Solutions for Furniture

Indoor air quality matters.

We are spending up to 95% of our time indoors in urban environments, and indoor air quality has a major impact on our personal health, our mood, and even our beauty! :-)

Your Health Matters

The walls, ceiling and floors of the building contribute chemicals to the air through offgassing.  That's the emissions of minute chemical and dust particles over time. Some chemicals emit more, and more dangerous particles than others.

But furnishings... carpet, mattresses, overstuffed couches, varnished wood furniture... they also emit chemicals. 

Furniture is a major emitter of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), those chemicals that are largely responsible for indoor air being more polluted, on average, than what's outside. VOCs released from furniture include formaldehyde, benzene, acetone, toluene, xylene, 1,3-butadiene and many more.

They can take years to dissipate, and result in common symptoms like fatigue, headaches, skin and eye irritation, tingling or numbness in the extremities, drowsiness and dizziness.

Your Planet Matters

If that's not enough to make you think twice about which furnishings, finishes and stuffings you select... there are additional impacts that you can affect with your choices.  Impacts to your health, your extended family's health, and your community's health.

These are the "sustainability" factors.  Climate change.  Transportation costs.  Sustainable natural resources.  Social justice.  And the general regenerative capacity of the earth's natural systems.

Deforestation is rampant around the world and this leads to loss of healthy soil .. which causes desertification, damage to water supplies, loss of habitat and loss of carbon sequestration.  All because you love wood...and can afford to buy it on this side of the globe.

Gorgeous hardwoods like teak and mahogany are removed illegally from protected preserves, then quietly mixed into the mainstream market. 

But metal furniture isn't much better... furniture is also made using metal, plastics and various chemicals, all of which must be sourced from somewhere...and often transported great distances as raw materials, parts and then again as finished products.

Mining of metals remains a heavily toxic industry sector, while plastics and many other materials, from paint to glue, are typically made out of petroleum--with it's impactful environmental and social footprint.

Better Solutions for Furniture... Green(er)

Less is better.  Reuse is better.  Long term use is really green.

There is an increasing selection of "green furniture" that is both good for you and gentler on the earth.  And a quality piece of furniture can last a lifetime...and become an heirloom that serves future generations, as well. 

"Green furniture" features that make a difference include:

Local sourcing of the raw materials -- such as local or regional non-endangered woods such as pine, oak or in some areas maple or cedar.  Redwood, on the other hand is not so eco-friendly even though it has wonderful long lasting features.

New materials and recycled content materials are coming onto the market rapidly.

Rough-hewn pioneer furniture made from logs hand sawed from broken or dead trees are being handcrafted in many regions.

Cork is harvested sustainably from tree bark and can be part of a well managed sustainable forest program.

Bamboo is fast growing and requires little water and no pesticides in its agricultural homes.  It can be a sustainable alternative for social justice reasons, as well, in parts of the developing world.

Non-toxic composites made from agricultural wastes such as wheat straw or recycled newspapers or rice hulls are being developed and used in both furniture and wall boards.

Reworking old wood that is salvaged from old buildings, fences and driftwood or fallen trees is turning into a sizable craft market.

Recycled metal and other refuse is being incorporated into sculpted furnishings.  Many products end up in landfills that have high structural integrity and can be innovatively designed furnishings -- waste streams can turn into urban mines -- with seatbelts, tools, reclaimed glass, car parts, skate and surf boards ... and even bins and containers can be repurposed.

VOC-free glues, paints, stains can be water-based or even plant-based for lower impact on your health with less -- or no -- off-gassing.

Fasteners can replace glue, which creates less offgassing -- but also makes manufacturing, assembly and disassembly faster and easier.  And flat packing reduces shipping volume and costs.  And turns materials into another generation of recycled content for reuse.

New green mattresses are being made with plant materials instead of petroleum based chemicals that emit VOCs and use limited supplies of oil ... and end up in landfills.

One good way to ensure a company's claims have merit is to look for a third party certification, such as the Forest Stewardship Council. The industry-backed Sustainable Forestry Initiative is generally less rigorous.

NSF's Indoor Air Emissions Certification Program has expanded its scope to include low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions found in office furniture.

VOCs, such as formaldehyde and aldehydes, are chemicals emitted by a wide array of products, including paints, building materials and furnishings, copiers, and printers.

