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So the story goes, when Elon Musk’s SpaceX was faced with a $120,000 price tag for a rocket booster actuator, the famed visionary advised his engineer thusly: “That part is no more complicated than a garage door opener. Your budget is $5,000. Go make it work.” Some nine months later, the actuator was finalized at a price tag of $3,900, accelerating production of the rocket while similarly providing impetus to Musk’s objective of verticalizing his supply chain in order to enhance quality, decrease transportation costs, and reduce fossil fuel use. 

Though arguably the most famous, Musk certainly isn’t the only one bent on innovating the supply chain and thus reducing fossil fuel use. Manufacturer Keilhauer, for instance, has pioneered the “Planet Keilhauer” initiative—a comprehensive sustainability program that aims for a true closed-loop (and, hence, carbon-neutral product output) throughout the entire manufacturing process.  Planet Keilhauer thus specifies long product lifespans (they can be disassembled, biodegraded, reused, or recycled); use of recycled content or rapidly renewable materials; renewable energy for production; and zero waste or net water use. 

These are lofty goals, so Keilhauer can be justifiably proud of achieving them in their very first carbon-neutral chair. Designed by Andrew Jones, Swurve is a slim and ergonomic high-performer with a lovely silhouette inspired by organic forms. “Organic” is apropos since Swurve exemplifies how to achieve each of the six components of closed-loop manufacture: materials are sustainably sourced (with priority given to local suppliers), elements are manufactured responsibly, and both pre- and post-consumer recycled materials are incorporated.

Swurve also conforms with Keilhauer’s Design for Environment Program (DfE), which specifies “holistic life cycle thinking, material specification, and sourcing so that we create exceptionally well designed and safe products with long, useful lives that are repairable and recyclable.” Keilhauer also points out that when the inevitable carbon footprint appears (such as with transportation costs), it’s zeroed out thorough the purchase of carbon offsets.

And one look confirms that there’s no aesthetic drawback to going carbon neutral. Swurve is something to look at, with graceful curves and subtle shapes—very like a user’s spine. The chair is available in 22 different mesh colors as well as vinyl options for venues in which hygiene is paramount.

Like Keilhauer, Interface has made a name for itself with a dedicated commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. Way back in 2003, the company achieved carbon neutrality for its full line of carpet tiles by offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions created during production. Today, all of Interface’s products are carbon neutral across the full lifecylce. This includes carpet tile, LVT, and Nora rubber products, as well as the new and very exciting Thread Story collection made with recycled nylon. 

Thread Story is a celebration of Bauhaus women weavers. Featuring patterns that seem familiar and innovative at once, Thread Story acknowledges the forward-thinking bent of Bauhaus while also returning to comfortable motifs. Featured patterns include “Social Fabric,” an intricate, geometric design with bold, vibrant colors; “Future Woven,” a checkered pattern of neutrals with enticing textural variation; and “YesterWeave,” a tightly woven tile with a classic look. Thread Story offers 16 different colorways in each pattern, providing for extraordinary variation and versatility. 

While the lofty goal of carbon neutrality is certainly laudable, Interface is setting its sights even higher: the company is anticipating the release of its first-ever carbon negative carpet tile products. Slated to launch in October, Embodied Beauty will feature more recycled materials in addition to bio-based backings that actually store carbon. The collection will include three carbon negative and four carbon neutral products. “The finished product brings together durability, industry-leading design, and a negative carbon footprint that ultimately benefits the planet.”

We look forward to getting a first look at Embodied Beauty and reporting back with further details next month.