BMA Ergonomics

Anyone stuck behind their PC knows from experience that a good office chair is essential. BMA Ergonomics sells ergonomic office chairs to companies and individuals. In 2015 the company was awarded a Cradle-to-Cradle certificate for its sustainable business model: this consists of a responsible selection of materials, limited consumption of energy and water, consideration of recycling and a sustainable social strategy.

In general, office chairs are generally thrown away after a ten-year period. That is a shame, as many components can be used for much longer. “Our Axia® office chairs are created to be easily renewed and repaired. Old models are reused and recycled as much as possible,” says Nele Baes from BMA Ergonomics.

Long life

“Our Axia® office chairs are made of pure and healthy materials that are 99 per cent recyclable,” explains Nele Baes from BMA. “The chairs are made in a modular fashion: in that way they are easily cleaned, repaired or fitted with new cushions. That means they last much longer.”

Usable components from old chairs are reused in new models. “Whatever can no longer be used is recycled and turned into raw materials for new components,” says Nele Baes. “Our chairs are mainly produced in western Europe, in factories that consider both the environment and the welfare of their employees. That also reduces the transport required.”

Additional services, less worry

In addition to a sustainable production process, BMA also offers its customers three circular services. Nele Baes: “Our returns bonus means that we take back any old Axia® chair. In return, the customer receives compensation or a returns bonus. Chairs in good condition are cleaned and resold as a ‘second-life chair’. Those that can no longer be used are dismantled and the components are used in other chairs or recycled.”

“A second circular service offered is Axia® revitalisation: customers with chairs that are a few years old can ask us to clean them or replace the cushions. The basic chair structure remains fine for a long time.”

“We recently added a third service, known as Axia® Smart Use. This involves the customer paying only for the comfort of seating: we ask for a deposit for the metal ‘skeleton’ and the cushions are rented out by the month. If there is a problem with a chair, we sort it out. The chairs are checked on an annual basis. This means that we take the worries off the customer’s hands.”

Benefits

BMA began in 1988 as the Biomechanisch Adviesbureau (Biomechanical Consultancy). Their first office chair, launched in 1996, already considered ergonomics and sustainability. Nele Baes: “The modular build of our chairs means that they can be used for longer. In the future, we aim to focus even more on reuse before resorting to recycling. This is already working well in the Netherlands, and people in Flanders are also becoming more open to using second-life chairs. If an old chair ends up being recycled, then we can reuse the materials. That is better, both for the environment and for our company, because we are not required to buy as many new materials.”

Een bureaustoel wordt gemiddeld na tien jaar afgedankt. Dat is jammer, want veel onderdelen zijn langer bruikbaar. "Onze Axia®-bureaustoelen zijn zo opgebouwd dat we ze makkelijk kunnen opfrissen en repareren. Afgedankte exemplaren worden optimaal hergebruikt en gerecycleerd", zegt Nele Baes van BMA Ergonomics.