German furniture manufacturer Wilkhahn has been honoured with the 2026 German Sustainability Award Products for its innovative WiChair, recognised in the resources-transformation category. The award, which celebrates pioneering contributions to sustainable design, acknowledges the WiChair's exceptional combination of ergonomic comfort, longevity, and resource efficiency.
© Wilkhahn
The German Sustainability Award, one of Europe's most prestigious accolades for sustainable innovation, spotlights products that drive positive change across five key transformation areas: climate, resources, nature, society, and value chains. In selecting the WiChair, the judges praised its "successful combination of sustainable materials, functional ergonomics and timeless design." They noted that its modular construction and high repairability not only extend its lifespan, but also significantly reduce material waste and resource use.
"The WiChair sets new standards in low-emission furniture design," the jury stated. Its elegant form hides an intelligent construction: a simple, screw-based system allows for easy repair and disassembly, enabling mono-material recycling at the end of its life cycle. The chair's structure uses just a few recyclable, recycled, and renewable materials, ensuring a minimal carbon footprint.
At the heart of the WiChair's design is an elastic curved steel bracket, adjustable for different body weights, offering a natural, springy range of motion that enhances comfort and encourages active sitting. This minimal-mechanism design delivers ergonomic benefits without compromising on style or durability.
For Götz Stamm, CEO of Wilkhahn, the award is a validation of the company's long-standing commitment to sustainability.
"Our values of innovation, environmental responsibility, longevity, and design quality are deeply ingrained in our DNA," said Stamm. "The WiChair embodies these principles, delivering superb comfort and joyful design. It's proof that sustainability and aesthetics can coexist beautifully."
The WiChair follows in a long line of Wilkhahn's sustainability milestones, from the Picto chair of the 1990s, one of the first office chairs designed with ecological principles, to the ON® chair, which won the Federal Ecodesign Award in 2012. Certified under the EMAS European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme since 2001, Wilkhahn continues to pioneer responsible design across its product lines.
The WiChair is available now through authorised Wilkhahn dealers and select online platforms.
More information:
Wilkhahn
[email protected]
www.wilkhahn.com
