Sustainability stories
Safe chemistry
Stories that inspire our path to a better world
Since 2018, our company has maintained a restricted substance list. It’s not an industry requirement, and many of the chemicals we go to great lengths to eliminate from our products go beyond federal and state regulations. The list is a result of our own research, of course, but also stems from meetings with clients regarding the chemicals they’re most concerned with.
One class of such highly concerning chemicals is known as PFAS. Shorthand for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, they're often called "forever chemicals." The same quality that made them attractive to textile mills and finishers—they repel grease, heat, oil, stains, and water—makes them resistant to breaking down once they get into environments, including the human body. Well before U.S. states started enacting laws banning PFAS in certain products, our teams were hard at work eliminating added PFAS from our designs.
At MillerKnoll, we see the removal of PFAS from the supply chain as a cause on par with the removal of lead paint from homes. For the past decade, this crusade has been led by Maharam. An objective evaluation of the long-held performance rationale for PFAS included a real-world study with Harvard University as well as extensive laboratory testing. The results consistently found that fiber composition and weave structure did more to improve cleanability and textile performance than chemical coatings. In other words, not only did we know that coatings containing PFAS were harmful, but we also learned that they weren't our industry's only alternative. In response, Maharam removed added PFAS from all of its products. On the heels of Maharam's success, all of MillerKnoll has pledged to follow suit.
Despite suppliers and manufacturers repeatedly telling us it couldn’t be done, we’re proud to say we’ve completed the massive undertaking of removing added PFAS from 100% of our products—a feat no one else in the industry has yet to achieve.
MillerKnoll meets with BIFMA on a monthly basis on the topic of PFAS to ensure we’re doing our absolute best to ensure our products are as safe as possible for the people and planet, and that we’re paving the way for the rest of our industry.
Next story
Headline 75 max lorem ipsum dolor
Subhed. Character count 180 max. Sentence case, full sentences preferred.
Learn More
Carbon leadership
Meet the small but mighty team working to slash our carbon footprint at MillerKnoll and learn how we're making it easier than ever for customers to make lower-carbon choices.
Read More
