Steelcase Advances Its Seating Sustainability Journey

Over the past several years, Steelcase has taken meaningful, measurable steps to reduce the environmental impact of its seating portfolio while accelerating its path toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Through carbon transparency, recycled material innovation, remanufacturing, and circular design, the company continues to transform what it makes and how it makes it.

That commitment is evident at every scale, from broad portfolio initiatives to the redesign of individual components. Recent innovations demonstrate how even small product components can contribute to meaningful environmental progress. A new patent-pending arm cap design replaces traditional single-use foam arm caps with flexible fin technology, eliminating a material that has historically been difficult to recycle. The single molded design improves durability, supports full disassembly, and is designed to be recycled back into new products at end of life. Building on work that doubled recycled content in Steelcase's top task chairs in the Americas, the innovation shows how material and design improvements can help advance circularity while maintaining comfort and performance.

A key focus has been increasing carbon transparency and identifying opportunities to reduce embodied carbon. Building on Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and CarbonNeutral® product certification options, Steelcase has used data and measurements to prioritize improvements across many products, most notably task seating. This work helped drive a significant milestone: doubling the recycled content in top task chairs in the Americas, resulting in more than 100 parts no longer being made from virgin plastics and reducing embodied carbon by an average of 35%.

Steelcase is also designing for circularity by creating products that last longer, can be repaired or reused, and are easier to disassemble and recycle. Circular by Steelcase: Remade is a program that brings remanufacturing to select task chairs – extending product life, through a new warranty and updating the chairs to a like-new condition. By extending product life and avoiding the emissions associated with manufacturing new furniture, remanufacturing helps reduce embodied carbon emissions.

From carbon-neutral options and recycled materials to remanufacturing and material innovation, Steelcase continues to demonstrate that progress is powered by intentional action. Each step helps extend product life, reduce waste, lower embodied carbon, and move closer to a more circular future that supports both people and the planet.