GROUNDED IN SUSTAINABILITY

Transcription

1 GROUNDED IN SUSTAINABILITY Our Connection to the Earth Sustainability the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Report of the Brundtland Commission, Our Common Future, 1987 UN Conference

2 Sustainability Brings Value to Our Customers At American Seating, we design with our customers, our employees, and our planet in mind. This is how we LEED. American Seating products not only surpass existing regulations, they support many third-party industry certification programs, including LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design). A voluntary program created by the US Green Building Council, LEED certification (Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) is available for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. American Seating fixed seating and freestanding furniture can help secure points toward certification in the categories of New Construction (NC), Schools, and Commercial Interiors (CI) for: Materials and Resources MR 2 Construction Waste Management (NC, Schools, CI) 1-2 points Recycle and/or salvage non hazardous construction and demolition debris. All American Seating packing material is 100% recyclable. MR 3 Materials Reuse (NC and Schools) 1-2 points Use of salvaged, refurbished or reused materials, which constitute 5-10% of project cost. American Seating s products can be relocated to another building for continued use of products. MR 3.1 Material Reuse (CI) 1-2 points Use of salvaged, refurbished or reused materials, which constitute 5-10% of project cost. American Seating products can be reused in a future space. MR 3.2 Material Reuse Furniture and Furnishings (CI) 1 point Use of salvaged, refurbished or reused materials in a new space, which constitute 30% based on cost of the Furniture and Furnishings budget. American Seating products can be reused in a future space. MR 4 Recycled Content (NC, Schools, CI) 1-2 points* Use of products with a recycled content of 10% or 20% based on weight. Most American Seating products exceed 20% recycled content by weight. MR 5 Regional Materials: Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Regionally (NC, Schools, CI) 1-2 points Use of materials extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for a minimum of 10% or 20% (based on cost) of the total materials value. American Seating can provide hard wood products that meet this credit requirement. MR 7 Certified Wood (NC, Schools, CI) 1 point Wood-based materials of which 50% are FSC certified based on cost. American Seating can provide FSC certified wood with a complete chain of custody certificate. Indoor Environment Quality IEQ 4.4 Low Emitting Materials Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products (NC, Schools, CI) 1 point Composite woods and agrifiber products must not contain any added urea-formaldehyde resins. American Seating can provide core materials with no added urea-formaldehyde resins. IEQ 4.5 Low Emitting Materials (Schools and CI) 1 point Furniture and furnishings must meet low emissions standards. American Seating performs Indoor Air Quality testing to ANSI BIFMA X7.1 standards. BIFMA X7.1 is accepted by the US Green Building Council as equal to GreenGuard Certification. Achieving BIFMA X7.1 meets LEED requirements for Indoor Environmental Quality 4.5. In addition to LEED-ing... CARB (California Air Resources Board) sets state standards for health-based air quality. American Seating, in anticipation of national legislation, currently complies with CARB regulation on formaldehyde for particleboard and hardwood plywood in all products. CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) created the nation s first green building rating program developed especially for school learning environments. American Seating products can assist schools in meeting CHPS best practice standards for indoor air quality. BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturing Association) developed level in 2009, a sustainability standard, third-party classification program. American Seating is completing this program. *American Seating sustainable product profile for Architectural Products provides calculations for product composition as well as recycled content by weight, often required for LEED point calculations (MR4). Product Composition Foam 0% Steel 34% Product Composition Foam 1% Fabric 3% Misc 4% Plastic 15% Wood 54% Steel 77% Iron, Wood 0% Misc 12% Fabric 0% Iron 0%, Plastic 0% Recycled Content Post Industrial 12% Recycled Content Post Industrial 5% Post Consumer 8% Post Consumer 17% Virgin Material 80% Virgin Material 78% Parley Table Graph Parley Tables with Acton Caster Acton Caster Table Graph

3 Sustainability The Capacity to Endure Our company was built on enduring values. Our products are built to endure, to restore, to sustain. At American Seating, we think of ourselves as grounded in sustainability. We strive to be fierce competitors in our global markets, responsible stewards of the environment, an excellent corporate citizen in the communities in which we operate, and to contribute to a better quality of life for our employees and their families. The design and manufacture of our products reflect an evolving understanding of human needs, local economies and natural systems. Our internal and external operations reflect that same process of insight and innovation. American Seating has been grounded in the concepts of endurance and sustainability since our founding days in We have well over a century of engineering firsts and innovative product design. We listen to our customers, learn from experience, integrate best practices, and design products that are built to last. It is a process. It is our tradition. Contributing to Sustainability Going beyond expectations and regulatory compliance. Sustainability means designing for the environment, for people, for profitability. Our mission is to be a premier provider of innovative world-class solutions for furniture and services to the education, entertainment, sports, office and transportation seating markets. The American Seating Design Philosophy dictates using materials and processes that are, to the greatest extent possible, locally sourced and sustainable: Design for the Environment (DfE): New products will be designed through the use of environmentally friendly materials and processes. Design for Durability/Upgradeability: Products will be designed to have a long, useful life. Products are easily refurbished. Design for Remanufacture: Products employ common manufacturing methods that allow for material reuse and refinishing. Design for Recycling: Products will be designed to be recyclable and/or refurbishable. American Seating has made a commitment to expanding and sharing our knowledge and experience through our affiliations, including: The American Institute of Architects (AIA) US Green Building Council, West Michigan Chapter (USGBC-WM) West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum (WMSBF) Sustainable Manufacturing User Group (SMUG) Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA)

