Shaping Sustainability – Living On by Living Edge

Words by Olivia Hides

Living Edge’s sustainability program Living On is at the heart of the business. With the aim to protect the environment and the wellbeing of customers, Living On has shaped Living Edge as a company, bringing with it a new era of sustainability.

Living Edge first brought its sustainability program Living On into fruition in 2008. Today, sustainability is factored into the curation of each Living Edge product. One of the key Living On pieces available from the designer furniture company is the Herman Miller Cosm Task Chair. Designed with sophistication, balance and efficiency in mind, the Cosm Task Chair has been third party certified through the AFRDI Green Tick. Another such piece is the Pinto from Derlot Group. Pinto is a playful take on the classic beanbag and is filled with an environmentally friendly material called BioFill – made from a lightweight and compostable natural corn starch.

In 2017, Living On saw Living Edge become a carbon neutral company, achieved by thorough reporting on generated emissions and having those reports independently assessed.

The Tom Dixon Swirl is a multi-dimensional sculpture created using recycled powdered marble residue – its functional form is a striking addition to any interior space. For a softer palette, the Muuto Fiber Armchair – with its distinctive design and textured finish – is created using environmentally friendly wood fibre composite and has a Level C Global Green Tag Certification. Additionally, the Muuto Around Coffee Table – befitting of a more contemporary space – is also Level C Global Green Tag Certified and uses an environmentally friendly lacquer.

In 2017, Living On saw Living Edge become a carbon neutral company, achieved by thorough reporting on generated emissions and having those reports independently assessed. Living Edge was able to purchase enough carbon credits in 2017 to offset its carbon footprint – a practice still in place today, while the reports are currently audited and verified by Pangolin and Associates.

With the aim to promote and protect the environment and the wellbeing of their customers, Living On has shaped Living Edge as a company, bringing with it a new era of sustainability.

“Living On has been an integral part of our company’s values since its inception in 2008,” says Living Edge CEO Aidan Mawhinney. All Living Edge products meet at least one of the following Living On sustainability criteria: third party certified (either GreenTag, AFRDI Green Tick, or GECA), freight carbon is offset, contains recycled material, can be recycled, is certified for ergonomics, is sustainably sourced or uses certified timber, has certified low Volatile Organic Content (VOCs), is low in toxic materials or has had its environmental impact assessed for the product’s entire lifecycle. “Sustainable and environmentally conscious supply partners dictate our brand portfolio and as such, many of our products are environmentally certified and all are consciously crafted,” Aidan says. “Internally, we strive to minimise our footprint and ensure any future brands we partner with are aligned with our values.”