Making A Move Towards A Greener Workplace

We have many ways to produce an environmentally  friendly office. One method  being the choosing of eco friendly office furniture.

Plumping for the eco friendly office furniture option  is not difficult in these enlightened times. These days, we are endowed  with numerous  great options, providing  office furniture which is functional and eco friendly whilst also being attractive and appropriate.

Large  numbers of people and businesses are on the lookout for eco friendly ways to run their lives. Offices are responsible for consuming many resources with furniture probably  accounting for  the largest share. Learning to design an eco friendly office and utilizing green office furniture can make much progress towards reducing a company’s  carbon footprint.

When sourcing eco friendly furniture for the office, initial  considerations should be the choice of wood and the compounds   included  in the manufacturing process. These are the things that can progress  the devastation of our forests, cause indoor air pollution and could prove to be be the source of health related issues,  not to mention concern for the health the earth now and in the future.

Be smart with eco friendly office designing.   Plan in advance  and research thoroughly. Shop cleverly and don’t hurry the purchase. Be wise and determine  how to make the best possible decision.

Here are some basic guidelines on things  to look for when ready to source  eco friendly office furniture:

  • Shun  hard woods at all costs
  • Seek out wood which has been grown and collected  in an eco-friendly manner 
  • Ensure that manufacturing corporations  excercise sustainable foresting techniques
  • Endeavor to source chairs and associated accessories which are recyclable or constructed from recycled materials
  • Choose  furniture with endoresments  by the Forestry Stewardship Council or FSC   
  • Avoid any furniture  fabricated  with volatile organic compounds or VOCs as ingredients as they are known contributors to  air pollution 

This advice  can help with  the design of an eco friendly office using green office furniture and help progression towards  an office that is as eco friendly as is feasible.  Whilst the average office will use a lot of valuable resources, these steps can go some way to making a reduction at the same time as reducing your carbon footprint.

Using Wheatboard Saves Trees and Landfill Space

Eco-awareness is increasing almost daily  in the business world, with more and more companies making huge efforts to ‘go green’ within work places.  A relatively simple  move towards this result is to simply change the furniture.

A trouble free,  easy to source, renewable substance  is wheatboard, a by-product made from wheat straw. As  a waste product, it would commonly have  been burned or been disposed of in  landfill sites. When used as a construction material however, it offers  extensive  environmental benefits:

As a viable substitute for wood, it reduces the demand  for deforestation, thereby  saving trees

There is more capacity in landfill sites  left available for alternative waste.

Because it is no longer being burnt, there will be a significant  reduction in air pollution by the emission of toxic gases into the atmosphere

Formaldehyde is not an ingredient used for  its manufacture – formaldehyde is a proven irritant of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin and asthmatics are particularly sensitive to its effects.

Wheatboard is produced in sheet form and has a demonstrated  record of its versatility and durability.  It may be machined and shaped with ease.  It may be drilled and filled, sealed, varnished and painted.   It has numerous uses although it performs especially well in  the manufacture of commercial and office furniture. High quality wheatboard cabinetry and desks are to  be located  in several of America’s colleges, universities and technology  centres.

Wheatboard manufacturers are apt to be found  in the USA or Canada but a quick on line search  will reveal  who produces eco-friendly furniture, including office desks and workstations along with filing cabinets and cupboards. 

Occasionally, we need only look literally under  our feet for environmentally sound solutions to our wants and needs.  With the availability of wheat straw and wheat board, nature has bestowed upon us  a wonderful and practical method for being ‘green’ in both our  offices and every day lives .

How To Be Eco Aware With Responsibly Sourced Office Furniture

In today’s society green is in,   not the color of course, but being  green in an environmentally friendly way. On a domestic level, most of us commit  to doing something good for the environment by recycling our milk cartons, cardboard  and drink  cans. We may  even leave the car in the garage  and dust off our bikes occasionally. It is heartening  to know that our efforts make a difference. Modern homes may be built utilizing  ecologically  friendly products  and furnished with environmentally friendly accessories.  The need for being ‘green’ has now extended to the business world where companies can  choose to use  environmentally friendly office furniture.

Fundamental  requirements of ‘green’ office furniture are that their core  materials come from a sustainable source,  ie that trees are planted to compensate for  those which have been chopped down  for manufacture. Another qualification  would be that the furniture be produced using high levels of recycled or recyclable components, both in the construction materials and in the packaging.  Other stipulations are that the noxious gases CFC and HCFC should not be used in the foam utilized  for office chairs and other seats.  Energy efficient lighting is also a recommendation.

The following five areas tend to be considered when declaring office furniture to be ‘green’:

1) Packing materials -  separately   cartoned  items use more materials than palletized loads.

2) Location of fabrication  – sourcing locally manufactured products saves on energy and exhaust emissions

3) Adhesives and finishes – these should be toxin free  which helps reduce harmful compounds.

4) Renewable materials – using products made from fast growing plants and trees reduces the detrimental effects to  our forests

5) Recycled content – a high percentage is a must

Practically speaking,  eco friendly office furniture looks no different, nor does it perform any differently from the standard variety. Most people would have no idea that your furniture had been of sustainable fabrication  or made from partially recycled materials. With a little application,  companies can move towards making their offices healthy, caring work places, and along with our individual efforts, we can all improve our environment. 

 

 

Save Money With Unfinished Office Furniture

An important principle to remember is that you’re not purchasing unfinished office furniture, you’re buying custom finished office furniture. Also remember, unfinished office furniture is quality crafted, ready to assemble, finish sanded, and just waiting for your “personal touch”.

If you are hunting for a way to conserve money, match the color to existing office furniture, or use a new piece of office furniture to compliment your existing decor, unfinished office furniture is the intelligent and crafty decision.

The huge advantage to the customer when buying unfinished office furniture is that the manufacturer only uses the highest grade of material to build their furniture. This is because they know that they cannot hide any defects because it would be obvious to the purchaser since there is nothing to cover up the flaws, such as finish or lacquer.

Since unfinished office furniture means different things to different individuals, every person can create a look specific to their own taste while staying well within their price range.

Unfinished office furniture comes in a wide variety of pieces that will look good in any environment. Whether your hunting for writing desks/tables, computer desks, corner desks, bookcases or computer stands, there is a piece of unfinished furniture to satisfy your every need. Also, unfinished office furniture comes in many styles such as modern, contemporary, traditional, and classic to match or complement every office.

Coordinating office furniture to current wood tones can be a real task. However, by simply painting, staining, varnishing, glazing or lacquering the unfinished office furniture you can match the finish of your pieces for a more conformed look. Also, since many individuals are looking to coordinate their furniture with pieces such as window treatments, wallpaper, or have a specific color scheme the unfinished office furniture offers them that option without the large price tag.

Completing a piece of unfinished office furniture will give you a sense of self-accomplishment, and it is much simpler to get the look you want than you may think. You can get professional results as well as express your own particular look and flair without having any finishing experience. When it comes to color, for example, you might want a color that makes a bold statement or choose a finish to get a distressed, marble or crackle effect. Let your imagination go crazy and you will be surprised with what you have made with your own hands.