Manufacturer & Vendors News
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Inscape’s Storage & System Products awarded level® certification
Holland Landing, Ontario—Inscape Corporation, a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of innovative workplace solutions, announced that its Office Specialty storage products and Platform furniture system have achieved level® 1 certification from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS).
"Achieving level® certification for our Office Specialty and Platform products represents a milestone for Inscape,” said David Parshad, Inscape Vice President, Product Design and Development. “This achievement reflects Inscape’s commitment to operate in an Environmentally responsible manner and is a first step towards level® certification of all our products.”
BIFMA established level® as a common framework against which to evaluate the environmental and social responsibility of a variety of products. level® is part of BIFMA’s ongoing development of voluntary product and industry standards that support safe, healthy and sustainable workplaces. To achieve level® certification, Inscape partnered with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), who has been providing global leadership in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing and standards development for more than 25 years.
In the level® certification process, a product, the organization and facilities that produce it are scored according to sustainability criteria in four areas: Materials; Energy and Atmosphere; Human and Ecosystem Health; and Social Responsibility.
For more information, see www.inscapesolutions.com
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Steelcase report updates progress toward its 2012 environmental goals
Steelcase Inc., the global furniture and office environments manufacturer, released its 2011 Corporate Sustainability Report in June. The report details Steelcase’s progress towards environmental goals set to coincide with its 100-year anniversary in 2012.
“Steelcase employees feel a great sense of responsibility and pride with respect to our sustainability efforts, which is why we’ve seen consistent and significant progress toward our environmental objectives,” said Jim Hackett, president and CEO, Steelcase, Inc. “Nearly six years ago we set an aggressive goal to reduce our environmental footprint by 25 percent in 2012 and with that deadline on the horizon, we’re incredibly pleased and humbled by the progress our people have made.”
The Steelcase corporate sustainability report describes the company’s efforts to create enduring value for people, the planet and the global economy through personal stories. Actions taken in areas as diverse as government services, manufacturing, energy efficiency and global procurement demonstrate the efforts Steelcase has underway that will continue to foster the company’s progress in sustainability.
The report metrics quantify the company’s progress in a number of key areas. In 2006, Steelcase set a goal pledging to reduce its global environmental footprint by 25 percent. Since then, the company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent, its water consumption and VOC emissions by 52 percent, and its waste by 48 percent. Since Steelcase began tracking these metrics in 2001, the company’s cumulative reduction has been 60 percent, 73 percent, 95 percent and 80 percent, respectively.
Steelcase’s efforts have been recognized by both national and regional organizations. In May 2011, the General Services Administration (GSA) presented Steelcase with the 2010 Evergreen Award in the furniture category. Steelcase is the only company honored twice in that category, with the first recognition in 2000. Further, Detroit Free Press named Steelcase a Michigan Green Leader in 2011.
For full details on Steelcase’s environmental efforts, please view or download the report at www.steelcase.com/sustainabilityreport
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McCarthy Building Cos. LEED APs’ also get BD+C
ST. LOUIS, Mo.—McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., a green commercial builder, has gotten all of its current LEED Accredited Professionals (AP), numbering about 400, to acquire the new specialty accreditation LEED AP BD+C (building design and construction).
McCarthy is the largest contractor to date to complete the credentials through the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Credential maintenance is the continuing education completed by LEED Professionals to maintain current knowledge of green building practices and LEED in a constantly evolving industry.
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Staples offers green calculator
BOSTON—Staples introduced the Sustainable Earth by Staples™ Calculator, with a plastic casing made from recycled ink and toner cartridges comprised in part from cartridges Staples collects from its customers as part of its Staples Rewards® program.
In 2010, Staples customers in the United States recycled more than 61 million cartridges, which helped divert more than 30 million pounds of plastics and metals from landfills.
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ABB purchases controlling interest in Validus DC
ZURICH, Switzerland—ABB , a global power and automation technology group, has purchased a controlling interest in U.S.-based Validus DC Systems, a provider of direct current (DC) power infrastructure equipment for energy-intensive data centers.
DC technology is substantially more energy efficient than traditional alternating current (AC) technology for electrical distribution. DC systems are also less complex, requiring less space and equipment, resulting in considerable additional savings in real estate and capital expenditure. The investment in Brookfield, CT-based Validus complements ABB’s strong technology platform to bolster its entry into the $24 billion market for telecommunications and data center power infrastructure.
For more information, visit www.validusdc.com
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Kenya Airways joins UNEP Climate Neutral Network
NAIROBI—Kenya Airways has announced its participation in the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), an initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). CN Net is working toward a global transition to low carbon economies and societies.
This relationship will give the airline an opportunity to implement its existing strategies for reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. It will be granted access to climate neutral tools and resources and will be part of a forum for exchanging knowledge and best practice in addressing the causes of climate change.
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EPA gives green refrigeration award
SAN FRANCISCO—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Sprouts Farmer’s Market’s store in Westlake, California its Platinum Certification Award, EPA’s highest honor – and a California first – for green refrigeration.
The GreenChill award was created by EPA in 2007, partnering with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. The partnership works with food retailers to transition to more environmentally friendly refrigerants, reduce the amount of refrigerant used in stores, and eliminate harmful refrigerant leaks.
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