A LEGACY BUILT TO LAST
Over sixty years after David Rowland first introduced his revolutionary stacking chair, the 40/4 continues to set standards - now validated through one of the world's most rigorous sustainability certifications.
The 40/4 stacking chair continues to set standards
Since 1964, the 40/4 has proven that exceptional design and environmental responsibility aren't opposing forces - they're natural partners. The chair's Bauhaus-rooted philosophy has always been about purposeful creation: form follows function, and every design decision serves a meaningful purpose. More than 8 million chairs later, that purpose extends beyond stackability and elegance to encompass complete life-cycle thinking.
The Global GreenTagCertTM GreenRate™ certification represents verification of what we've always believed about the 40/4: that good design must contribute to a more sustainable future. This achievement reflects the chair's comprehensive approach to environmental responsibility, from responsible materials sourcing to responsible production, through thoughtful design for disassembly to the refurbishment and Take Back programs.
TRANSPARENCY THROUGH RIGOROUS DOCUMENTATION
Achieving Global GreenTagCertTM GreenRate™ Level A certification required extensive documentation and verification across the entire product lifecycle. The certification process examined everything from material composition and manufacturing processes to supply chain transparency and end-of-life considerations. Every claim, every material choice, every environmental impact needed to be substantiated with detailed data.
This level of scrutiny aligns perfectly with our commitment to transparency. We've always believed that responsible sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution must follow the highest sustainability standards - and that means being able to prove it.
SUPPORTING YOUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
The 40/4's Global GreenTagCertTM certification provides recognized compliance or evidence for multiple international green building rating tools, including LEED, Green Star, BREEAM, and others. This means architects, designers, and facility managers can specify the 40/4 with confidence, knowing it contributes to project sustainability goals while maintaining the functionality and aesthetic excellence the design is known for.
Technical Note:
The certification applies to the 40/4 family, including plastic variants (side chair, side chair with fin linking, side chair with eye-hook linking, barstool, and armchair), veneer variants (side chair, side chair with fin linking, side chair with eye-hook linking, barstool, and armchair), and upholstered versions. The certification is issued under Global GreenTagCertTM International Standard v4.1 at GreenRate™ Level A (License numbers: HOW:PO01:2025:GR, HOW:PO02:2025:GR & HOW:PO03:2025:GR).
MOVING FORWARD
The 40/4's certification is a testament to what happens when timeless design meets contemporary sustainability requirements. It demonstrates that products built with longevity, adaptability, and responsible sourcing in mind don't just age well - they continue to meet evolving standards for environmental excellence.
As we continue to expand our EPD library and work toward EU Ecolabel certification for select products, the 40/4 stands as our flagship example of how design that moves you can also move us all toward a more sustainable future.
Because at HOWE, we never stop. We keep moving forward, setting better standards at a consistent pace - just as we believe our world needs us to do.
