Herman Miller unveils its most sustainable collection

Herman Miller recently announced the
introduction of a new sustainable textile collection including fabric made from
all recycled and ocean-bound plastic materials and an industry-leading 100 per
cent post-consumer biodegradable polyester*.

The collection, known as Revenio,
focuses on using the latest sustainable textile innovations to alleviate global
waste, without sacrificing aesthetics, performance, or longevity.

Herman Miller’s Revenio Textile Collection

For every yard in the Revenio
collection, 7-15 bottles of plastic are diverted from the ocean. Annually, the
Revenio Collection will divert an estimated equivalent of 4.6 million or
approximately 37,000 pounds of discarded plastic bottles – 1.37 million of
those bottles will be collected in vulnerable coastline cities, where they will
be intercepted before reaching the ocean.

“This is our most sustainable
textile collection yet,” said Elaine Gerbers, Director of Materials at
Herman Miller. “This new collection amplifies our commitment to creating a
circular economy through the use of environmentally mindful materials. By
utilising 100 per cent recycled content and introducing ocean-bound plastic, we
are diverting plastic from the landfill and our waterways and giving them new
life in these beautiful new textiles. Additionally, our new biodegradable
textile reduces the environmental impact at the end of a product’s life.”

The industry-leading 100 per cent
post-consumer biodegradable polyester can decompose in landfills and wastewater
conditions at a rate similar to that of natural fibres (tested under ASTM
D5511). This is achieved through the addition of a biocatalyst in the yarn
extrusion process that enables anaerobic digestion in landfill and wastewater
treatment conditions. In addition, these polyester fabrics can also be recycled
and reused as raw materials for future generations of polyester fabrics.

Herman Miller joined NextWave®
Plastics as a founding member in 2018 and has been working to incorporate
ocean-bound plastic in its solutions. Convened by Lonely Whale, NextWave is a
collaborative and open-source initiative convening leading multinational
companies to develop the first global network of ocean-bound plastic supply
chains.

“Herman Miller was foundational
to the creation of NextWave Plastics and since 2017 has been a driving force in
our collective work to turn off the tap on plastic pollution,” said Dune
Ives, CEO of Lonely Whale. “This milestone launch is a story about perseverance
and an ongoing commitment to open-source collaboration that makes a tangible
impact for our ocean. Each year, over 8 million metric tons of plastic enters
the ocean. If no action is taken, the amount of plastic going into the sea
every year could triple in the next 20 years. Herman Miller, and all the
NextWave Plastics members, are taking the action needed to keep plastic in the
economy and out of the ocean.”

The Revenio Collection is currently
made up of four textiles and will be available on Herman Miller seating and
workspace solutions such as the Sayl Chair, Eames Molded Plywood Lounge and
Dining Chairs, and Canvas Office Landscape. The textiles will also be offered
on products from Herman Miller Group brands, Geiger and naughtone.

They will be available to order
starting March 1, 2021, in North America. Additional textiles with ocean-bound
plastic and details around global distribution will be announced at a later
date.

Inside the Revenio Collection:

Terra: Terra is the industry’s
leading 100 per cent post-consumer recycled biodegradable* polyester, and
displays a curated neutral palette highlighting linearity and earth tones
echoing the material’s sustainable composition.

Scatter: With saturated colours and
dark organic flecks, Scatter is a sustainable textile reminiscent of the
intricacy and interest of recycled paper. Each yard of Scatter diverts nine
plastic bottles from reaching our oceans.

Mellow: A sustainable, comfortable
solution with softly tinted, tonal contrast in a cooling palette, is reflective
of the material’s eco-friendly origin. Each yard of Mellow diverts seven
plastic bottles from reaching our oceans.

Crepe: A timeless favourite, Crepe,
is now offered with ocean bound plastic content. The signature organic texture
is created from the random nature of the weaving technique. Each yard of fabric
diverts 15 plastic bottles from reaching our oceans.

*Rate and extent of biodegradation
into elements found in nature is 91 per cent after 1,278 days under ASTM D5511
(Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High Solids Anaerobic
Digestion Conditions). Test completed with same component (PET) polyester and
biocatalyst additive. No evidence of further degradation.