Designing our living, breathing headquarters

The challenge

Help create a materials economy that is non-toxic, ecologically regenerative, transparent, and socially equitable.

Our approach

When sourcing materials for this project, we insisted on radical transparency of ingredients, raised demands for cleaner non-toxic materials, and purchased locally whenever possible.

In the end, we sourced more than 60% of the materials within 500 kilometers of the site, representing over 400 products in our space. We collaborated with manufacturers to ensure that none of the 1,500+ materials we used contained harmful or toxic chemicals commonly used in commercial office buildings, a.k.a. Red List Materials.

More than 31 maker products in our office proudly sport Declare labels, in addition to 38 Declare labels on products we selected, disclosing every material used to make them. The Declare initiative is working to bring much-needed transparency to the building materials marketplace.

All wood for this project was either Forest Stewardship Council certified (FSC) or salvaged and reused. We incorporated more than 750 salvaged pieces into the space. The stairs in our entryway, for example, were constructed with wood from the water tower that used to sit atop the building. We also repurposed multiple industrial doors from when this building housed a printing and publishing house.

Throughout demolition and construction, we diverted more than 90% of our waste away from landfills, partnering with BIG Reuse, a local nonprofit, to donate excess materials to nearby building projects. Scrap wood went directly to our on-site woodshop, where it will all eventually be repurposed for projects around the office.

As we moved into our new HQ up the street, we also worked hard to minimize our moving waste. 87% of it never saw the landfill, including more than 30,000 pounds of donated materials and 11,500 pounds of recyclables.

To keep our day-to-day waste down, we weigh all trash, compost, and recycling on site, and have developed extensive strategies to reduce consumption and ultimately send zero waste to landfill.

The challenge

Signal a new age of design, where the built environment relies solely on renewable forms of energy, and operates safely and pollution-free year-round.

Our approach

Some of the best lighting at Etsy is free—with an open floor plan, and by placing workspaces near windows, we’re able to harvest daylight and reduce energy use, saving an estimated 80,000 kWh of energy each year.

If we do use electricity, a 12 kW solar power system on our roof is helping to power a portion of our office, and the rest we are looking to source from renewable energy projects.

All the non-natural lighting in the building comes from LEDs, which are 30% more efficient than the industry-standard fluorescent bulbs. If lights are left on in an unoccupied room, our occupancy sensors will automatically turn them off. After 8pm, most of the lights shut off completely. So do half of the workspace electrical outlets.

The challenge

Foster a true, inclusive sense of community that is just and equitable regardless of an individual's background, age, class, race, gender, or sexual orientation.

Our approach

We’re constantly challenging the status quo of what it means to be an equitable and diverse workplace. Through special training programs, learning and development resources, accessibility improvements and partnerships, we’re cultivating a dynamic workforce that’s wholly inclusive of gender identity, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, education, ability, and sexual/romantic spectrums.

New York law requires bathrooms to have gendered signage, but we made ours gender-inclusive anyway.

Inside, these “Mens” and “Womens” rooms are identical.

And for the new mothers and fathers who work here, our generous parental leave policy (26 weeks in the US) doesn’t distinguish between primary and secondary caregivers, and when they return to work they’ll have a cozy place to do all the things that new parents need to do.

The challenge

Design a building that realigns how we understand and relate to the natural environment. Build only where it’s acceptable for people to build, or protect and restore an already-developed location. Encourage the creation of communities based around pedestrians, not automobiles.

Our approach

We chose an existing site instead of new construction. We stuck to our roots in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn, and we’ll keep supporting this community over the course of our lease.

The building is convenient to public transit and bike paths, which helps promote carbon-friendly commutes.

It’s also near walking paths and parks that beckon employees to have those one-on-one meetings outdoors.

We’ve filled our rooftop and terraces with 60 species of native plants which are well-adapted to our local environment, creating a healthy habitat for insects, birds, moss, and ferns.

Shade-tolerant grasses create a rich, green environment of soft textures, providing a tranquil and pleasant place to unwind, socialize, and relax.

Inside, we’ve created multiple employee wellness areas. There’s the quiet, green library. The “breathing room” for meditation and yoga. And the bike room, as well as showers, which encourage carbon-neutral and more healthful commuting.

To even out the impact of our new home, which occupies otherwise open and natural landscape, we purchased a “land offset” (a donation to conserve land) equivalent to the space our Brooklyn office occupies.

The challenge

Realign how people use water, and redefine “waste” in the built environment so that water is respected as a precious resource.

Our approach

We’ve outfitted all of our bathrooms and kitchens with low-flow water fixtures, and share tips for reducing water use on signage around the space.

Each time it rains, our rooftop collects rainwater in a 3,400 gallon cistern, helping to reduce runoff and flooding in our neighborhood.

We’ve also chosen plants that help store rainwater before it hits the city’s stormwater system.

An innovative irrigation system connects the rainwater cistern to our living walls, creating self-sustaining mini-ecosystems indoors while reducing water waste.

The challenge

Focus on the environmental conditions that are essential to creating a robust, healthy workspace. These include access to sunlight and fresh air, as well as design elements that nurture the human/nature connection, also known as biophilic design.

Our approach

Our open floor plan and abundant windows provide lots of natural light, and great views of surrounding greenery, in addition to the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.

Employees also have access to our beautifully landscaped roof and two outdoor terraces.

With advanced sensors, excellent ventilation, and by using only the healthiest products inside our space, our indoor air quality is off the charts, and much improved over the air outside.

We use green cleaning products certified by the Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program, which help keep our indoor air free of chemicals and other impurities.

Our global food program, Eatsy, nourishes the Etsy community with meals rooted in the local food economy that are both healthful and sustainably sourced. We partner with nearby farmers, vendors, and chefs in order to help grow small businesses and support the local economy.