The Wehlers Circular Design Manifesto

Setting the New Standard for Responsible Furniture

We are committed to ending the linear take-make-dispose model. Our pledge is not just to reduce impact, but to set a definitive standard for transparency and circularity in the design industry.

Every product, from the R.U.M. chair forward, adheres to the following seven non-negotiable principles:

The 7 Principles of Circular Design

  1. Waste is a Resource (Ocean Plastic, E-Waste, Pharma Waste): We view waste as a valuable raw material. We actively divert plastic, electronic, and pharmaceutical waste from landfills and oceans, transforming pollutants into durable, high-design furniture components. See the lineup here.

  2. Total Transparency (PEF Data): We mandate complete honesty regarding environmental impact. We utilize quantified, certified data, such as Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) details, to give our clients full visibility into the lifecycle impact of their purchases. See the Calculation here.

  3. Design for Disassembly: Products are engineered from the outset to be easily disassembled into their core material streams (plastic, metal, textile) for high-quality recycling and material retention, ensuring zero-waste at the end of the product's first life. All parts are available as spare parts in case you need it. (See our Two-Question Supplier Mandate below for how we enforce this rigor.)

  4. Long-lasting Aesthetics: We reject fast-design trends. Our commitment is to timeless, aesthetic longevity, ensuring products remain desirable and relevant for decades, thereby maximizing the use-cycle and minimizing replacement needs. Check out the designs here.

  5. The Take-Back Guarantee: We assume full responsibility for our products. Every item comes with a clear, reliable take-back commitment, allowing us to guarantee its entry into the next loop of the circular economy. Check out the take-back guarantee here.

  6. Drastically Reduce Carbon Footprint: From material sourcing and production to logistics, we continuously innovate to minimize the embedded and operational Co2 footprint, prioritizing regional, low-impact processes. Calculate your impact example here.

  7. B Corp Before Profit: We prioritize purpose over pure profit. Our business operations are governed by the rigorous social and environmental standards of B Corp certification, demonstrating a commitment to balance purpose and profit in every decision. Here you find the Wehlers B-Corp certificate.

The Wehlers Circularity Filter: Our Two-Question Supplier Mandate

To guarantee that our designs are truly circular and free of "ugly substances," we employ a non-negotiable vetting process for every material and component supplier. We call this our Circularity Filter—our ultimate transparency and anti-greenwashing mechanism.

We do not partner with any supplier who fails to answer 'Yes' to both questions below:

  • Can you make what we need? (This verifies that materials meet our strict requirements for purity, non-toxic composition, durability, and technical specifications, ensuring they align with B Corp and PEF data standards.)

  • Will you take back what you deliver to Wehlers, and re-cycle it for new products after use? (This transfers end-of-life responsibility from the client to the material producer, establishing a genuine closed-loop system and confirming the material's fitness for high-quality recycling.)

If a supplier cannot meet both the technical need and the long-term material responsibility, they cannot deliver to Wehlers. This rigor underpins our Take-Back Guarantee and ensures every component, including the recycled ocean plastic in the R.U.M. chair, is part of a guaranteed circular economy.