Keilhauer Launches Two Carbon Neutral Ottomans – An Industry First

March 22, 2023 (Toronto) – Keilhauer is proud to announce the launch of the industry’s first certified carbon neutral ottomans: Vagabond and Dally.

“After the success of our Swurve office chair, it has become a priority for us to expand our carbon neutral product offerings,” says Meghan Sherwin, Chief Marketing Officer. “We are thrilled to introduce the contract furniture community to our industry’s first-ever carbon neutral ottomans – this is an exciting step in our collective goal for a sustainable future.”

Created by the award-winning designer Andrew Jones, Vagabond is a versatile ottoman designed to be the vagabond of the office, usable everywhere from the cubicle to the boardroom. Inspired by the weighty shape of a traveler’s bundle, Vagabond’s design features organic, flowing lines; its form existing somewhere between a cube and a sphere.

“With Vagabond, I wanted to design an ottoman that works more like a stool,” says Jones. “It can be used around a table, for impromptu meetings, or it can look quite whimsical and light-hearted when grouped in clusters within a communal space like a library or lobby.”

Aside from its carbon neutral status, Vagabond’s design highlight is its durable reinforced black leather handle, included for ease-of-movement around the workspace.

“In the design process, there was always the idea of having something that would signify that this is a mobile product,” adds Jones. “The handle is familiar, it invites you to pull it – it has a soft and inviting quality to it.”

Available in any Keilhauer textile, Vagabond’s upholstery features a premium saddle stitch, which gives the ottoman an added sense of quality and sophistication. With frequent movement in mind, Vagabond’s bottom is configured in a black HDPE plastic, a material that is both durable and recyclable.

Dally is a cube-shaped, classic ottoman that was designed by the in-house Keilhauer design team. Dally features black rounded nylon feet and the ottoman can be upholstered in any Keilhauer textile, from leather to wool, allowing for versatility and adaptability.

“Dally is designed to be the workhorse of the modern office,” says Mike Keilhauer, President. “Ottomans are important pieces in the office furniture ecosystem – they are flexible and mobile, and function beautifully as a casual seating solution in the workspace.”

SUSTAINABILITY

In developing Vagabond and Dally, Keilhauer took every possible step to reduce carbon emissions, from sustainably sourcing materials and responsible manufacturing, to a carefully planned end-of-life and recyclability plan, all verified by third parties. To eliminate any remaining carbon created during the manufacturing process of the ottomans, Keilhauer invested in third-party verified carbon offset projects. Both ottomans are officially certified as Carbonfree® products by ClimeCo.

In addition to their carbon neutral status, Vagabond and Dally are BIFMA Level 2® certified products, and carry an SCS Global Services certification for Indoor Air Quality at the Indoor Advantage™ Gold level.

Andrew Jones is a Canadian furniture designer working for international manufacturers of contract, outdoor, and residential furniture. With an MA in Furniture Design from the Royal College of Art in London and a degree in Architecture from the University of Toronto, Jones has worked for more than 20 years designing furniture and architectural interiors. This dual experience forms the foundation of his work: designing furniture fit for purpose and place. Jones’s design projects have been featured in numerous international publications, and exhibited in Canada, the United States of America, Britain, Japan, and Italy. His work is part of the permanent collections of the Royal Ontario Museum and the Design Exchange, in Toronto. For more information, please visit andrewjonesdesign.com.

Founded in 1981, Keilhauer is a privately owned, design-focused contract furniture manufacturer. Keilhauer manufactures seating and tables that makes work more comfortable for all. Keilhauer products are thoughtfully made to support communication and engagement in spaces such as meeting rooms, collaboration areas, lobbies and lunchrooms. Working with world-renowned furniture designers, Keilhauer is internationally recognized for award-winning design, built with extreme craftsmanship, to the highest environmental standards. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. For more information, please visit keilhauer.com.