Sustainability Spotlight: Herman Miller Revenio Textiles

Herman Miller is focused on design for humankind, which means that they are constantly looking for ways to make their products and manufacturing processes more sustainable. The company is a proud member of NextWave Plastics, a consortium of multinational technology and consumer brands working to decrease the volume of plastic litter entering the ocean through the development of the first global network of ocean-bound plastic supply chains. Herman Miller's latest textile collection, Revenio, is a 100% recycled content collection focused on using the newest sustainable solutions to alleviate global waste, without sacrificing aesthetics or performance.

Annually, the Revenio Collection will divert an estimated equivalent of 1.4 million discarded plastic bottles, while targeting landfills and vulnerable areas near our oceans’ ecosystems, through the use of ocean-bound plastics and biodegradable polyester fibers. The collection includes three textiles that use ocean-bound plastic and one biodegradeable textile.

Diverting Ocean-Bound Plastics

Ocean-bound plastics are mismanaged waste that can be found on the ground within 50 miles of the coastline. They are particularly destructive to the communities and wildlife that inhabit those ecosystems. Created in collaboration with NextWave Plastics Consortium, the Revenio textile collection transforms these harmful materials into commercial-grade fabric.

Scatter

With saturated colors and dark organic flecks, Scatter is a sustainable textile reminiscent of the intricacy of recycled paper. A Herman Miller Grade 1 textile, Scatter comes in 12 colorways, is bleach-cleanable, and rated for 100,000 double rubs. The fabric is created from 78% post-consumer recycled polyester, 22% pre-consumer recycled polyester, and 26% ocean-bound plastics allowing each yard of Scatter to divert nine plastic bottles from reaching the ocean.

Mellow

A sustainable, comfortable solution with softly tinted, tonal contrast, Mellow has a cooling palette, reflective of the material’s eco-friendly origin. It is a Grade 2 textile that comes in 7 colorways, is bleach cleanable, and rated for 100,000 double rubs. Created from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester and 16% ocean-bound plastic, one yard of Mellow diverts seven plastic bottles from the ocean.

Crepe

A timeless favorite, Crepe, is now offered with ocean-bound plastic content. The signature organic texture is named for the random nature of the weaving technique. A Grade 2 Textile, Crepe is bleach cleanable, rated for 200,000 double rubs, and includes 6 new colorways with all colors containing ocean-bound content. Created from 63% post-consumer recycled polyester, 37% post-industrial recycled polyester, and 44% ocean-bound plastic content, every yard of Crepe diverts 15 plastic bottles from reaching our oceans.

Whisper

A softly toned heathered textile with an effortless ability to blend Whisper can be easily incorporated into any environment. The Grade 2 textile has 6 new colorways in addition to the existing 15, is bleach cleanable, and rated for 200,000 double rubs. With 73% post-consumer recycled polyester, 27% post-industrial recycled polyester, and 11.3% ocean-bound plastic content, each yard of Whisper diverts 10 plastic bottles from the ocean.

Terra

Terra is an industry-leading 100% post-consumer recycled biodegradable polyester, and displays a curated neutral palette highlighting linearity and earth tones that echo the material’s sustainable composition. Anaerobic digestion is achieved through a special bio-catalyst agent added during the yarn’s processing, shifting the degradation rate of the material from over 100 years to less than four. Terra can either be discarded or ideally recycled again to be used as raw materials for future generations and contribute to a bi-circular economy, allowing us to attack the problem of excess plastics at its source. A Grade 2 Textile, Terra includes 4 colorways and is rated for 80,000 double rubs.