Doing Our Part for a Better World
For more than 100 years, the MillerKnoll collective of brands has worked to improve spaces—and the world around us. Together, we can do more. MillerKnoll has embedded sustainable thinking into company culture, so the health of our planet drives business decisions, informs eco-friendly solutions, and inspires people to leave the world better than we found it. All products across the collective will contain at least 50 percent recycled content by 2030.
RECONSIDERED, REDUCED, RECYCLED
As part of their 2030 sustainability goal of Designing Out Waste, they plan to stop using single-use plastics. One way is through packaging. In 2019, Herman Miller set a goal of reducing single-use plastics in packaging by 30% globally by 2030. For example, they’ve made multiple switches to paper-based or corrugated material that is easy to reduce and recycle—and they’ve incorporated recycled content in polybags and stretch wrap (plastic that protects products during shipping).
REPURPOSING OCEAN-BOUND PLASTIC
MillerKnoll is a founding member of NextWave Plastics, a consortium working to develop the first global network to keep plastics in the economy and out of our oceans. By integrating this transformed plastic into products and processes, the volume of plastic waste is reducing , little by little. Plastic waste tends to build up in coastal cities that don’t have the infrastructure to process it. As part of NextWave Plastics, they’re working to turn this plastic into something brand new. 300 metric tons of plastic waste have been diverted from the ocean through fiscal year 2023. MillerKnoll is continually working to find ways to add this material into products and expand their current offerings across the globe.
RECYCLING STARTS WITH DISASSEMBLY
The latest products across the MillerKnoll collective of brands demonstrate the commitment to cradle-to-cradle design. This includes the Ever Sofa by NaughtOne: the brand’s first upholstered product made to be easily disassembled and recycled at end of life. Knoll’s Life Chair also reflects the brand’s commitment to sustainable design. Life is made with recyclable material, easily replaceable components, and a high volume of recycled content. This makes it easy to replace components as needed, versus replacing the entire chair.
DESIGN OUT WASTE
Design solves problems. Across the MillerKnoll collective of brands, design is leveraged to reduce waste from processes and product lifecycles. And new ways are being found to design out waste every year.
REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT
Reducing our carbon footprint is vital for reversing climate change. This year brought major reductions in MillerKnoll’s carbon emissions, and by 2030, they strive to reduce the carbon footprint from their products and operations by 50 percent.
SOURCE BETTER MATERIALS
The materials chosen affect a design’s sustainability more than anything else. MillerKnoll is striving to use fibers and chemicals that are better for the environment. When materials are grown, not extracted, it ensures they’re harvested responsibly.
Together, we can use the power of design to positively impact the globe and ultimately leave it better than we found it. The MillerKnoll Better World site is your destination for research and insights on MillerKnoll’s commitment to bulding a more sustainable world. Dive in below to learn more!