complex layers of foam, staples, synthetic fabrics, and even feathers, all bonded together to create the comfortable seating we know today.

This evolution, driven by advancements in materials and manufacturing techniques, has resulted in sofas that are more affordable, durable, and, arguably, more comfortable than their predecessors.

However, this evolution has come at a cost.

The intricate layering of diverse materials, while achieving comfort and affordability, has created a significant challenge for sustainability.

The complex composition of the modern sofa renders it nearly impossible to recycle effectively.

Today’s sofa is essentially a “Frankenstein” of materials, fated for the landfill at the end of its life.

This inherent design flaw poses a growing environmental concern, making the upholstery industry ripe for a new wave of innovation focused on sustainable construction and end-of-life solutions.

Project: Revive Sofa
Designers: Crate & Barrel Furniture Design, Crate & Barrel
Lead Designer: Jay Edward Keller
Manufacturer: Crate & Barrel
Photographers: Crate & Barrel Photo Studio