4 Vision and Focus Areas Six measurement categories, benchmarking the best in the industry. Our six sustainability measurement categories each include vision, focus, accomplishments and goals. They are based on accepted certification programs, including: the US Green Building Council, Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association, Collaborative for High Performance Schools, and California Air Resources Board. Vision Focus Financial Performance Offer innovative and sustainable solutions to our customers at competitive prices, ensuring long-term profitability for stakeholders and investors. Contribute to local and regional economies. Ethical business practices. Efficient use of resources. Ongoing, transparent communications. Keep jobs local and contribute to urban development. Energy & Atmosphere Preserve natural resources, reduce environmental pollution, and limit greenhouse gas emissions. Effective energy monitoring; efficient lighting and manufacturing systems. Use of clean, renewable energy as possible. Design innovations. Reduce emissions and waste. Water Quality & Conservation Preserve and protect water resources throughout our facilities. Efficient manufacturing processes and systems to conserve water and reduce contamination. Effective landscaping and storm water strategies. Indoor Air Quality Ensure proper air quality in our facilities. Provide our customers with products that ensure healthy indoor environments. Utilize green chemistry in design and manufacturing processes. Control temperature and humidity. Ensure proper ventilation. Materials & Resources Maximize material efficiency, minimize waste, and eliminate use of hazardous materials and processes. Design for durability, upgradeability, remanufacturing and recycling. Purchase sustainable products and raw materials. Design and manufacture for material efficiency and extended usefulness. Eliminate use or generation of hazardous substances. Utilize FSC certified resources. Social Responsibility Employ a workforce that is diverse in talents, backgrounds and perspectives. Contribute to a better quality of life for our employees, their families, and the communities in which we operate. Ensure health and safety protocols. Increase workplace diversity. Employee engagement/recognition/career development. Community outreach/supply chain engagement. Local sourcing, manufacturing and assembly.

5 Measuring Success Design and manufacture products that embody value. Stay grounded...build on the past, anticipate the future. Beyond just doing business, it is our privilege to create innovative products that offer comfort, aesthetics, and value. It is our responsibility to build quality products that endure...reducing replacements, reducing waste. It is our vision to help design a future built on the capacity to endure. Accomplishments Goals Our Guiding Company Principles. Corporate savings through resource efficiency. Customers experience a positive return on their investment over the life of the product. Invested $44 million upgrading operations, securing local jobs. Establish corporate sustainability reinvestment program. Targeted reductions in materials, water, and energy costs. Publish annual Sustainability Report. Continue to invest in local operations. Installation of high efficiency lighting, heat recovery systems, and plant HVAC upgrades. Use of green transport services. Targeted reductions in overall energy usage. Targeted reductions in embodied energy in products. Targeted renewable energy use. 100% phosphate-free metal pretreatment rinse systems. 80% reduction in process water consumption in % reduction in waste water sludge after metal pretreatment Green Initiative Champion by Corp! Magazine. Increase innovations in water-quality enhancement and conservation systems. Targeted reductions in water usage. Adopt native landscaping strategies. Elimination of VOCs from metal product finishing in powder coat paint systems. Elimination of formaldehydes from adhesives, processes, and manufactured materials. Expand in-house air quality monitoring. Provide PVC-free textiles and polyurethane edge molding options. Water-based stains and finishes. Moving towards complete elimination of solvent based adhesives. New powder recovery system reduced powder consumption by 22.3%. Developed sustainable product profile tool to calculate product composition and recycled content by weight. Off-site recycling (averages 66 tons annually). Reduced overall printing and packaging and converted to 100% recyclable, biodegradable materials. Introduced repurposed promotional materials. Formalize sustainable purchasing policy. Expand sustainable product profile tool. Increase recycled content and recyclability of all products. Integrate green chemistry innovations throughout operations. Zero waste to landfill by Actively supporting our local schools through mentoring activities and service opportunities. Instituted opportunities for improved employee health and wellness. Invested $28 million in urban revitalization, renovating an historic building to house apartments, office space and corporate headquarters. Implemented Corporate Social Responsibility Policy. Over 75% of our product materials are sourced within a three state region. Increase employee retention and satisfaction. Expand opportunities for employee engagement in corporate strategies and community outreach. Increase employee health and wellness participation. Support ongoing urban development. Photography by Ron Blunt

6 Our Mission Since 1886, American Seating has set the standard for product design, durability and comfort. Today, we remain committed to exceeding the expectations of our customers. Our achievements serve as the platform for new and innovative products that continue to be the benchmark of our industry. A History of Innovative SOLUTIONS 401 American Seating Center, Grand Rapids, MI Phone FAX americanseating.com American Seating is a registered trademark of American Seating Co. Form No. A-SUS American Seating Company Litho USA American Seating is committed to lessening our impact on the planet through responsible stewardship of our environment.