Since the term was first used over 50 years ago, "sustainability" as it referred to the environment has always meant maintaining the status quo.
But maintaining the status quo doesn't eliminate our environmental footprints.
Here's the footprint we create when we manufacture the Diffrient Smart chair.
And here's the energy we save by replacing an older, less efficient bulb:
This is our handprint - created by saving more energy, water and emissions than we use in manufacturing:
Footprints are the damage we do by consuming resources and emitting pollution. No matter how small, they are still a negative impact. Which raises the questions:
What's next?
How do we do better?
Today, LCA is a robust science, providing corporations with ways of measuring the impact of a product from inception to disposal. That measurement is one we're all now familiar with: footprints.
"Reducing footprints is a great place to start, but a tragic place to stop."
Measuring handprints — positive impact — follows the same logic as measuring footprints
We look at the entire life cycle of a product.
"Imagine if manufacturing made the world a better place."
Our Smart chair is one of the first ILFI-certified Living Products. Find out how its innovative design helps us create a positive impact on the planet.
Learn more
The Float table, also a certified Living Product, is helping us turn our impact into a positive one.
Learn more
