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Circular Design
Circular thinking is in our DNA. Friso Kramer, the iconic designer, first pioneered sustainable design by always looking at how things could be simplified—less frills, fewer parts, less material, fewer things that could break. Long before the term existed, we were already leading the way in circular design, with timeless products that can be endlessly reused. How do we do it?
As early as the 1990s, Ahrend was involved in the development of Ecodesign, the European directive for environmentally-friendly product design. Our A220 office chair was one of the world’s first Ecodesign products. Since then, Ecodesign principles have become a standard part of our product development. We apply these through our circular design strategy, considering the entire lifecycle of our products.
Responsible use of materials
More than 60% of our company’s environmental impact comes from material production. This is why we use materials responsibly and continuously improve our furniture to reduce its environmental footprint. The Ahrend Remode, for example, is 3 kg lighter than its predecessor, the A2020, and even 6 kg lighter than the A220. The lighter the product, the lower the environmental impact.
Designed for reuse
Our furniture is built to last. We create modular designs, for easy disassembly and repairs. Our circular services postpone recycling for as long as possible.
Learn more about our circular services
The circular details of the A2020:
- Designed for reuse
- Lightweight design
- Easily replaceable parts
- Recycled materials
- A take-back system for components
- Interchangeable upholstery cover
The circular details of the S50:
- Designed for reuse
- Lightweight construction
- Interchangeable upholstery cover
- Recycled acoustic material
- Sustainably sourced wood
- Upholstery made from recyclable fabrics (mono-materials)
Minimising your environmental impact starts at the drawing board. During the design process, we calculate the environmental impact of various design and material choices through Life Cycle Assessment. By doing so, we make decisions that ensure minimal CO2 emissions for our furniture.
To reduce waste, we use as many recycled materials as possible in our furniture. We also select materials that are suitable for endless reuse, helping to prevent the extraction of new resources.
Our furniture is used intensively indoors throughout the day. We therefore ensure that the materials are sound and durable. We test our furniture extensively in various ways. How do we do this?
Our furniture is used intensively in indoor environments throughout the day. This is why we ensure that the materials are sound and durable. We extensively test our furniture in various ways. How do we do this?