Designing out waste: Our progress

Design solves problems. Across our brands, we leverage design to reduce waste from our processes and product lifecycles. And we're finding new ways to design out waste every year.

A white line drawing that represents designing out waste, overlaying a background of ocean water.

40%

We reduced our use of single-use plastic packaging by 40 per cent by mid-2023.

100%

We’re working to reduce our use of single-use plastics by 100 per cent, by 2030.

Recycling starts with disassembly

The latest products from across our brands demonstrate our 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.

Disassembled parts of the Ever Chair by NaughtOne.

Next level, next Life

Knoll’s Life Chair 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.

A detail image of a Life work chair by Knoll.

Less waste, safer facilities

Designing out waste goes further than just a sustainable product. It also means diverting hazardous waste to create safer facilities.

Two glass containers, one full of blue sand and one with a small amount of blue sand.

96%

By 2017, Geiger reduced its annual volatile organic compound generation to just 6.5 tonnes – a 96% reduction since the brand’s creation.

Ten silver-coloured cylinders, representing less than eleven drums of hazardous waste from Geiger.

98%

Formerly, Geiger produced over 300 drums of hazardous waste. By 2017, their output was less than 11 drums – a 98% reduction.

Our 2030 sustainability goals

Sustainable design leads to more inspiring products, as well as a culture of people committed to doing things right. Our goals for 2030 continue our collective's tradition of designing for a world we all want to live in.

A white line drawing of a wind turbine representing reducing our carbon footprint, overlaying a background of blue sky.

Reduce carbon footprint

We aim to reduce carbon emissions from our products and operations by 50 per cent, building off our 7,000-ton carbon reduction by mid-2023.

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A white line drawing of a tree that represents sourcing better materials, overlaying a background of a green forest.

Source better materials

Materials comprise over 50 per cent of the carbon footprint of our products. We want to source them better.

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