NEW YORK—Ergonomic products have long been characterized by a limited service life. But a designer and manufacturer of high-performance ergonomic products like seating and height-adjustable desks is aiming to change that manufacturing model.
Humanscale is working to extend the life span of products it makes, by intentionally building them for reuse. The company is doing so through a new circularity program, Refreshed, which ensures that its products “get a second (and, perhaps third) life,” Humanscale said in a release.
Furniture waste is growing and reportedly accounts for 17 billion pounds of waste that end up in landfills each year. The Refreshed program offers a tangible way for companies and individuals to put circularity into practice, according to Humanscale.
“Due to high recycling costs and inadequate infrastructure, overcoming systemic obstacles in sustainability requires substantial changes in manufacturing, consumer behavior, and waste management,” said Humanscale Chief Sustainability Officer Jane Abernethy, in the release. “Humanscale continues to innovate, shaping new processes for our industry and bridging the gap to a circular economy. Refreshed is a responsible and planet positive program for our customers to breathe new life into our products that are built to be used again and again.”
According to the release, Humanscale is “guided by the core philosophy that good design achieves more with less.” The company said it is setting the bar for circularity in two phases: product design and the circular system through which the product gets reused.
For decades, Humanscale has designed its products around four key pillars to optimize for a circular model. One is longevity. Its products are reported to be known for exceeding the industry’s toughest durability standards. This inherent durability is said to allow for an extended life, far beyond its initial use. Another is serviceability: Products are designed modularly to make it simple to disassemble or refresh certain components, the company said in the release.
The other key design pillars are material health and simplicity. Humanscale said it has eliminated Red-List chemicals from its products and is “the only manufacturer to have removed Red-List chemicals from its complete line of task chairs.” This reportedly ensures that harmful chemicals, such as carcinogens, do not continue to recirculate in the environment.
To achieve simplicity, Humanscale designs it products to have “significantly fewer parts, about half the parts as others on the market.” This reduces their overall footprint and minimizes the risk of maintenance issues, the company said.
“Humanscale is proud to pioneer an initiative that will give our products a second life and see the circular economy implemented in practice,” said Humanscale Founder and CEO Bob King, in the release. “Now more than ever, it is clear that circularity is essential in our fight against climate change. As we continue to make a positive impact on our planet with Refreshed, we hope to inspire other companies to follow suit.”
Humanscale is a B Corporation certified company, recognized for its “planet positive manufacturing and industry leadership in environmental stewardship,” the company said.