How to Choose Sustainable Task Chairs

Read on to find out all you need to know about choosing sustainable task chairs for your next project.

If sustainability is a key driver for your next project, the task chairs you select can make a real difference. The difficulty is that with so many options out there and so many environmental claims made, how do you go about choosing task chairs that are truly sustainable as well as high quality and comfortable?

To help you make the right choice, in this blog we will cover:

• The environmental impact of task chairs
• What makes a task chair sustainable
• How to choose the right task chair for your project
• Some of our favourite sustainable task chairs in our ‘Sustainable Task Chairs Guide’

What is the environmental impact of task chairs?

Whilst most of the focus when it comes to office furniture is on the waste generated at end-of-life, there are many ways in which task chairs impact the environment.

From raw material extraction to manufacturing, shipping, and final disposal, every stage carries a footprint that should be considered when selecting a sustainable option.

Key areas of environmental impact include:

• Raw material extraction and processing – Many task chairs are made from virgin plastics, metals, and foams, all of which require significant energy and natural resources to produce.
• Carbon footprint of production and transport – The energy used in manufacturing, along with emissions generated through global transportation, can significantly increase a task chair's environmental cost.
• Difficult end-of-life recycling – Task chairs often consist of mixed materials that are glued or fused together, making them hard to separate and recycle responsibly at the end of their usable life.

What makes a task chair sustainable?

There are many factors that can be considered when assessing the sustainability of a task chair including:

• Use of recycled and reclaimed materials
• Manufacturing processes and associated carbon footprint
• Country of origin (and associated transport emissions)
• Formal certifications
• Design for disassembly
• Product longevity
• Warranties and other manufacturer support

Certain factors may be more important than others depending on your requirements and the projects overall sustainability goals.

There are also several third-party certifications based around air quality such as GREENGUARD and Indoor Advantage™ which are another indicator for sustainability. These certifications focus on the VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions generated during the use of the task chair which can negatively affect indoor air quality if they are present.

How do you choose the right task chair for your workspace?

The starting point for task chair selection is to understand your end users’ needs as sustainability should never be at the expense of user wellbeing.

Each workplace and each person’s requirements are unique however some of the sorts of general questions you may want to ask include:

• How long are they likely to be sitting for?
• What sort of work will they be doing?
• Is there a need for specific support or adjustability?
• Will the chair be used by others or just one person?
• Are there any limitations in terms of available space?

When specifying sustainable task chairs for our clients, we take all the above factors into account alongside any budget constraints, design intent and environmental targets that the client has. This allows us to create a suitable shortlist from the myriad of options on the market.

Our Sustainable Task Chairs Guide

Hunters’ Sustainable Task Chairs Guide has been created by our in-house Design Team to support you in making informed, environmentally responsible decisions when selecting seating. It features a selection of high-performance task chairs that have been assessed for sustainability credentials, ergonomic comfort, and overall quality. 

Whether you're working towards BREEAM, WELL, SKA or simply want to lower your project's environmental impact, the guide provides inspiration and clarity to help you find the right chair for your workspace.

All you need to do is fill in the short form below to download your guide: