Eco-awareness is growing daily in the business world, with more and more organizations increasing their efforts to ‘go green’ within work places. A relatively simple move towards this result is to simply replace the furniture.
A readily available, easily sourced, renewable material is wheatboard, a by-product which is made from wheat straw. As a waste product, it would ordinarily have been burned or added to landfill sites. When used as a construction material however, it offers immense environmental benefits:
As a viable replacement for wood, it decreases the demand for deforestation, thereby saving trees
More space in landfill sites is left available for alternative waste matter.
Because it is no longer being burnt, a marked decrease in air pollution will ensue as less noxious gases will be expelled into the environment.
No formaldehyde is used during its manufacture – formaldehyde is a known irritant of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin and asthmatics are particularly sensitive to its effects.
Wheatboard is manufactured in sheet form and has a proven record of being durable and versatile. It may be machined and shaped with ease. It may be drilled and filled, sealed, varnished and painted. Its uses are manifold, although it lends itself especially well to the manufacture of commercial and office furniture. Fine examples of wheatboard cabinetry and desks are to be found in several of America’s colleges, universities and technology centers.
Wheatboard manufacturers tend to be in the USA or Canada but a quick on line search will reveal who the producers of eco friendly furniture are, 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 our offices and every day lives .
