SUSTAINABILITY
Driving Change: MIO’s Sustainable Promise
Responsible Design. But what does that mean?
You've heard it all—sustainable, ethically sourced, carbon neutral. Yet, you're here evaluating if our values align with yours. Founded in 2001, we've always prioritized sustainability, not just as a trend but as a necessity. We recognize that all production impacts the environment, which is why our approach starts with design to minimize our ecological footprint.
Discover Our Story
New Thinking
First, we’re intentional about what we create. Every MIO product challenges the status quo, telling a story through its history, materials, and function. From decorative wool bowls crafted in a hat factory using 19th-century molds to infinitely configurable room dividers made from recycled plastic bottles, our designs solve unique challenges and spark conversations about purpose, function, and sustainability.
Local Impact
We make all our products in the United States. Most of them are made in Pennsylvania and Michigan. Right now, that may sound like a practical matter, but we have been making products here since the start of our company when offshoring was standard practice (it pretty much still is for most companies). Making things locally just makes sense. Not only does it keep our lead times and innovation cycles short but manufacturing products in a country with environmental and workers’ rights laws, means we can be more confident that we are limiting our impact on people and planet. This approach also reduces the carbon footprint of shipping raw materials and finished products and supports local economies in manufacturing hubs in the US, keeping skills alive and developing new domestic markets. Beyond the products impact, we know all the factories we work with well and the people who work there. It’s refreshing to have human relationships that result in new design opportunities and production floor innovation
Smart Sourcing
We are experts at sourcing, partnering with factories that have remarkable capabilities and a shared commitment to making things better. We’re realistic—we know an independent company like ours won’t transform large manufacturers overnight. Our impact depends on our purchasing power, which means change happens in steps. Sometimes we can push for better materials or eliminate wasteful processes, but often, the smartest approach is to retool or repurpose existing materials and infrastructure to create thoughtful, lower-impact designs. We call this "Design Aikido"—a method of working with what’s available and transforming it for the future. This approach not only minimizes impact today but also signals to vendors and suppliers that sustainability is both essential and profitable.
Lower Toxicity
Some materials and processes are more toxic than others, but most industrial materials still have some level of impact on people and the environment. We commit to avoiding Red List materials—a growing list of harmful chemicals commonly found in everyday spaces. To uphold this standard, we use low or VOC-free finishes, never use PVC, and continuously explore natural alternatives.
High Standards
From the start, we took a commonsense approach to sustainability—one that, surprisingly, remains uncommon. We asked tough questions, researched relentlessly, and let materials and processes guide our designs through eco-efficiency. Over time, this commitment evolved into a structured framework for making responsible decisions. Today, as a B Corp-certified company, we are held accountable by both this framework and a broader community that continuously challenges us to do better. We don’t claim to be perfect—or fully sustainable—but we do care, and we take meaningful action. Our commitment is simple: to do right by the planet, our families, and our customers.
Culture First
We are building a new value system, a culture if you will. We want to be the most innovative, responsible and inspiring furnishings company in the world. It’s an adventure that will require a lot of hard work, trial and error and some faith that we can make a difference everyday with creativity and beauty. I invite you to join us on this journey creating a new way of furnishing creative places that inspires and changes our culture. Whether you choose to buy a product from us or not, we want you to think about what it takes to make and own something. We want you to ask questions to make life on this planet better.
With love and respect
Jaime & Isaac Salm
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