Every year, millions of tons of textiles end up in landfills – Humanscale and Kvadrat Really are turning that waste into a resource.
Humanscale is the first U.S. manufacturer to offer the Kvadrat Really Textile Tabletop, made from 70% textile waste and 30% waste binder.
The innovative surface diverts textiles from landfills, delivers a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions, and is fully circular, durable, and free from water, colorants, or harmful chemicals.
Humanscale, the leading pioneer in ergonomic and sustainable design, continues their ongoing partnership with Danish textile manufacturer Kvadrat, to bring Kvadrat Really – a revolutionary line of circular tabletops and other premium-quality engineered materials made from textile waste – to the US market for the first time.
The Kvadrat Really Textile Tabletop™ is composed of 70% discarded textiles and 30% waste binder, sourced from fashion and textile industries, laundries, and Kvadrat’s own offcuts. Through an entirely mechanical process powered by renewable energy, Kvadrat Really transforms textile waste into durable, high-performance tabletops that are scratch-resistant, heat-tolerant, and fully recyclable. The result is a tabletop that reduces carbon emissions by 30% compared to other tabletops and substantially cuts textile landfill waste, while delivering a long-lasting, premium aesthetic that meets the high standards of both brands. Notably, in 2024 alone, Kvadrat Really converted 550 tonnes of textile waste into new tabletops, equivalent to transforming 70 shirts or 30 pairs of jeans into each 80×160 cm surface.
This partnership underscores Humanscale’s commitment to creating a regenerative future through design. As a recognized industry leader in sustainable manufacturing, Humanscale is dedicated to developing products that not only minimize environmental harm, but actively contribute to planetary health. Central to this mission is a focus on healthy materials and radical transparency: every material is evaluated down to 100 ppm to eliminate chemicals of concern, with ingredient disclosures published through third-party verified Declare labels and Health Product Declarations. By aligning with Kvadrat Really, and its dedication to UN Global Goal #17: Partnerships for the Goals, Humanscale reinforces its mission to go beyond neutrality, delivering solutions that are net positive for both people and the planet, while setting a new bar for honesty and accountability in material innovation.
“Partnering with Kvadrat Really allows us to bring truly circular innovation to one of our most widely used product categories,” says Jane Abernethy, Chief Sustainability Officer of Humanscale. “By integrating recycled textiles into our desks, we’re reducing waste at scale while offering clients a surface that’s as durable as it is sustainable.”
The Kvadrat Really Textile Tabletop™ is available with Humanscale’s, eFloat Go 2.0, and eFloat Next ranges, with additional launches planned for Float Gather, Float Mini, Float Micro, and eFloat Quattro. The tabletops will be available in Cotton White with impact-resistant ABS edges, offering a timeless finish suited for modern workspaces.
With textile production projected to reach 145 million tons by 2030, the collaboration represents a timely and critical solution. Humanscale is proud to give such an incredibly innovative product the platform to reach a wider audience through the US distribution.
The Kvadrat Really collection will be available globally through Humanscale showrooms and online at www.humanscale.com.
ABOUT HUMANSCALE
Since its founding in 1983, Humanscale has been a pioneer in ergonomic design, creating products that improve health, comfort, and productivity across evolving work environments, from dynamic office floorplates to residential spaces and the growing landscape of third places. Known for innovations such as the Freedom chair by Niels Diffrient, Humanscale has redefined standards for seating, sit/stand solutions, monitor arms, and task lighting, blending advanced functionality with a minimalist, timeless aesthetic. Each product is designed with the human body in mind, drawing on the laws of physics and natural movement rather than complex mechanisms.
Humanscale’s commitment to design excellence is matched by its leadership in sustainability. As the only major commercial furniture manufacturer in the U.S. certified as a B Corp, the company actively pursues a net positive impact — ensuring that its products and processes give back more than they take. From developing materials that upcycle ocean plastics to setting climate-positive manufacturing goals, every decision is guided by the mission to benefit both people and the planet.
With a presence in more than 28 countries, Humanscale continues to shape the way people work, live, and interact with their environments worldwide.
ABOUT KVADRAT REALLY
Kvadrat Really upcycle end-of-life textiles into premium-quality engineered materials suitable for interior and industrial-scale projects: Textile Tabletop™, Textile Board and Textile Felt. Fashion brands, designers and architects use these to create beautiful furniture and interiors, challenge convention and inspire collaborations.
Produced on-site in Denmark, the materials underline that the notion of ‘waste’ is, in itself, a waste. Cutting-edge, they revitalise end-of-life textiles into a viable material, which can be recycled again and again.
Textile Tabletop™, Textile Board and Textile Felt show that circular design exists beyond ambition and is a powerful reality today. They provide an elegant solution to a pressing problem: currently, only 25% of the 95% of textiles that can be recycled actually are.
Kvadrat Really is partly owned by Kvadrat, the global leading manufacturer of design textiles.