Basic requirements of ‘green’ office furniture are that their core  materials are sourced sustainably,   ie that trees are planted to compensate for  those which have been chopped down  for manufacture. Another specification would be that the furniture be manufactured  using high levels of recycled or recyclable components, both in the construction materials and packaging. further stipulations are that the venomous  gases CFC and HCFC should not be used in the foam used for office chairs and other seating. Energy efficient lighting is also a recommendation.

The key five  areas tend to be  considerations  when pronouncing  office furniture to be ‘green’:

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

2) Location of manufacture – sourcing locally manufactured goods  saves on fuel and exhaust emissions

3) Adhesives and finishes – these must  be non toxic which aids in the reduction of harmful compounds.

4) Renewable materials – the use of  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 performs equally well as and looks the same as  the standard variety. Generally,  people would have no idea that your furniture had been sustainably manufactured or made from recycled  materials. With a little effort, businesses  can move towards making their offices healthy, caring work places, and along with our individual efforts, we can all improve our environment.