WARRIOR™ is a lightweight and durable stool manufactured from a single material - expanded polypropylene (EPP) - a lightweight polymer that is completely odourless, hypoallergenic, emission-free and 100% recyclable. At the end of its useful life WARRIOR™ can be returned to Thinking Ergonomix for recycling at no charge.
WARRIOR™ AWARDS:
- Australian Design Mark - 2009
- Powerhouse Museum Award - 2009
(plus selected for display in the Success and Innovation Gallery at the Powerhouse Museum)
- Highly Commended Award for Excellence in Sustainable Design - 2009
» Learn more on the Thinking Ergonomix website
Sustainability attributes
(learn more)
GECA rated
Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) and Environmental Choice New Zealand (ECNZ) are eco-labelling organizations that rate the environmental performance of products over their entire life cycle. Developed in accordance with international eco-labelling standards, GECA and ECNZ help consumers to understand the environmental impact of the products they specify by providing independent third-party assessments.
Ecospecifier rated
Ecospecifier conducts life cycle assessments to help architects, designers, builders and specifiers to choose environmentally preferable products and materials. The Ecospecifier Knowledge Base provides detail on the environmental performance of products and technologies under various rating schemes, including Green Star, BASIX, the Building Code of Australia, NABERS and ABGR.
Certified timber
Timber certifications promote responsible forest management, encouraging the use of sustainably sourced timber products – for example, structural timber, veneers, flooring, windows and doors, and paper products. Chain-of-custody certifications assure consumers that a product has been sourced from a sustainably managed forest.
ISO 14001 compliant
The international environmental management standard ISO 14001 assists manufacturers with the management, control and reporting of their environmental performance. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization, the standards enable manufacturers to develop a streamlined environmental management system (EMS) to minimize the impact of their operations on the environment. Compliant companies can seek certification from accredited auditors.
Supported by take-back program
A take-back program sees the manufacturer accept used products from consumers, before recycling or refurbishing them for future use. The philosophy underlying a take-back program is that manufacturers should be responsible for their products throughout their entire life, also known as a “cradle to cradle” approach to manufacturing. Reclamation programs streamline recycling for consumers and encourage manufacturers to produce recyclable products and materials.
Designed for disassembly
Design for disassembly is a manufacturing strategy that anticipates the future reuse of individual components or materials, enabling a product to be broken into its constituent parts for reuse or recycling. Design for disassembly can make recycling easier, resulting in less use of new resources, less energy consumption and less landfill. In economic terms, design for disassembly gives further value to products beyond their original life. Disassembling a structure rather than demolishing it can also reduce impact on the environment by reducing dust released during demolition, reducing land degradation and reducing transport costs of disposing of materials to landfill.
Production waste is recyclable
Manufacturing processes inevitably produce waste; environmentally responsible manufacturers ensure this waste is minimized and recyclable. Production waste can sometimes be reprocessed for reuse in the same production process. Alternatively, production waste may be reused in the manufacture of other products or materials (post-industrial recycled content).
Recyclable
Recyclable products and materials can be reprocessed and transformed into new goods at the end of their useful life. Materials composed of a single substance (for example, aluminium or concrete) are generally easier to dismantle and recycle than those composed of multiple substances. Employing recyclable materials offers several benefits – reduced use of new resources, reduced landfill, reduced costs for manufacturers.
Made from rapidly renewable material
Rapidly renewable materials regenerate more quickly than their typical harvest demand – for example, grown and harvested in 10 years or less. Popular rapidly renewable materials include bamboo, cork, wool, straw, natural linoleum, soy bean composites, sugarcane bagasse, kenaf and hemp. Rapidly renewable materials should be produced naturally and quickly, without significant environmental or air-quality impact or increased erosion.
Post-industrial recycled content
Post-industrial recycled content is essentially scrap material – waste products generated during manufacturing processes that has not been used and will not be reused in the production process. As with post-industrial recycled content, reusing these materials reduces consumption of virgin resources and stops usable industrial by-products from becoming landfill.
Post-consumer recycled content
Consumer goods that have served their purpose, been recycled and reprocessed are considered post-consumer recycled content. This includes products used by households, industry and commerce that, after recycling, can be reused as parts of new products or materials. Examples of post-consumer recycled content include recycled rubber tyres transformed into roofing and flooring products, and old newspaper processed into cellulose insulation.
Locally made
Specifying locally produced materials and products offers both economic and environmental advantages. Use of locally made products and materials minimizes transportation and shipping costs, as well as reducing the amount of energy used in transportation and any pollution that may result. In regard to natural resources – timber or stone, for example – locally sourced products can be better suited to a particular region’s climate and conditions. Further, choosing locally made products supports regional economies and local producers.
Salvaged/reused product
Many materials can be salvaged from existing structures for reuse in new projects. Salvaging products provides two primary benefits: first, reusing existing materials reduces landfill; second, making use of salvaged materials saves the resources and energy used to create new materials. Some materials are easier to reuse than others – timber floorboards, window frames, weatherboards and structural elements; bricks, tiles and pavers; and metalwork, fencing and balustrades.
Made using renewable energy
Many manufacturers now make use of certified renewable energy – energy produced using natural resources such as sun, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat. Eco-conscious companies choose renewable energy to reduce their carbon footprint, to offset emissions and to fulfil stated environmental objectives. Renewable energy is estimated to supply around 18% of global energy consumption, with biomass (wood burning, for example) the most popular, followed by hydroelectricity and wind power.
Packaging is reduced
The aim is to reduce the amount of packaging required to effectively house and transport products and materials, resulting in less waste material destined for landfill, lower manufacturing costs for producers, and reduced transportation costs. Some manufacturers implement returnable packaging systems or heavily in recyclable packaging. Paper, glass, metal and board packaging can be readily recycled.
Low embodied energy
Embodied energy refers to the energy consumed in producing and distributing products and materials. This spans the extraction of resources, processing and manufacturing, and distribution of the final product. Products and materials with low embodied energy generally require simpler manufacturing processes – for example, natural resources such as timber require less processing than aluminium and other metals. Specifying products with low embodied energy can reduce pollution, depletion of resources and degradation of the environment.
Low embodied water
Like embodied energy, embodied water is the water used to create and distribute a product or material (as distinct from water used during its operation). Reducing the amount of embodied water in a product’s manufacture and distribution can lessen its impact on the environment.
Energy Star rated
Energy rating schemes evaluate the energy efficiency of common household appliances – refrigerators and freezers, clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers and airconditioners. Energy Star is an international standard that promotes low-energy-consumption products. Compliant products use automatic “sleep” modes or low-energy standby settings.