VOCs may cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headache, nausea, and skin problems, but higher concentrations may cause irritation of the lungs, damage to the liver, kidney, or central nervous system.

The NSF Emissions Certification for Office Furntiture  program directly addresses these concerns.

"Numerous interior furnishing products have been introduced into the market claiming a variety of environmental attributes," said Dr. Kurtis Kneen, Director, NSF's Chemistry Laboratory. "End users have been requesting help in order to understand the environmental benefits of each product and to be able to compare products using a consistent basis of measurement. Having standards in place that define and identify low-emitting furniture will assist manufacturers in communicating and end users in understanding environmental and sustainability-related product benefits."

BIFMA Standard: BIFMA X7.1-2007

The new sustainable furniture certification program is based on a Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) standard for Formaldehyde and TVOC Emissions of Low-emitting Office Furniture Systems and Seating - BIFMA X7.1-2007.

"BIFMA identified a need for an open, consensus-based, and publicly available test method and standard for low-emitting furniture products. Having NSF incorporate American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standards into their program is further verification of that market need," stated Thomas Reardon, Executive Director, BIFMA International, a non-profit trade association of furniture manufacturers and suppliers that promotes sustainable work environments and business practices.

ANSI/BIFMA X7.1 Standards

ANSI/BIFMA X7.1 defines requirements for VOC emissions from office furniture classified as low-emitting products. The standard also:

• Provides requirements for the emissions of VOCs from office furniture
• Specifies acceptance levels that define low-emitting furniture independent of construction materials, manufacturing processes, mechanical designs, or aesthetic designs
• Applies only to newly manufactured products

LEED Green Building Credits for low-emitting furniture

Annual monitoring through audits ensures ongoing compliance. In addition to obtaining NSF Certification and the right to use the NSF Mark on products or in literature, certified products can also be used to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits for building projects that specify the use of low-emitting furniture. LEED certification is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

BIFMA Test Method: BIFMA M-7.1 for Long Term VOC Emission Testing

BIFMA has also developed a standard test method (BIFMA M-7.1) in conjunction with the standard to determine a long-term (14 days) VOC emission from office furniture. Testing in support of the NSF Certification program will follow this standard test method. The test method identifies VOC emitted and determines the emission rates for individual compounds and total VOC. These data are then used to determine whether the furniture tested meets the acceptance criteria for VOC emissions.

Materials Analytical Services, Inc, Provides Environmental Testing

To provide testing services to the BIFMA standard test method, NSF has established a partnership with Materials Analytical Services, Inc. (MAS), an independent, privately held microanalytical firm specializing in environmental consulting and testing.

"Over the past five years, MAS has worked directly with BIFMA and several other trade organizations to advance the science of dynamic product emissions testing as a means to improve indoor air quality in both today's buildings and tomorrow's ever greener buildings," said Martin Bennett, Senior Consultant with MAS. "Our partnership with NSF will significantly raise the bar for consumers, manufacturers, planners, and architects as the reliable source for delineation and certification of low-VOC-emitting furniture."

For additional information about NSF's Indoor Air Emissions Certification for Office Furniture Program, contact sustainabilitysales@nsf.org.

The BIFMA e3-2008 Furniture Sustainability Standard has been developed by BIFMA, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manfuacturer's Association.  As the trade association for the segment of the furniture market, they have developed sustainability standards to connect their manufacturing members with the wider market of corporations and government buyers who need to fulfill corporate social responsibility and carbon reduction footprints. 

The ANSI/BIFMA standards are intended to provide manufacturers, specifiers, and users with a common basis for evaluating safety, durability, and the structural adequacy of the specified furniture, independent of construction materials. The standards define specific tests, laboratory equipment to be used, the conditions of test, and the minimum acceptance levels to be used in evaluating these products. Copies of obsolete editions of the various standards are available upon request.

