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Sustainability: Business of Concern
Sustainability is not an Allsteel product. It's the result of good people making responsible choices for the right reasons.
Allsteel has practiced material and energy conservation for many years. During the last 20 years Allsteel began integrating environmental management into manufacturing. We adopted lean manufacturing processes and waste became anything that failed to add value to the product. Lean processes are at the core of everything we do today. In 1999, we benchmarked our environmental performance against the most stringent furniture specification written to date, the State of California Green Specification for Open Office Furniture Systems.
At Allsteel, we design and manufacture our furniture with the following considerations in mind:
Resourceful thinking
Every product should fit its function. And, materials and assembly methods should fit the product. There is as much waste in over-building as under-building.
Rapid Continuous Improvement (RCI) is one approach that ensures that all our processes are as effective and lean as possible. RCI begins with our members. Each member must own his or her contribution to the collective goal. Allsteel teams study ergonomics, economics, life-cycle analysis, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and design to bring significant benefit to everything we do. RCI challenges us as individuals, as teams, and as a company to use resources to their fullest.
Size matters
Our goal is to use only the material, energy, and person-power needed to produce a particular part or product. This approach differs from conventional manufacturing in which the product is designed to fit the process.
Material difference
Allsteel products are manufactured with some amount of recycled content. In addition, many Allsteel products can be disassembled and recycled. We strive to minimize the number of different materials used in our products, and materials are selected based on their ability to be recycled today. New material innovation is a priority.
A step ahead
Allsteel teams work diligently to reduce cartoning and the waste it produces. We choose the best cartoning material for both the product and the intended destination. When appropriate, products are bulk-packed or blanket-wrapped to minimize waste.
Benchmarking
We've looked at certification programs and chosen to work with those that make fiscal and factual sense to business and the environment.
The majority of Allsteel products can contribute toward LEED-CI credits as environmentally preferable product choices. Our products are tested according to the State of California specification, the most comprehensive furniture specification currently available. Allsteel works with industry groups such as BIFMA and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to establish uniform definitions of terms and harmonize the efforts of various certification programs.
We developed Environmental Data Sheets (EDS) for many of our products to help you make informed decisions on product selection. Each sheet provides technical data reflecting a product's rating against applicable industry standards. Eight categories are addressed, including indoor air quality, recycled content, end-of-useful life management, and a description of our environmental commitment. You'll find the facts at Allsteel. They'll allow you to make sound choices easily.
All for one result
Allsteel understands that the environment does not begin and end at our doorstep. We encourage our suppliers and customers to make environmentally responsible choices.
Beyond the basics, effective office furniture selection can enhance the performance of the end user, reducing the overall impact of the business and improving the bottom line.
We think you'll like the way we do business.