Better World
Sustainability
Stewardship of the environment has long been a core value for Herman Miller, but we are at a pivotal moment in the climate crisis. We believe in managing our resources responsibly to preserve Earth’s. Each measurable action adds up to the big changes we need.
Watching like a hawk
A large and noisy group of approximately 200 seagulls nested on the roof of Portal Mill, our manufacturing facility in the UK, making a mess for our building’s rainwater collection and operations, as well as posing a health and safety risk. So we brought in some muscle – Willow, the trained hawk – to convince the seagulls to relocate.
100% renewable energy since 2010
Herman Miller became the first company in the furniture industry and one of the first companies in the world to fuel 100% of our facilities around the world with renewable energy. In 2010, we were already nearly 50% of the way to carbon neutrality.
Green buildings
We became a founding member of the US Green Building Council in 1991; four years later our GreenHouse facility set the standard as a LEED Pioneer building. And today, we have several certified sustainable buildings across our global footprint, helping our customers outfit many more.
WELL buildings
In 2020, we became the first furniture company to register for WELL Portfolio, which enables organisations to enhance their spaces and improve human well-being across a global footprint. We also registered for WELL Health-Safety Rating, which include operational strategies to help keep spaces clean and sanitised.
Reconsidered, reduced, recycled
In 2019, Herman Miller set a goal of reducing single-use plastics in packaging globally by 30%. For example, we’ve made multiple switches to paper-based or corrugated material that is easy to recycle. And we’ve reduced and incorporated recycled content in the polybags and stretch wrap (plastic that protects products during shipment).
Cleaner, safer chemistry
The increasingly clear connection between sustainable, safe chemistry and better employee health and well-being is one reason we developed a Herman Miller Restricted List of Chemicals. This list is based on voluntary building standards, product certifications and applicable regulations. We are focused on avoiding chemicals of concern in our products.
A sweeter solution
In 1995, Herman Miller opened the GreenHouse. Large colonies of angry paper wasps moved in, and instead of reaching for pesticides, we brought in 600,000 bees in 12 beehives. These honey bees persuaded the wasps to move out and then cross-pollinated the surrounding fields, generating a lot of honey – which we give as gifts to our guests.
Our legacy
Our founder, D.J. De Pree, said in 1953, “We will be a good corporate neighbour by being a good steward of the environment.” Throughout the years, we have established several goals to continue this legacy. And little by little, we’ve met them.
