Maria Bruun
Carbon footprint of Nordic Pioneer

The carbon footprint of Nordic Pioneer is -(minus)56 kg CO₂ eq., implying the design is better than carbon neutral. Total carbon emissions of 135 kg CO₂ eq. are offset by 33 kg CO₂ eq. due to burning of wood offcuts at Benchmark (which substituted for fossil fuel) and 158 kg CO₂ eq. of carbon stored in the wood. This is sufficient to offset a 438 km drive in a typical family car or 2.4 days of carbon emissions by the average EU citizen. It takes less than 1 second for the 179 kg of maple used to manufacture the design to be replaced by regrowth in the U.S. forest.

Other than a small quantity of glues, finishes and fixings, only sustainable American hardwood is used in the design. This combined with Benchmark’s reliance on a renewable energy supplier of electricity ensured very low emissions during manufacturing. The yield of the wood - 56% of the material supplied is contained in the finished design – is lower than for some other Connected designs due to the need to round some components and produce complex moving parts, but is still respectable for a high end furniture product.

Despite the distances involved, transport accounts for only around 10% 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 a beautifully crafted and timeless design in sustainable natural wood like Nordic Pioneer is enhanced by the likelihood of it remaining in use for many years, not only thereby serving a valuable function and improving the home or office, but also avoiding the need for replacement and ensuring carbon continues to be locked in the furniture far into the future.