How Italian Startup VAIA is Combating Climate Change and Bark Beetle Damage with Sustainable Design

Forest disturbances caused by bark beetles have soared in Europe. In Italy, VAIA is working to restore forests by merging design with local craftsmanship.

The latest project, VAIA People, features a trio of elegant docking stations designed for sustainable device charging and made from reclaimed wood. For every item sold, VAIA will plant a tree in the affected areas.

European and global forests have experienced a significant rise in damage caused by natural disasters, particularly wildfires and droughts, which are increasingly affecting the planet. In recent years, this issue has been intensified by the spread of the spruce bark beetle, an insect favoured by climate change and the weakening of forest ecosystems, devastating thousands of hectares of woodland.

Primarily affecting Earth’s northern regions, this beetle, belonging to the Coleoptera family, mainly attacks spruce trees. It burrows tunnels under the bark, compromising the tree’s vitality and ultimately leading to its death.

The impact of this environmental crisis extends beyond tree loss, affecting biodiversity as forests fail to regenerate. This substantially damages local communities, many of which rely economically on the forestry and tourism sectors, impacting both the perception and attractiveness of affected areas.

In Italy, Trentino has been one of the hardest-hit regions, especially after Storm Vaia in 2018, which felled over 42 million trees in the country’s northeast. In the storm’s aftermath, conditions became favourable for the proliferation of the spruce bark beetle, which continues to cause unprecedented damage to this day.

Land regeneration, innovation, and local craftsmanship

In response to this crisis, various organisations have actively stepped in to mitigate the damage and drive tangible recovery and regeneration efforts. Among them, Trentino-based B Corp VAIA tackles the destruction caused by environmental disasters through an approach that merges local craftsmanship, sustainable design, and innovation. By creating design products where technology meets artisanal expertise and the uniqueness of natural materials, VAIA champions a circular economy model.

Now, to tackle the spruce bark beetle emergency, VAIA’s latest project, VAIA People, introduces a line of eco-friendly docking stations for electronic devices entirely crafted from wood damaged by insects. These three wooden sculptures — measuring 23, 18, and 13 cm, respectively — combine spruce wood with technology that supports charging smartphones, wireless headphones, and Apple Watches. In addition to giving a second life to damaged materials, the project has a strong environmental impact: for every product sold, VAIA will plant a new tree in affected areas, contributing to the restoration of forest ecosystems.

In recent years, Europe has been facing unprecedented climate crises. While addressing this emergency requires resources beyond our reach, we believe that every contribution matters.

What started as a local startup is now expanding internationally, not only setting an example of positive business practices but also proving that daily commitment, active community participation, and Italian creativity can shape a scalable model.

Now more than ever, we must go beyond simply respecting nature: we must foster a genuine relationship of collaboration with it.

says Federico Stefani, co-founder & CEO of VAIA.