How does one count the recycled content of fabrics used in furnishings? Do you have to separate out the cost of the fabric relative to the cost of the chair? If you have used a 78% post industrial recycled polyester on a task chair, how do you calculate the actual recycled content on this chair?

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Jon Clifford

LEED-AP BD+C

GREENSQUARE

LEEDuser Expert

261 thumbs up

Sat, 10/04/2014 - 18:27

I think that you have two options: 1. Base your calculation on the price of the chair, including fabric: From the chair manufacturer, obtain a recycled content calculation based on the weight and composition of each component in the chair, including fabric. This way, if your fabric has 78% pre-consumer content, but comprises only 1% of the chair’s weight, the pre-consumer contribution of the fabric is negligible, only 0.78% of the entire chair. Using this method, the chair’s heavier metal and plastic components will probably contribute significantly more recycled content. 2. Calculate the recycled content of the chair and fabric separately: Ask the manufacturer to break out the cost of fabric from the cost of the rest of the chair and to calculate the recycled content of the unupholstered chair separately from the fabric. Depending on the costs and compositions of the chair and fabric, one method or the other may yield a higher overall MRc4 contribution.

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