Best Eco-Friendly Office Chairs for Sustainable Workspaces

As a business, we’re committed to being environmentally and socially responsible. Sustainability is a strong part of who we are, and we know it’s hugely important to you too.

You may well recycle your paper and printer ink, choose organic coffee and host yoga sessions in the office space, but how eco-friendly are your office chairs? People often think about ergonomics and aesthetics when choosing office furniture, and they are important factors. But considering the environmental impact of your desk chair and other office furniture is a responsible thing to do. We all need to play a part in protecting our fragile environment.

Here, we’ll share key sustainability aspects to look out for when choosing more eco-friendly chairs for your office environment.

What do we mean by sustainability?

First things first. What’s covered by the term sustainability? It goes beyond the environmental, spanning social and economic factors too.

• Environmental: this includes the materials used (are they sustainable and/ or recycled materials for example), waste creation, water consumption, chemical use, air emissions and disposal.

• Social: what are the working conditions like those involved in the manufacturing process? Are there fair, safe, healthy and responsible practices?

• Economic: consider the circular economy and the lifecycle of the product.

Find out more about our commitment to sustainable practices

What to consider when choosing an eco-friendly office chair

There are multiple considerations to factor into your choice of eco-friendly office chairs. These are key points to look into when researching sustainable options for your work or home office.

High-quality products

Low-price, high-volume products can be enticing. The discounted price is so appealing. But the durability of these products will be low, meaning that they need to be disposed of and replaced more often.

High-quality craftsmanship and functionality is a more sustainable practice. That expertise, care and quality workmanship makes a real difference to the end product. It means well-designed office chairs last longer and need to be replaced less often. They’re likely to have a longer warranty period too.

Office chair materials

What’s your office chair made from? Eco-friendly chairs should be built from natural, non-toxic, sustainable materials. Just as you’d check the ingredients on food packets, you should look through the components of furniture products before you buy.

Is the wood locally sourced, legal and FSC certified? Does the upholstery include toxic, artificial materials or organic, natural fabrics like cotton and bamboo? What about the frame? Is it British steel or a metal that’s been imported from across the world? Maybe it’s been recycled, giving new life to a former product. Plastic is often maligned, but it comes in many different forms. Our ever-popular Postura+ task chairs are made from high impact resistant copolymer polypropylene (30% of which is recycled). It’s extremely durable, giving it a long lifecycle. And it’s 100% recyclable. So plastic isn’t all bad.

Look for more eco-friendly products that contain renewable, recycled or sustainable materials. We ensure that products come from well-managed certified forests, recycled and other responsible sources. Those in our supply chain have been FSC certified.

Read the full details of our partnerships and memberships

Production of the office chair

Where have all the components of your office chair come from? Think about its transportation and that impact on its carbon footprint. Then there’s the packaging used to protect it during transit - what’s in that?

Look into the manufacturing process. That will have a significant impact on air emissions, water usage, waste disposal and other pollutants. This affects those involved in the production process, those in that local community and the surrounding environment.

We continually review our manufacturing facilities and processes to be more environmentally friendly. That includes painting processes, adhesives, metal cleaning, finishes, and packaging. KI's efforts are aimed at all media - water usage, wastewater discharges, air emissions, and solid/hazardous waste - in a comprehensive effort towards pollution prevention.

Lifecycle of the office chair

What happens to your old task chairs or office chairs when you’re done with them? Do they get added to the vast landfill pile? Or is there a way to recycle or reuse components? You may not be thinking about the end of the chair’s usage when you’re buying it new, but its entire lifecycle should be a consideration if you value sustainability.

We at KI continue to look into the development of products and product options with the largest percentage of recycled content and those which can be easily recycled, disassembled and repaired.

Health and wellbeing

Most office workers (or home office workers) spend hours and hours of their working day at their desk/ workspace. That inactivity and posture can be detrimental to their health. Our bodies were designed to stand and move more regularly, not remain in one position for hours on end. Investing in ergonomic comfort, with well-designed office chairs, will positively impact your people’s health and wellbeing.

To avoid or minimise back pain, ensure your office chair is supportive. That comprises lumbar support, a headrest, backrest, a high back and adjustable armrests. That adjustability is crucial as you can personalise the setting to the individual. That should also extend to an adjustable seat height and the ability to recline or be more upright.

Active sitting is to be encouraged. Many of us like to fidget after all. Also, consider a standing desk and a chair with a swivel motion and castors to allow free movement.

KI’s commitment to people and planet

We’re continually reviewing our processes and production methods to lessen their environmental impact. This is and always will be an ongoing part of what we do. We’re committed to the development of products that are more environmentally friendly.

KI (UK) has been approved under the ISO 14001 standard and continually drives best practice in this field throughout its organisation.

We’ve been awarded Indoor Advantage™ Gold (for indoor air quality and air emissions) on our 800 Series Seating, Grafton Family, Hatton, Postura Family, Postura+, Postura+ Upholstered and Solon seating solutions.

Check out our range of eco-friendly desks and chairs to enhance your sustainable office environment and support your team’s well-being. Find out more about our plastic furniture and its eco-friendly attributes.