Furniture manufacturer COR is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Leo Lübke, managing partner and designer, discusses how the company has maintained quality over the years and continued the joy of sustainable design with its CORever repair initiative.
Interview by Thomas Wagner
Leo Lübke, managing partner of COR | © COR Sitzmöbel
Mr. Lübke, COR is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. How have you managed to steer the company through challenging times?
Leo Lübke: I believe you just have to keep moving forward. Of course, you must always question whether the business model is still viable, as the bankers say. If, like us, you produce in Germany, you need to find the right niche, which we have done. Essentially, I didn’t have to change much of what I inherited from my father. I continued it, sometimes taking detours or even wrong turns.
At its core, COR’s development has been consistent and stable since 1954. We still stand for contemporary design, high quality, and environmental goals. We were always environmentally conscious—my generation even more so than my father’s, though he was very open to it. He was COR’s first eco-manager. We were the first company in the furniture industry to implement an eco-audit. Today, we do a lot for the environment, we have numerous certifications, and we are CO2-neutral, though this includes buying certificates.
Do you feel a special responsibility as a family business owner?
Leo Lübke: Personally, I do. Not just for the company but also personally. I always think about how to reduce my personal footprint. I’m no saint, but I try. There are moments when I wonder what I’m living for. To have zero impact, you’d have to take your own life. Living on this planet means leaving a footprint through food, clothing, and so on. You need to be aware of this without punishing yourself. I believe it helps to face challenges with a positive attitude. We at COR strive to contribute our part, no more, no less, and we do this holistically and independently of trends.
Does appealing and durable design naturally lead to sustainable production and high environmental standards?
Leo Lübke: We don’t parade sustainability like a badge; we aim to sell beautiful furniture that allows people to furnish their homes according to their personality. We want to be the tool for that, nothing more. We take a modest, integrative approach, which sets us apart from some luxury brands that aim to outshine everything.
How has sustainability changed over the decades?
Leo Lübke: Sustainability has fluctuated over time. It’s not a continuous upward trend. When I joined COR in 1994, companies like Wilkhahn were promoting non-chrome bases for ecological reasons. By the late 90s, many early achievements had faded. Customers told us our long-lasting products were eco-friendly enough. Only the climate crisis has reignited this dynamic. The younger generation’s engagement has brought hope for sustained change. At COR, we continuously question ourselves and seek the best path, regardless of current trends. This is a matter of company culture, attitude, and values.
In autumn 1954, Leo Lübke founded the factory for the production of upholstered furniture in the name of his son Helmut Lübke | © COR Sitzmöbel
The COR showroom with almost 3,000 square metres of exhibition space for object furniture and the COR collection | © COR Sitzmöbel
How does COR embody the right attitude in its measures?
Leo Lübke: It’s often a matter of prioritizing: invest in photovoltaics, better insulation, or a new painting line? The latter might be crucial for competitiveness and thus the company’s survival. Balancing these decisions is enjoyable, and the joy of sustainable design is embedded in our company. We’ve developed an environmental strategy involving the workforce and have a part-time environmental manager. However, bureaucracy can be frustrating.
If a piece of furniture has a technical defect, the cause is identified and the mechanism or function is repaired | © COR Sitzmöbel
With CORever, you have embarked on a special project. To put it bluntly, is repair an ‘innovation’ from the past that is urgently needed today?
Leo Lübke: We have always engaged in repairs, primarily focusing on reupholstering. The frame constructions of our furniture last a long time, but the foam can wear out, especially if a heavier person sits in the same spot repeatedly. The most vulnerable parts are the upholstery materials. Leather requires a lot of care, fabrics eventually wear out, or accidents like a spilled glass of red wine occur. Such repairs have always been part of our service. However, reupholstering can be relatively expensive, costing between 50 to 70 percent of the original price when considering the retailer’s margin. Despite this, it remains a popular option. In the 1980s, we developed a system with snap-in piping to facilitate quick cover changes, and we supply pre-made covers to retailers so the sofas don’t need to be sent back to us for refurbishment.
