When we think of sustainability, we often imagine large-scale solutions – wind farms, circular materials, or net-zero roadmaps. But sometimes progress begins with a single design decision.
At Savo, sustainability isn’t something added at the end. It’s part of every curve, every joint, every choice of material. And in recent years, one shift has made a remarkable difference: removing foam from one variant of our chairs, Savo Soul Air.
Why foam matters
For decades, polyurethane foam has been the default comfort layer in task chairs. It’s soft, adaptable but difficult to recycle. Made from fossil-based materials, foam often ends up as landfill at the end of its life.
Savo chose a different path for the Savo Soul Air. By designing comfort through movement, flexibility, and smart engineering rather than chemical padding, we’ve eliminated the need for foam altogether. It’s a simple change with a profound impact – reducing waste, improving recyclability, and cutting reliance on non-renewable resources.
Removing foam wasn’t just a material choice, it was a mindset shift. We wanted to prove that real comfort and sustainability can coexist when design does the work instead of chemistry.
Andreas Mattisson, Head of Development & Sustainability
Built to last – and to evolve
Every Savo chair follows the same design principle layer-by-layer: Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle. Modular construction allows components to be replaced instead of discarded, ensuring a long and adaptable life cycle.
The materials are chosen with equal care. Our signature mesh back, used across several models, removes the need for foam entirely. All mesh fabrics are OEKO-TEX® certified, and the Vivid fabric range contains at least 80% recycled polyester. Every piece of wood is FSC® certified, and we work continuously to increase the share of recycled aluminium and plastics in our products.
From idea to icon: Savo Soul Air
The journey towards foam-free seating culminates in Savo Soul Air – a chair that makes sustainability visible. Made from 79% recycled materials and 97% recyclable, it’s designed for shared and flexible workplaces. The transparent mesh seat replaces foam with air, creating lightness both in form and footprint.
Savo Soul Air represents more than a product innovation. It’s proof that sustainable design can also mean elegant simplicity – and that the most responsible choice can feel effortless.
A future built on transparency
Savo’s long-term goals reflect this mindset:
– Full material transparency by 2027
– Circularity as standard by 2030
– Climate-neutral operations by 2040
– A 100-year chair – fully repairable, endlessly serviceable, and made to last for generations.
Because sustainability isn’t only about what we remove, like foam, but what we choose to keep: quality, comfort, and care in every design.