Materials that have already completed one lifecycle carry a significantly lower ecological footprint than newly manufactured alternatives. Since 2020, product designer Anna Diermeier has channeled two passions through her label Zurück: design and sustainability. Her mission is to curb CO₂ consumption and counter the mountains of textile waste generated by fast fashion and overproduction.

Through upcycling and thoughtful design, Diermeier conserves resources and champions circular economy principles—creating real climate impact. Her approach is straightforward: every product uses only existing materials. She launched with an upcycling collection from decommissioned hotel linens, redirecting discarded fabrics and scraps away from landfills and back into circulation. Her current offerings tell the story. The Zurück Sack organizes everyday essentials using repurposed banner material and hotel textiles. The Zurück tea towels are crafted from restaurant linens—and unlike their new counterparts, they dry remarkably quickly. Created in collaboration with umtüten, the Snack-Tüüt makes zero waste feel accessible: this reusable pouch keeps bread, croissants, and pastries fresh as a sustainable alternative to disposable bags. It's lined with a plant-based corn starch compound and features an inlay made entirely from renewable materials.

www.zurueck.store

Photography Credits:

Raphael Eltrop
www.eltrop-photography.de
Anna Kaiser

(Published in CUBE Munich 02|22)