Herman Miller is making significant progress in its efforts to design and manufacture more environmentally responsible products. The company's Design for the Environment (DfE) project is establishing a protocol for sustainability that creates economic value while also valuing the environment. Herman Miller is committed to sustainability, striving to do business without reducing the capacity of the environment to provide for future generations.
The complete news release follows.
Herman Miller Design for the Environment Program Advances Company's Sustainability Protocol for New Product Development
Herman Miller, Inc., a leading global provider of innovative office furniture and workplace consulting services, is making measurable progress in its efforts to design and manufacture more environmentally responsible products as part of its commitment to sustainability.
A major component of this endeavor is the Design for the Environment (DfE) project, a program launched to establish a protocol for sustainability that creates economic value while also valuing the environment. Herman Miller has adopted sustainability as a key corporate initiative, meaning the company is striving to do business without reducing the capacity of the environment to provide for future generations.
Initiated in 2001, the DfE team was charged with three deliverables:
-The development of an environmental rating tool for new products;
-The creation of a materials database that prioritizes existing environmentally friendly materials and spurs the development of new ones;
-And the establishment of disassembly guidelines and related training procedures.
All of these initiatives have in fact been achieved, with associated training procedures now in progress. The DfE team currently is focused on sharing its findings with designers, suppliers, product development groups and others who participate in the design and manufacture of Herman Miller products.
"We're seeing a growing amount of interest in sustainability both inside and outside of the company," said Scott Charon, commodity manager in New Product Development at Herman Miller. "Stockholders, members of the A&D community, and customers are asking more questions about product lifecycles, recyclability, and product disassembly. At some point in the future we may not have a choice regarding how we handle these issues, so we're taking advantage of the choices we can make now."
The DfE team works closely with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), a design firm dedicated to revolutionizing the design of products and services worldwide. William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart founded MBDC in 1995 to promote and shape what they call the "Next Industrial Revolution" through the implementation of eco-effective design principles. In addition to Herman Miller, the firm's clients include Ford Motor Company, S.C. Johnson, and Nike.
"MBDC has been instrumental in helping us develop our product assessment tools while providing a good reality check for our efforts," Gabe Wing, chemical engineer and DfE team member explained. "They are strong advocates for eco-friendly design, and that makes it compelling for others to join in."
Although the DfE team believes that universal sustainability standards are a long way off, "we are pleased to be developing our own product design methodologies that emphasize sustainability at their core," Charon said.
Despite the challenges the office furniture industry faces in today's uncertain economy, Herman Miller Environmental Affairs Manager Paul Murray affirmed that the company's senior management remains steadfast in its endorsement of the DfE initiatives. "Support from the top has never been in question," he said. "Herman Miller has long advocated product durability, longevity of design and other factors that tie directly to our environmental commitment. The DfE program, with its emphasis on increasing recyclable content and creating disassembly guidelines, further refines these principles while stepping up our efforts to the next level, that of selecting or rejecting raw materials based on their level of toxicity."
Charon acknowledged that designing more products with earth-friendly materials and recyclability in mind presents its share of challenges. "A lot of work remains to be done, and we won't suggest we have all the answers when it comes to sustainability," he said. "But we feel we're moving in the right direction while staying true to Herman Miller's legacy of responding to change through design and innovation."
Herman Miller creates great places to work by researching, designing, manufacturing, and distributing innovative interior furnishings that support companies, organizations, and individuals all over the world. The company's award-winning products, complemented by primary furniture-management services, generated over $2.2 billion in revenue during fiscal 2001. Herman Miller is widely recognized both for its innovative products and business practices, including the use of industry-leading, customer-focused technology. Again in 2002 Herman Miller was named "America's Most Admired" furniture company by Fortune magazine and included in Forbes magazine's "Platinum List" of best-performing large corporations. The company trades on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol MLHR. For more information visit our Investors' Corner.
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