OkaTerra Validates Impacts of Regenerative Design with a Declare Label
OkaTerra, a forward-thinking furniture brand led by Justin Beitzel and Fernando Ramirez, is revolutionizing product design by expanding the bounds of regenerative design not only with a better end product but with better initial questions.
Fernando Ramirez, Industrial Designer
“We design from the soil up—with the goal of healing the planet, strengthening circular economies, and creating furniture that could one day return to the earth without harm.”
Through the journey to validate its sustainability claims with a Declare Label, we learned just how intent OkaTerra is on setting a new standard for sustainability through its bio-based Numero I & II Stools.
It Starts with Better Questions
With six products in the marketplace, OkaTerra had already developed a reputation as a thoughtful, sustainable, and environmentally conscious company. However, for the Numero I & II Stools, the designers wanted to push the parameters of being “sustainable,” asking if it was possible to manufacture furniture that gives back more than it takes. Fernando envisioned what that could look like, "we wanted to put the product in a forest and know it would fully decompose."
OkaTerra’s Numero I & II Stool
The first step was to meticulously analyze the supply chain by looking at every material and process through the lenses of chemistry and sustainability. From wood to fabrics to fibers, OkaTerra sourced everything with intention. All bio-based products come from within 150 miles of the assembly site in Baltimore. The stool base is made with Carbon Smart Wood™ from fallen urban lumber, which would otherwise go to landfill or be chipped or burned, releasing harmful emissions. Each replaceable wool felt pad is made with fiber from a local farmer, who provided full transparency on every aspect of the material processing.
The result: A piece of furniture that gives back more to the community and the planet than it took to create it.
Next, the team needed to validate it.
Pursuing a Declare Label
Product certifications provide marketplace validation for a host of sustainability claims, from environmental impacts to product chemistry to social stewardship. With a myriad of options, OkaTerra leaned on our team to direct their certification efforts toward one that would best capture the product benefits.
Declare labels are all about transparency. Third-party verified, the label provides an industry-recognized way to share a product’s complete “ingredient list,” along with any chemicals of concern, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or chemicals of concern on the Red List. Each label also shows where the product is assembled, how long it’s expected to last, end-of-life options, and how well it complies with the Living Building Challenge (LBC).
Foresight was critical in guiding OkaTerra through the Declare process, securing the Numero line’s place on the International Living Future Institute’s database, and promoting the accomplishment to the A & D industry.
Collaborative Problem Solving Along the Way
It wasn’t always smooth sailing from selecting a certification through final auditing. There is a critical push and pull between data and design, each informing the other. Sourcing a glue that would qualify for the Red List-free Tier III level turned out to be more of a challenge than expected. Due to industry resistance, many adhesive suppliers lack comprehensive ingredient data.
To find a suitable solution, we contacted a range of suppliers before identifying one who could meet Declare’s most rigorous standards and provide full chemical disclosure. Guided by the standard, OkaTerra evaluated every supplier for eachcomponent and made critical design changes along the way. The commitment to sustainability led the design process — not the other way around.
Setting a New Standard for Sustainable
In spring 2025, OkaTerra achieved a Tier III Declare label for their Numero I & II Stools, exemplifying its philosophy of designing for variation and natural beauty, including the unique characteristics of each piece of wood and variations in wool color that embrace nature’s inherent imperfections. The design is simple and scalable, showing that sustainability and upscale modern aesthetics can coexist.
Declare is not just a certification but a marketing and design differentiator for products. OkaTerra’s commitment to regenerative design resonates with designers and architects who are interested in meeting LEED and WELL standards and the growing demand from consumers for mindful manufacturing.
The success of the Numero I & II Stools signifies a shift in how companies approach sustainability. Instead of incremental improvements, OkaTerra started with a bold question, redefining product development through a regenerative lens—and daring to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Interested in taking sustainable design a step further? Ask what Foresight can do for you.