Jaime Hayon
Carbon footprint of Mesamachine

The carbon footprint of Mesamachine is -(minus)102 kg CO₂ eq., implying the design is better than carbon neutral. Total carbon emissions of 130 kg CO₂ eq. are offset by 17 kg CO₂ eq. due to burning of wood offcuts at Benchmark (which substituted for fossil fuel) and 214 kg CO₂ eq. of carbon stored in the wood. This is sufficient to offset a 795 km drive in a typical family car or 4.3 days of carbon emissions by the average EU citizen. It takes only 2 seconds for the 176 kg of cherry used to manufacture the design to be replaced by regrowth in the U.S. forest.

Other than glues and finishes, no material other than sustainable American hardwood is used in the design. The use of the wood in its natural state, combined with efficient processing at Benchmark, contributes to a high yield - 77% of wood material supplied is contained in the final design - and ensures low emissions during manufacturing. Despite the distances involved, transport accounts for only around 9% of all emissions associated with the design. The carbon footprint is much more sensitive to other factors, such as waste and energy mix during manufacturing, than to transport distance.

The environmental benefit of this beautifully crafted, timeless, and incredibly adaptable “table machine”, designed in sustainable natural wood, is greatly enhanced by the likelihood of it remaining in use for many years, thereby avoiding the need for replacement and ensuring carbon continues to be locked in the structure far into the future.