In our current economy, we take materials from the Earth, make products from them, and eventually throw them away as waste \u2013 the process is linear. In a circular economy, by contrast, we stop waste being produced in the first place.<\/p>Ellen MacArthur Foundation<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n A circularity mindset is put into action at Steelcase as part of the company\u2019s sustainable design process, which is now applied to every new product it creates. Designers draw upon decades of exploration and learning to design for circularity while retaining the same quality, durability and performance level.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a big believer in baby steps forward,\u201d says Held. \u201cYou need a vision and a strategy, but the real difference is driven by hundreds and thousands of small improvements year-over-year.\u201d<\/p>\n The first step in the Steelcase design process is to ensure the product can be taken apart more easily and efficiently. The process may mean designing pieces to fit together in straightforward ways or eliminating the need for special tools to disassemble products. Designing furniture for easy disassembly allows for more agile and efficient repairs or remanufacturing.<\/p>\n Other key practices include marking parts to identify them and thoroughly documenting the product\u2019s engineering to make repairs easier. Using single materials that are not permanently fastened to other materials also makes recycling easier. All of these things help create a circle that reduces waste.<\/p>\n Creating products using the least energy in all facets takes significant design effort and innovation, which our teams are prioritizing.<\/p>Michael HeldSteelcase Vice President of Global Design <\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n With a circular mindset in 2020, Steelcase material experts, designers and engineers challenged themselves to turn small steps into big leaps forward.<\/p>\n The most significant materiality change came from identifying a new polypropylene plastic sourced from landfill-bound refuse that could be used in seating and other products.<\/p>\n Steelcase partnered with a large plastics supplier that recycles versatile polypropylene plastics found in everyday household products, such as discarded containers. Plastics were thoroughly tested for contaminants like heavy metals and other toxins to ensure they were acceptable for recycling streams.<\/p>\n \u201cThat material is recycled, and then we reuse it in a product,\u201d says Charlie Forslund, materials development principal for Steelcase. \u201cThis material can last and be used and reused in our products for decades, so it\u2019s special to see something that at one point would have been one-and-done, but we put it in a durable product.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These new materials allowed Steelcase designers and engineers to radically increase the amount of recycled content in its most popular task chairs – the initial products that have the most significant impact on customers\u2019 sustainability goals. This was done without compromising durability, performance or certifications.<\/p>\n \u201cOur customers are making it clear: They\u2019re demanding more recycled content in the products they buy, and we\u2019re right there with them,\u201d says Steelcase Product Sustainability Marketing Manager Kalia Bryzgalski. \u201cWe redoubled our efforts to explore more options to reduce the embodied carbon in our products.\u201d Steelcase teams deconstructed each chair, using part-by-part reverse-engineering to redesign them more sustainably. They also created new measurement and testing processes to capture sustainability metrics more accurately.<\/p>\n Since the start of this project, the recycled content doubled on average in Steelcase Series 1 and 2, Leap, Amia, Think, Gesture and Steelcase Karman chairs in the Americas. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n Steelcase is working to scale these initiatives globally and is looking to use other sustainable materials that can be applied to even more products. This includes building on our efforts to manufacture with sustainably sourced wood, metals made with renewable energy and more recycled content, and exploring lighter plastics and bio-based textiles.<\/p>\n \u201cWe started small by changing one part of one product years ago, leading to some initial learnings and understanding,\u201d says Held. \u201cNow, we have a lot more knowledge about the recycled contents in plastics, the supply chain and operations. This enables us to make an even bigger impact for our plant across many more parts and products.\u201d<\/p>\n The path to circularity is complex, but experience and systems can help businesses start – and sustain – a more circular economy. When it\u2019s time for a change, Steelcase minimizes landfill waste through a broad range of end-of-use services meant to help customers identify the best ways to reuse, repair, remake and recycle furniture. New efforts to expand circularity services are being offered in different regions worldwide.<\/p>\n In the U.S., Circular by Steelcase: Remade allows for used or damaged chairs to be transformed to like-new condition, extending their life. Plus, these remade chairs come with a 12-year warranty, offering the same longevity as new Steelcase products. Additionally, Steelcase works with partners to sustainably decommission furniture and furnishings so they can be reused, donated or recycled. Under the Steelcase Limited Lifetime Warranty, covered parts are repaired or replaced free of charge if they fall under normal use. This guarantees they\u2019ll last as long as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cOur commitment to designing for circularity isn\u2019t new,\u201d says Held. We launched the Think chair more than 20 years ago as a pioneer in sustainability. It can be taken apart in five minutes. But what is so exciting is that our approach now is about designing this way at scale, in everything that we do, and helping our customers complete that circle when it\u2019s time for a change.<\/p>\nStart by starting over<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1744665798\/25-0253935.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1744665790\/25-0253932.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\nA radical rethink<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1744665969\/25-0253938.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1744666207\/25-0253933.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTime for change<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1744666277\/25-0253937.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1744666320\/24-0245290.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n