In the past, it has been the industry standard to use materials and chemicals that we now know hurt the environment. Many harmful chemicals used in the industry come from Red List materials. As we have learned more about the long-term effects of Red List materials, the importance of removing them from products has become clear. As manufacturers, we have the power to create products without Red List materials. Plus, when companies are transparent about their material usage, consumers can make informed decisions about the products they buy. Our commitment to removing Red List materials from our ergonomic office products has caused us to rethink some of our product designs. During our rethinking process, we have focused on keeping the function, durability, and aesthetic of our products. We redesigned our monitor arms in order to remove dangerous materials. The original design of our M8 monitor arms used Chrome 6 plated steel in the “friction hubs” that allowed the monitor arm to be adjusted to the weight of the monitor it supported. Chrome plating is a common finish for metals because of its sleek shiny aesthetic, durability, and low cost. Chrome 6 is a known toxin because it poses a health risk during the plating process, in which it can work its way into the surrounding environment. The chemicals released during the production process can get into drinking water, which directly affects the lives of people who work with the materials as well as those who live near production facilities.
A man is seen standing in the toxic water, containing Chromium and sulfide concentrations. Pesticides are often added to avoid mold growth.
Our first idea was to replace the Chrome 6 with the much more expensive Chrome 3. Unfortunately, we struggled to find a reliable vendor who could provide the material at an acceptable price. We then decided to try a different approach. We created a powder-coated version of the disks, similar to what we use on our QuickStand Eco. Alas, the powder-coated version did not meet our design requirements, but we did not let this setback stop us. Rather than changing the material, we finally decided to change the design. We still kept the hubs as a design element, but this time in high-gloss Red List-free plastic.
Removing Chrome 6 and other Red List materials from products helps save the people who work in and live near production facilities as well as the environment. Buying sustainable office products allows consumers to do their part in keeping humans and the environment healthy. Our commitment to using healthy materials in our products has led to numerous innovative developments. Read more about our commitment to material transparency here. You can also shop our monitor arms here.