The ANSI/BIFMA Safety and Performance Standards are developed by the BIFMA Engineering Committee. The standards are reviewed every five years according to guidelines established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

All accredited standards developers must follow the ANSI Essential Requirements and their own set of written procedures in the process of developing new or revising existing standards. To obtain a copy of the ANSI Essential requirements go to http://www.ansi.org. If you are interested in the procedures that BIFMA uses in developing standards you may download a copy from the following: BIFMA Revised Proc_14June07.pdf

Also, BIFMA is accredited by ANSI to be the administrator of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to ISO Technical Committee TC-136 Furniture. This has been very useful for BIFMA in our involvement with International Standards for office furniture. However, ISO TC-136 covers ALL furniture, not just office furniture. If you have an interest in International Standards for furniture that would be other than office furniture, BIFMA would like to hear from you.

BIFMA e3-2008 Furniture Sustainability Standard and level™ Certification Program

Certified Products

BIFMA member firms Allsteel, Gunlocke, HON Company, Herman Miller, Kimball Office,
National Office Furniture and Steelcase have products that meet the standard's requirements and have received third party certification by either NSF or SCS.

BIFMA International and NSF International (NSF) announced the release of BIFMA e3-2008 Furniture Sustainability Standard to the NSF consensus ballot process and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) public comment period in June of 2008. The standard is an open, consensus based method to evaluate the sustainable attributes of furniture products.  It addresses all three aspects of sustainability (environmental, economic and social) and includes criteria for evaluating human & ecosystem health, energy, natural resource and corporate social responsibility impacts. The draft standard is downloadable here:

BIFMA e3-2008.pdf.

In June of 2009, BIFMA announced the premier of the product certification program, level™. For more information, the news release is available at http://bifma.org/news/newsrelease.pdfs/level_PR_05.pdf and the level™ website is:

http://levelcertified.org

Scientific Certification Systems is at the forefront of sustainability certification providing a multi-stakeholder, multi-attribute sustainability certification for office and institutional furniture.

Level Certification by SCS

level™ certification, based on the BIFMA e3-2008 sustainability standard, sets furniture manufacturers on a path toward greater sustainability over time.

Based on environmental and social criteria set forth in the standard, a product's entire supply chain is assessed.

Certification assessment includes an evaluation of specific corporate policies and guidelines and an assessment of associated company manufacturing facilities. Products must meet quantifiable milestones of environmental and social performance at every step of development.

The quantitative assessment addresses four categories:

• material use
• energy and atmosphere impacts
• human and ecosystem health
  
• social responsibility
  

Manufacturers earn points in each of the four categories. The level™ brand and its numeric rating of 1, 2 or 3 indicate what threshold of certification a product has achieved. level™ 3 is the highest rating.

Annual reviews are required to maintain certification.

SCS provided the first certifications based on the BIFMA e3-2008 standard in 2008.

SCS Sustainable Choice Furniture

Manufacturers whose products were previously certified under SCS Sustainable Choice Furniture are now part of level™.

Benefits to Manufacturers

• Reinforce a brand image with on-product labeling
• Assure customers that certified products are held to rigorous standards
• Attain bottom-line cost savings with effective environmental strategies
• Depending on the credits earned in the level assessment process, the following points may be available in the LEED program:

For BIFMA e3-2008 Credit 5.5, Rapidly Renewable Materials:

• USGBC LEEDv3, MR credit 6 (Rapidly Renewable Materials)

For BIFMA e3-2008 Credit 5.6, Bio-based Renewable Materials-Sustainable Wood:

• USGBC LEEDv3, MR credit 7 (Certified Wood)

For BIFMA e3-2008 Credit 5.7, Recycled Content:

• USGBC LEEDv3, MR credit 4

For BIFMA e3-2008 Credit 7.6, Low Emitting Furniture:

• USGBC LEEDv3, IEQ4.5 (Low-Emitting Materials--Systems Furniture and Seating)
• Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)
• CA-CHPS 2009, EQ2.2.5 (Low-Emitting Materials, Furniture & Furnishings)
• ANSI/BIFMA X7.1-2007 Low-emitting Office Furniture Systems and Seating
• California Section 01350 Specification
• CA DHS Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions
• California Department of General Service (DGS) Indoor Air Quality Specifications for Open Panel Office Furniture (2006)

BIFMA e3-2008 Furniture Sustainability Standard

The BIFMA e3-2008 business and institutional furniture sustainability standard is an open, consensus-based method to evaluate the social and environmental attributes of furniture products. It addresses all three aspects of sustainability (environmental, economic and social) and includes criteria for evaluating impacts:

• human and ecosystem health
• energy
• natural resource
  
• corporate social responsibility
  

The standard has been developed working with stakeholders and experts from inside and outside the industry over a three-year period.

