Frequently when we’re working with customers on new office furniture requirements, they ask us about furniture that is built using environmentally friendly practices, or from recycled materials.
Fortunately we have a great answer for them. Our partner HON is an industry leader when it comes to sustainable office furniture. In fact, I didn’t even appreciate how much they do to be sustainable until I read a recent post on their blog, Workplace Sustainability: Understanding Office Furniture “Green” Certifications. I thought it would be a good one to share:
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental design, is one of the biggest certifications in the office furniture world. It focuses on how the product is manufactured by paying attention to the potentially harmful materials that go into making the product. LEED also looks at how much of those materials are recyclable and what potentially harmful chemicals may be emitted during the production process. There are several different levels of certifications furniture can achieve through LEED, but the bottom line is this: if it is LEED certified, it is produced in a way that is better for the environment.
The HON Company uses LEED guidelines when manufacturing furniture by using compression molded seat and back components made from 97% recovered wood fiber, which ends up saving over 2,800 trees a year. HON also recycles bales of fabric scraps which keeps 100 tons of waste out of landfills each year. There are several other processes embraced by The HON Company that have led to more than 75% of our products being LEED certified.
Office Essentials has your office furniture needs covered.
Come see our showrooms in St. Louis or Kansas City and talk to our design team about your furniture requirements. Email us today.
