The growing climate crisis is an immediate threat to billions of people and businesses around the world. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “Any further delay in concerted action…will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all.”

In other words, we all have to join forces to act now, and Steelcase believes business can be a force for good. We’re carbon neutral now and working toward science-based targets to reduce our absolute emissions 50% by 2030. And we’re actively helping other companies achieve their own climate commitments.

That’s why we’re introducing the new Steelcase Series 1 with CarbonNeutral® product certification. It’s the first entry into our carbon neutral portfolio and gives companies more options to reduce their carbon footprint. We started our carbon neutral product portfolio with Series 1 because it’s one of our most popular and accessible task chairs and features a range of options and surface materials. While we work to drive down absolute environmental impacts in our own processes and those of our supply chain, products like this one allow us to offer organizations and individuals a chance right now to have a positive impact on the Earth.

Steelcase Series 1 with CarbonNeutral product certification includes the same design, ergonomics and quality engineered in the existing Steelcase Series 1 task chair with the added benefit of having its carbon footprint offset for organizations seeking more environmentally-friendly options. Carbon emissions are measured, calculated and verified by a third party across every stage of the chair’s life cycle – offsetting 100% of emissions through projects like forest management, renewable energy, cleaner cooking and electric transportation. These projects – supported by Steelcase through a partnership with Climate Impact Partners – help remove and avoid pollution in environments around the world.

THE NEED TO BE NEUTRAL

The impetus for businesses to be more environmentally conscious and attain carbon neutrality is growing. Commercial industry accounts for almost a quarter of all global pollution, meaning companies can make a significant impact if they ensure their facilities, manufacturing, supply chains and other processes are engaged in low-carbon streams whenever possible. Climate Impact Partners reports:

• 31% of all Global Fortune 500 companies have carbon neutrality goals
• 50% of those have achieved or will achieve carbon neutrality by 2030
• 38% of Global Fortune 500 companies have delivered a significant climate milestone or are publicly committed to do so by 2030.

Series 1 with CarbonNeutral product certification helps organizations contribute to their goals for Scope 3 emissions.

• SCOPE 1 includes direct emissions like those from a company’s facilities and transportation.
• SCOPE 2 represents things like the use of electricity, where the emissions are not directly emitted by the company.
• SCOPE 3 includes indirect types of emissions such as purchased goods and services (such as a chair or furniture).

By providing furniture choices that are carbon neutral, Steelcase is helping customers arrive at their own climate goals faster. By choosing Series 1 with CarbonNeutral product certification, customers can make progress toward their own Scope 3 climate emissions goals and LEED certification requirements.

HOW IT WORKS

To manufacture, package and deliver the standard Steelcase Series 1 requires the equivalent in greenhouse gasses of driving 518 km in an average gas-powered car. While there is no physical difference between the two chairs, every Steelcase Series 1 with CarbonNeutral product certification includes the purchase of carbon offsets that support projects that slow the effects of climate change.

Projects currently supported by Steelcase Series 1 with CarbonNeutral product certification include renewable energy, forest restoration, more efficient cook stoves and electric transportation.

Climate Impact Partners delivers solutions for action on climate. This organization believes that carbon markets have a critical role to play in delivering action by putting a price on carbon and funding carbon reduction activities to meet global climate goals. Climate Impact Partners builds on the expertise, integrity and innovation of two companies that have led the voluntary carbon market – Natural Capital Partners and ClimateCare. Fueled by a relentless drive for rapid action and results, its global team continues to pioneer the market’s growth and set the standards for quality that will maximize its impact.

OUR PATH FORWARD: PROGRESS FOR THE PLANET

Series 1 with CarbonNeutral product certification is only the beginning. We plan to broaden our carbon neutral portfolio by pursuing additional life cycle assessments on more products.

We are proud to have achieved Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon neutrality and have a robust commitment to product development with life cycle thinking and cradle-to-cradle principles in mind. In addressing our own Scope 3 emissions, Steelcase has a science-based target to engage the top 80% of our purchased goods and transportation suppliers, encouraging them to set their own science-based emissions targets by 2025. We are also continuously improving our product development process to address our impact on climate change. Offsets are one way to take climate action now while we continue extensive work to improve processes and products over the long term.

Available Now: Learn more about Steelcase Series 1 with CarbonNeutral product certification.

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