The process has been conducted in alignment with ANSI regulations and, as such, the BIFMA e2-2008 standard will soon achieve status as an American National Standard.

For more information or to comment on the standard, visit levelcertified.org.

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Spring cleaning around the office is  in the air -- and furniture is a great place to start going green in the workplace.

Furniture recyclers and refurbishers represent more than $1.2 billion of the $13.6 billion in the US commercial furniture industry. The used furniture boom indicates that companies are catching on to the inherent benefits of buying used.

Opting for gently used furniture saves money and helps keep perfectly good products out of landfills.

"Green" means high performance with low impact.  If you prefer to buy new furniture, consider these high performance features in the furniture you buy:

Sustainable materials: Consider the material source, manufacturing and finishes of the materials that go into that new chair. With wood furniture, choose products that are sourced from sustainably managed forests like FSC-certified from the Forest Stewardship Council.

Durability: If you are buying new, buy for the long term. Nothing says unsustainable like a new product that becomes trash in a few years. While buying higher quality furniture requires a larger initial investment, the longer it lasts the bigger your return.

Good Corporate Practices: The company you are buying from should at least have an eye on sustainability.

GreenerAssets brings you advice on greener workplaces.

Is wood sustainable? How about finishes...and paddings...and metal?  Sustainable furniture recognizes that respectful use and replenishment of natural resources are at the heart of "sustainability." 

Sustainable furniture can use recycled materials, low or no-VOCs in finishes, natural padding materials and minimal design to conserve quantities of virgin materials. Innovation and creativity are unlimited in designing furniture that is more environmentally friendly.

Now there is a trade association for companies concerned about natural resources protection and conservation -- The Sustainable Furniture Council.

The Sustainable Furniture Council is a non-profit balanced coalition of industry players created to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike with a public tagging program to identify good choices.

The SFC recognizes the overwhelming scientific consensus that our world is experiencing dangerous global climate change. SFC members acknowledge the tremendous urgency, and will take immediate steps to minimize carbon emissions, waste stream pollutants, un-recyclable content and primary materials from unsustainable sources from any product platform under our control.

SFC members will utilize Life Cycle Assessment as the best method for analyzing the environmental impact of their products, and a verifiable chain of custody as the only acceptable method for tracking wood flow.

In 2008, we will be launching a public advertising and in-store tagging program for consumers to identify retailers and products which exceed our threshold sustainability standards. Our Standards Committee is currently reviewing all legitimate, independent certification schemes to establish eligibility requirements.

For a simple discussion of global warming basics, visit the Natural Resources Defense Council at www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/f101.asp

PROBLEM:  Poor quality furniture with short lifespans and  unsustainable materials.

SOLUTION:  Certified sustainable materials and manufacturing of furniture to provide longer life and lower lifespan costs.

High Performance, Beauty and Quality Furniture for Homes

Antique furniture proves that furniture can stand the ravages of time -- and quality furniture is being made today that will be the classic styles and antiques of tomorrow. But you have to adjust your thinking to find the high performance designs and materials. We have solutions!

Natural materials and quality construction are the hallmarks of high performance design of furniture for yourself and your family. Latex vs. polyfoam, quality forged metals vs. cast metals, and quality materials that will last a lifetime (and more) are high performance furniture features.

Caring for furniture is also part of your investment in long lasting furniture. We will bring you information on how to care for different kinds of materials, and how to repair these furniture classics.

And don't forget design. Traditional furniture designs are still being crafted by today's furniture designers and of course, modern styles abound in this age of creativity and green design that is forging new levels of quality and function.

High Performance, Ergonomic, Functional Furniture for Offices

The right office chair can make all the difference in how you feel during your work day. And the right desk can dramatically improve your productivity. What do you look for in high performance office furniture?

We are bringing you connections and information about ergonomic design as well as materials that fit into today's green buildings and furnishings that fit our digital reality.

High Performance Furniture Product Categories

• Living Room Furnishings
• Office Furniture
• Bedroom Furniture
• Outdoor Furniture
• Built-in Furniture
• Accessories

Practical solutions for furniture enhance the quality of life as well as work and play.