Furniture in good condition is professionally cleaned and refurbished | © COR Sitzmöbel
How did CORever come about?
Leo Lübke: We have always collected our old models at the COR-Haus. Customers would ask if they could donate their old but well-preserved sofas to our collection when purchasing a new one. Usually, we had to decline because the model was already part of our collection. These exchanges made us think about the potential of refurbishing and reintroducing these pieces into the market, especially with the growing trend of second-hand items being viewed positively by younger generations. We started small, asking retailers to collect old furniture when delivering new items and storing them until we could pick them up. This approach has allowed us to gradually refine the process.
And what does the concept look like in practice?
Leo Lübke: Initially, I thought we could simply take back old furniture, refurbish it, and put it back on the market. However, it’s not that straightforward. We haven’t invested in an expensive online shop because we’re unsure about the market size. It could be a flop, or demand might be so high that we can’t refurbish items quickly enough. We decided to take a gradual approach, like the Japanese, improving step by step. We’ve told retailers that when they deliver new furniture, they should take back the old items, store them, and we will pick them up, offering a logistics fee in return. If customers say their old sofa is in great condition and they don’t want to part with it for nothing, we suggest they try selling it on platforms like eBay. Essentially, we act as the “last resort” for unwanted furniture.
Furniture with worn upholstery is refitted with new fabric from the warehouse | © COR Sitzmöbel
Restoration is also costly…
Leo Lübke: That’s right. This is why we can’t pay for the returned pieces. Every piece of furniture undergoes a basic cleaning, which alone takes several hours. The next step is to check the condition of the fabric or leather, which often requires replacement. Sometimes, even new upholstery isn’t enough, and we need new foam padding. In cases where the item is beyond repair, we have to dismantle it and sort the materials for recycling. All of this requires significant effort. Do items always need to be flawless? Or can we simply clean them, accept minor imperfections, and offer them at a lower price, which might appeal to a younger demographic?
Damaged cushioning is also replaced and seat pads are renewed | © COR Sitzmöbel
How do customers find out what is available through CORever?
Leo Lübke: Currently, CORever items are available during our quarterly sales events, which also feature trade show models and returns. These events are advertised on our website. We found that people prefer to experience high-quality furniture in person before buying. This is still a developing concept. We’ll see how this develops; it feels like an expedition into uncharted territory.
Do you see a trend towards a more value-conscious approach to furniture?
Leo Lübke: Yes, especially for high-end brands like COR. Customers appreciate the opportunity to acquire quality branded furniture at a more affordable price through CORever. This concept might be harder for non-branded items, but we hope to set a precedent that others can follow.
How can design further support repairability and circularity in new products?
Leo Lübke: Design plays a crucial role. When someone is drawn to a piece of furniture in a showroom, it’s often an emotional response to its form, color, or material. Ensuring that this attraction is complemented by comfort, sustainability, and customization options creates a comprehensive story that appeals to modern consumers.
You consider furniture as cultural assets. Does this justify initiatives like CORever, along with durable design and sustainable production?
Leo Lübke: Absolutely. We take pride in caring for and evolving our products, ensuring they remain relevant and responsibly managed throughout their lifecycle.
© COR Sitzmöbel
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About the Author
Thomas Wagner was born in 1955 and studied German and Philosophy in Heidelberg and Brighton (Sussex). While still a student, he began working as an art critic and freelance journalist. From 1986 he wrote for the art section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, where he was chief editor for visual arts and design from 1991 to 2007. He then continued to work as a freelance author, art critic and columnist. Wagner published an online magazine for Stylepark and was editor of the German Design Council’s design report magazine. He is currently online journalist for ndion. Wagner has also taught as a visiting, guest and honorary professor and was a founding member of the DGTF (German Society for Design Theory and Research). He has served on numerous juries and continues to be active in the field.
