About His Business & Career: King founded Humanscale when he was just 27 years old. Humanscale creates ergonomic furnishings and software, including chairs and sit/stand desks, for the workplace, designed with functionality and worker wellness in mind. With Humanscale’s products, King is hoping to have a net positive impact on the planet.
Why He Made the Worthy 100: Under King’s leadership, Humanscale has concerned itself with the many facets of sustainability. Humanscale’s products are made with fewer parts and they utilize recycled materials, staying true to its “Design for Environment” manifesto. As well, 26 of the company’s products are certified net positive, making Humanscale the first brand to provide net positive products. In addition to the company belonging to the UN Global Compact, Humanscale also partners with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)—of which King has long been a National Council member. Humanscale’s partnership with WWF focuses on the Eastern Plains of Cambodia, which hosts a great diversity of wildlife but had been enduring a poaching problem. Humanscale worked to terminate poaching and has set up security to help keep the problem from recurring.
Industry: Retail/Office Furniture
Year Founded: 1983
Headquarters: New York, N.Y.
