Herman Miller Environmental Efforts

Aeron Chair

As a company, Herman Miller makes a conscious decision to design quality products to better the work environment without sacrificing our natural environment. Their environmental efforts have been recognized with their scores of environmental awards and achievements. In 2007, the company has been chosen for the Sustainable Business 20 List, is #14 on CRO magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens,” and won the 2007 Wastewise Gold Achievement Award for Smart Packaging. To assist in their efforts to protect the environment, Herman Miller established a Perfect Vision Initiative, Environmental Quality Action Team, and a Design for the Environment Team.

Perfect Vision Initiative:
An initiative Herman Miller launched setting sustainability targets for the year 2020. Among these goals, Herman Miller strives for:

  • No landfill
  • No hazardous waste generation
  • No air emissions (VOC)
  • No process water use
  • 100% green electrical energy use
  • Companies buildings constructed to a minimum LEED Silver certification
  • All sales from DfE-approved products

    Environmental Quality Action Team (EQAT):
    The EQAT team, created in 1989, is a committee of Herman Miller employees to ensure that all Herman Miller manufacturing plants maintain their company’s high environmental standards. EQAT sets Herman Miller’s environmental goals, as well as monitors their progress. Herman Miller’s first formal policy was set in motion by the EQAT team in 1991 when a goal for zero landfill use was launched. Herman Miller’s goals have since grown – They are now on a “Journey towards Sustainability.”

    Design for the Environment (DfE) Team:
    The DfE team was established to develop environmentally friendly design standards for Herman Miller’s existing and future products. When creating new products, team collaborates with the designers and engineers to go over material chemistry, disassembly and recyclability, incoming packaging, and possible waste generation. With their new designs, they progressively work towards including additional materials, features, and manufacturing processes with concern for their environmental impact.