As the world gradually returns to the physical office, people’s expectations for safety, comfort, control and belonging at the workplace are rising. Teams long for office environments that support their physical and mental wellbeing, whilst allowing them to connect and collaborate with their colleagues effectively. Consequently, transitional, in-between spaces that allow people to huddle and energise their mental focus and physical energy have become an essential component in office design. The Steelcase Flex Perch Stool, a 100% recyclable, nestable seating solution, was created specifically for this purpose.
An extension of the Flex Collection, a series of mobile furniture that gives users greater control over how and where they work, Perch was designed to address the need for increased fluidity, flexibility and active collaboration. It offers users a place to briefly pause for fluid, spontaneous collaboration; a perfect resting point between standing and being fully seated.
A cut above the rest in functionality and sustainability, the stool has been designed and manufactured without the use of fossil fuels, thanks to Steelcase’s partnership with material chemistry innovator BASF. With the aim to create a chair for environmental and circular sustainability, Steelcase teams researched various types of materials, including plant-based resins and reclaimed ocean plastics before deciding they needed a different material to hold up to the rigours of office life. Their search ended when they discovered global chemical engineering firm BASF’s new advanced recycling technology known as ‘Ccycling’. Made of Ultramid® B3EG6 Ccycled™ nylon, a 100% recyclable material from a waste stream generated during electronics production, the stool sets a new benchmark for sustainable furniture material usage and recycling.
“Typically speaking, we don’t imagine that waste from manufacturing electronics can be effectively recycled, and typically it’s not. In this case, they can actually be remade into high-performance, high-quality product materials and formed into products like the Steelcase Flex Perch Stool,” says Bruce Smith, director of Global Design at Steelcase.
Designed with wellbeing and productivity in mind, Perch encourages a comfortable leaning posture at an ideal angle of 7.2 degrees, helping users stay fully engaged in both mind and body, for improved ideation and collaboration. A perching posture also helps activate the mind, promotes collaborative participation, and improves productivity and learning.
The burgeoning and growing workforce has long been made to adapt and mould themselves to outmoded systems of working and in environments that rarely see renovation. However, as we enter a new age of working, led by a transforming workforce that prioritises their overall wellbeing and wellness, companies are presented with the opportunity to reinvent their approach to working. By demonstrating and implementing thoughtful resources and amenities that support their employees and help the environment thrive, companies can be poised to carve out a niche for themselves and set a new benchmark that inspires others.