When it comes to our professional lives, a cherry-wood desk with drawers often represents the heart of our workplace. But what if making this so-called heart of the office beats a little kinder for the environment? The standing desk trend has been on the rise, touting health benefits and increased productivity. Yet, the eco-footprint of these altitudinal accessories remains a matter of debate among the environmental savvy. Can they hold weight against the seasoned conventional desks in the sustainability arena? Let’s take a deeper look with a firm focus on the environmental bottom line.
The Typical Office Desk – The Problems
The typical office desk, vast as the forestry it oftentimes depletes, isn’t the golden child of sustainability. Its wood components, usually oak or pine, undergo a resource-intensive harvest, consume gallons of water for processing, and are often coated with varnishes that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The manufacturing process churns out carbon emissions, from transporting raw materials to final assembly. Even the disposal of these desks, once they’ve outlasted their usefulness, contributes to the mounting landfill problem.
The Modern Adjustable Standing Desks
On the flip side, an adjustable desk, like saplings in a forest, offers a fresh perspective. Many of these desks boast tabletops made from bamboo, a material that grows faster than the average shrub and emits more oxygen into the atmosphere. The energy cost of operating these desks is considerably less when compared to the running tally of air-conditioned, fluorescent-lit offices everywhere. They’re also designed with longevity in mind, often outlasting the career of the professional who uses it. And once they do need to retire, the materials are often recyclable, closing the loop on their lifecycle.
The narrative on adjustable standing desks and the environment starts to sway in their favor. Their lighter carbon footprint throughout the manufacturing process and the promise of a longer life hint at a greener alternative to the traditional oak and pine desks. Their recyclable materials pledge a commitment to the circle of life, echoing the sustainable life cycle that today’s conscientious consumer longs for. While each desk, traditional or adjustable, has nuances that affect its overall environmental impact, the standing desk community seems to be taking a step in the right direction.
Standing desks pose a favorable question to eco-minded professionals looking to anchor their workspace with sustainability. The decision to stand or sit, in more ways than one, can have a profound effect on the environment. With longevity and recyclability as their support and sustainability as their weight, perhaps it’s time to elevate your choice in office furniture, quite literally.