Share this on

Steelcase Receives Cradle-to-Cradle Certification

The office furniture manufacturer started collaborating with MBDC in 1993.

Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 10/13/2005 12:00:00 AM

The Think chair by Steelcase is as green as it gets. Its ecological design--the chair is comprised of 99 percent recyclable content and made up of 41 percent recycled material--has earned the office furniture manufacturer silver Cradle-to-Cradle Product Certification from product and process design firm McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC).

Steelcase is the first manufacturer to earn the new certification, which ensures environmentally responsible materials are used in the chair's development and design. Over the years, Steelcase has worked with MBDC to assess materials and develop design strategies, analyzing the environmental impact of a product at every stage of its life. The Cradle-to-Cradle protocol is based on the work of Dr. Michael Braungart and William McDonough, who have defined and implemented sustainable, cradle-to-cradle principles in the design of materials and products. A three-tierd approach, consisting of Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels, places a major emphasis on the human and ecological health impacts of a material's ingredients, and focuses on the ability of that material to be truly recycled or safely composted. Companies seeking this official certification are required to meet strict criteria for social fairness and corporate practices and ethics. "Designing for sustainability requires a dedication to evaluating a product's long-term effects and lowering the environmental impact at every stage of a product's life--from materials extraction to end-of-use," says Allan Smith, director of marketing communications and environmental strategy at Steelcase. In 1993, Steelcase collaborated with MBDC to conduct a material assessment on textile designer Designtex's McDonough fabric collection. Steelcase has continued to work with MBDC over the years to expand the assessment to products, most recently collaborating to assess and produce the Think chair. "Steelcase has demonstrated a true commitment to the cradle-to-cradle design concept through its material choices, product designs and advanced manufacturing processes, “ explains William McDonough, architect, industrial designer and co-founder of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry.