Montauk Sofa strives towards Carbon Neutrality

If you are familiar with Montauk Sofa  you are probably aware that their furniture is very high quality. But I’ll bet you didn’t know that they are striving to reach a carbon-neutral footprint too. How many companies can say that?

When I was at IDS in January, I had the opportunity to speak with Danny Chartier of Montauk Sofa about his company’s efforts. It turns out in 2006 they made a trip to Europe and while there met with a company that measures companies’ carbon footprints and then helps them reduce their emissions. Montauk saw this as an opportunity to help lighten their own footprint and worked with them.

Since 2006 they have made some great strides in several areas.

Greenhouse gases: Montauk strives to reduce its overall carbon footprint at the source through energy conservation, as well, the company measures greenhouse gases produced from all activities including employee transportation to and from work, then purchases carbon offsets to compensate. Carbon offsets can be used for tree planting and methane capture. Montauk offsets 1600 tons of greenhouse gases each year and is now operating at a carbon deficit — in other words, they absorb more GHGs than they produce.

Product stewardship: Based on the McDonough “Cradle to Cradle” philosophy, all products are made to be a combination of fully recyclable and biodegradable. Montauk will take your old sofa back and give you either a credit towards a new one and reuse pieces, and recycle what’s not. In fact, the company has not only an “assembly” line, it also has a “disassembly” line.

Danny told me that although they are not at complete “environmental neutrality” yet, they are working to reach it one day. It’s quite a goal and good to see environmental stewardship combined with high quality sofas.

To order online or to find a store near you, visit their website.

In Toronto:

Montauk Sofa

220 King Street East, Toronto, ON.

Phone: 416-361-0331

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