Plastic chairs are sold around the globe. But today, that "plastic" might actually be a vegetable compound as the design world increasingly embraces "green" and "meaningful" production, experts in the field say.

"For both consumers and creators, interest in 'the sustainable' is growing each year," said Franck Millot, director of the annual Paris Design Week - a huge showcase for the latest trends in global furnishings and decoration.

"A designer doesn't just create beautiful objects, they also think in terms of improving daily life," he said.