Maybe you've heard it advertised on the radio as one of the most comfortable or ergonomic chairs available; tried it out at DWR; or possibly you're lucky enough to have one at work or in your home office. The Herman Miller Aeron Chair is well known for its versatile ergonomics, comfort and design, but did you know that it's also easy on the environment?
The Aeron chair was designed to be ergonomic, functional but also "sparing of natural resources, durable and repairable, and constructed for ease of disassembly and recycling." The chair is up to 94% recyclable itself (36% aluminum, 31% steel, 31% plastic) and made from 62% recycled materials (41% post-consumer recycled content & 21% pre-consumer recycled content). 
Further environmental features include:
- GREENGUARD certified low-emitting product
- Most metal components have powder-coat paint finish that emits negligible VOCs
- Plastic components identified with ASTM recycling code when possible
- Seat frame and back contain over 60% recycled content, made from approximately 36 recycled two-liter plastic beverage bottles per chair
- Returnable/Recyclable package (cardboard box and plastic)
Not only is the chair green, but the manufacturing process and company, Herman Miller, strive to be as well.
Manufactured in a LEED Pioneer building with as little waste as possible, Herman Miller's environmental policy is long-standing and admirable.
I have an Aeron chair at work and I love it. If only it were as easy on the wallet as the eyes/back/environment and I'd have one at home too!
Read more about Herman Miller's stance on the environment or the Aeron Chair here.
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I "inherited" an Aeron at my job after one of our departments went belly up years ago. The funny thing is that the chair was passed through many hands...about five, before it was tossed into the empty cubicle next to mine. Apparently no one found it comfortable and would rather sit in clunky aging furniture...even my boss hates having to use my computer mainly due to sitting in this chair. But I feel like I totally scored! Yay for environmentally awesome and not so comfortable chairs!
So what you are telling me is this chair for all its hype and expense (although not for you) is uncomfortable?!?!? Wow that is really interesting.
We all have these chairs at work and we hate them. We keep trying to steal cheaper chairs from other departments.
They are really bad for your neck and shoulders because they have no upper back support. When you try to rest your back on the chair, the entire thing leans backwards so it looks like you are trying to sleep in it. Ugh.
Also, the chairs are huge...especially in width...so when we have to pull them together around a table (for a lunch or meeting) we can barely fit anyone in because of the gigantic arm rests.
They also don't adjust as much, or as well, as I would like.
Totally not worth the $1000 or whatever they are. My cheap Office Depot chair at home is way better.
You may be surprised just how comfortable this chair is once you have properly adjusted it...
www.ambiencedore.com/images/hm/exec_chairs/aeron.pdf
I know it's probably just because I didn't have mine properly adjusted, but I went from an aluminum group management chair to an aeron and then back to the AG. It was okay but it was too big and heavy, and just didn't really fit (I had the B, and I'm a B sized person).
Environmentally responsible? I have a Herman Miller Caper chair and the seat needed replacing. I contacted Herman Miller to ask where I could get a replacement seat -- their response was if I wanted a new seat I should buy a new chair. For the price of their products, repair not replacement should be an option. Sending damaged chairs to the landfill is not green. Boo, Herman Miller.
Even with proper adjustment I was never comfortable in the Aeron. Same with 90% of my co-workers. We even have an ergo tech onsite, and she hates them. The two chairs people love here are the Freedom Chair by Humanscale (which I ADORE!) and the Leap Chair by Steelcase. But I am not sure how green those chairs are.
I've had an Aeron chair for about 6 years now. I work as a software developer and spend _a lot_ of time at my desk in front of the computer. It is by far the most comfortable desk chair I have ever owned. I have owned a lot of chairs (but, admittedly, never a Freedom chair, which I hear is also very good).
I can understand balking at the price or not liking how it looks (or, perhaps, just lashing back at "the hype"). But I don't understand how anyone could say that their cheap Office Max chair is more comfortable. That truly boggles my mind.
Really??? I too am a software developer and found the (mandatory) use of this piece of crap chair impossible to stand. My mind boggles at how you could possibly like this horrible thing. Please give me a padded, non-sexy, normal, comfortable chair to sit on.