CONNECTION^TM INTRODUCES THE UK’S FIRST CARBON NEUTRAL CHAIR

Connection^TM has launched the EcoStartTM task chair, the UK’s first carbon neutral office chair. As sustainability becomes of more importance across the globe, Connection designed the chair focusing on its environmental cost through a ‘life cycle assessment.’ This analysis took into account a product’s materials, manufacture, transport, use and disposal at every stage of its development.

To ensure the EcoStart chair’s whole life cost is minimised it has been made with interchangeable upholstery pads which encourage a longer life by enabling onsite refurbishment. The chair itself is 98% recyclable by weight and 52% of the materials used in its production are recycled.

Although the chair has been developed with the well-being of the environment in mind, Connection’s high standards of design have not been compromised. As with all chairs within Connection’s ranges, the greatest attention has been paid to ensuring high levels of ergonomics and user comfort.

To confirm the chair’s environmental credentials, the EcoStart chair was analysed by Best Foot Forward, one of Europe’s leading sustainability consultancies. By using their Ecological Footprint analysis, they have been able to establish the chair’s carbon footprint and the cost per chair necessary for carbon offsetting.

Nicky Chambers, Director of Best Foot Forward, stated, “By identifying the lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions from the EcoStart chair, Connection have taken a bold first step in reducing their contribution to climate change.”

Connection has partnered with carbon offsetting specialists Climate Care to ensure each chair’s carbon neutrality. Climate Care is a service that helps companies repair their impact on the environment by ‘offsetting’ greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), through a series of projects throughout the world. These projects include funding reforestation in Africa, wind turbines in India and other projects worldwide.

David Wellington, Managing Director of Climate Care, stated, “Climate Care supports the initiative Connection has shown through the environmentally friendly design of the EcoStart chair. We hope that this signals the first step in more responsible design by British companies. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Connection helping to fund Climate Care's numerous carbon offsetting projects throughout the world.”

Jonathan Hill, Managing Director of Connection, states, “We are proud to be the UK’s first designer and manufacturer of a high quality office chair that takes into account its impact on the environment. Additionally the EcoStart task chair also makes sense as a business decision. To extend its life cycle and limit its environmental impact it has been designed to allow for easy refurbishment through the use of unique interchangeable upholstery units and service package. Its strong environmental credentials make it a wise investment for organisations as environmental costs and taxation increase in the coming years.”

The EcoStart website is – www.eco-start.uk.com