Ergonomics and Sustainability: Human Solution Always Goes Green!

There is a genuine passion for sustainability that is easily recognizable in the heart and streets of our city, Austin, TX. The people here are full of passion, and a large part of that is aimed towards environmental sustainability. Uniqueness and green living is encouraged in Austin, and Human Solution is no different.

One of the biggest challenges for a business is maintaining a balance between monetary success and environmental sustainability. Each person at Human Solution holds sustainability in high regard, and this shared belief leaks into every facet of our company. The majority of our operations occur online, so we use very little paper, and the paper we do use is recycled in one of the numerous recycle bins scattered about our facility. These bins are subsequently emptied into our recycling dumpster, who is, as you can see in the photo to the right, happy to oblige.

We strive to operate as greenly as possible, and we're always searching for ways to minimize our carbon footprint. Our shipping supplies, for example, are seasoned travelers since we reuse boxes, pallets, and packing peanuts. Our in-house packing peanuts are made from corn and are water-soluble.

Many of our suppliers, such as Humanscale and Steelcase, embrace environmentalism in their production processes as well. Humanscale begins with environmentally-conscious design and a minimalist perspective resulting in smart and simple products that use less of our Earth’s limited resources. Humanscale's new Diffrient World Chair is a perfect example of this because it is made of 34% recycled material, is 97% recyclable, and uses only eight major parts resulting in an incredibly sturdy chair weighing in at only 25 pounds.

Thanks to this approach, Humanscale products require fewer parts and manufacturing processes than most other companies which equates to more conserved energy. The lifespan of their products is also extended due to their high level of craftsmanship, making the most of the materials used. When possible, Humanscale uses 100% recycled aluminum, something found in Humanscale's monitor arms. Recycled aluminum saves 95% of the energy and 95% of the carbon emissions required to create new aluminum.

Steelcase, too, has its philosophy deeply rooted in sustainability, exemplified in part by their Life Cycle Assessment which evaluates a product’s impact on the environment from gathering the materials for production to an item’s recyclability. The Steelcase Leap Chair, for example, is made of 30% recycled content and is 98% recyclable. Steelcase goes even further, too, with their Phase 2 Program that assists in the disposal and recycling of their products in an effort to meet their “zero landfill” goal.

Humanscale and Steelcase products also contribute a great deal to achieving LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, certification, which measures sustainability, the potential environmental impact of businesses and systems, in addition to accounting for regional ecology.

As you peruse our web site, you’ll find even more examples of companies taking the initiative in sustaining the Earth and its resources. Ergonomics and sustainability? Together? Who knew you could have your cake and eat it, too? That is, as long as it’s a green cake.