Turning Green Inside and Out

By Brodart Contract Library Furniture

Going green isn’t a new concept but one that is surely growing. From manufacturing to marketing, construction to consumer products, businesses around the globe are discovering the inherent value of implementing green initiatives. In addition to the tangible benefits of building an environmentally-friendly structure, there are the goodwill aspects of operating and promoting an eco-conscious company today.

While the LEED certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USBC) was originally devised to examine the eco-friendly efforts that went into building or renovating a structure, the criteria these days is also being applied to what goes inside the building after it’s been built—from wall coverings to floor coverings to furniture!

This generation of the LEED certification process has prompted architects, engineers, and builders to take a closer look at how these projects can be a strategic part of the design/build process. Your furniture, for example, can earn you LEED points under the Materials & Resources category. “It’s always an advantage when designers and architects can be included in the design process sooner rather than later,” said Chris Frantz, Director of Sales & Marketing at Brodart, a leading furniture manufacturing company in McElhattan, Pennsylvania. “This can save valuable time and money when it comes to planning and building your green project.”

Taking The LEED

Brodart has been providing schools and libraries with innovative furniture and supply solutions for nearly 70 years. So it came as no surprise when the company was one of the first to start designing and building furniture that would help other companies achieve LEED points—and help the environment!

In most cases, Brodart customers have the option of ordering furniture that is made with recycled content or wood from the Forest Stewardship Council lands. The company also uses formaldehyde-free plywood, and makes a concerted effort to purchase all of its wood materials within a 500-mile radius of the manufacturing facility.

“We’re always looking to implement best practices that minimize waste and increase efficiency,” said Frantz. “The preservation aspects of our manufacturing process are carried out in a way that protects the environment.”

Brodart’s manufacturing process strictly adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Agency and the Indoor Environmental Quality LEED program. Specifically, Brodart uses the following environmentally-friendly finishing processes on its furniture:

• Low-emission powder coating
• Waterborne sealer and topcoat applications when applicable
• 100% UV finishing on all flat stock furniture items

When Brodart recently teamed up with Florida-based Creative Arts Unlimited to form Brodart Creative—the partnership that turns libraries into exciting destinations—company officials on both sides agreed it was in everyone’s best interests to design and manufacture custom projects using environmentally-friendly finishes and materials. Brodart Creative’s most elaborate designs, ranging from custom sculptures to sprawling entranceways to three-dimensional signage, are handcrafted using lead-free paints, with the option to specify FSC-certified wood.

“We make a conscious effort to engineer environmentally-friendly materials into all of our projects, including the more sophisticated designs we develop through Brodart Creative,” said Frantz. “We have a lot of fun developing these custom projects while making every effort to earn LEED points for our customers.”

Greener Days Are Here Again.

The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) says new building projects are being registered and certified through the LEED program almost every day! According to the NRDC, there are LEED projects in process or completed in all 50 states and many countries around the world.

For a global and green-conscious company like Brodart, that’s good news. Today, it’s not just what’s on the outside that matters, it’s what’s inside that counts, too, when achieving the highest degree of LEED certification.

Courtesy of Brodart Contract Library Furniture. www.brodartfurniture.com