Furniture industry buys into generation Y's eco-friendliness

Furniture industry buys into generation Y's eco-friendliness

Generation Y, long stereotyped as productive but high-maintenance, is changing the look of office designs to include coffee bars, pool tables and otherwise non-office paraphernalia.

The office furniture industry—while not in the business of making pool tables—has catered to this new design trend by gratifying the new generation’s other stereotypes, that of a civic-minded and socially conscious people.

“Everyone is hyping ‘green’ right now,” said George Pfeiffer, owner of Affordable Office Interiors in Carol Stream.

Interest in recyclable furniture has increased exponentially in the market. Driven both by the bottom line and by workers’ consciences, remanufactured office furniture and “green buildings” in general are wildly popular.

“People today are putting more emphasis on return investments and preserving their resources,” added Tom Klobucher, owner of Thomas Interior Systems in Bloomingdale. “The biggest strides we’re making today as an industry is focusing on environmental issues and helping to improve our stewardship to the planet we live in.”

Herman Miller, one of the largest manufacturers of office furniture, is widely considered a leader in the arena of environmental furniture, say experts. It makes office chairs from 100 percent recycled materials. These same chairs can then be wholly recycled again at the end of their use.

Office carpet, once tossed into dumpsters and delivered to landfills, is also finding second life in renewed recycling efforts across the country.

Office furniture of all types—desks, chairs, separation panels—all are undergoing tutorials in environmental stewardship.

“In making office furniture work stations now people are asking for products that are biodegradable,” said Klobucher.

To that end, desktops and work stations are now being made out of wheat board, eco-resin and other recyclable materials.

It is no wonder, then, that the office furniture industry for remanufactured products is booming.

“The fastest growing product in our company is remanufactured products, re-selling new furniture,” said Klobucher.

Often, furniture is sold at one-third the cost of the original product. Not only are buyers winning but so is the environment, he said.

M. Grace Sielaff, owner of interior design firm M. Grace Designs in Hinsdale, also noted that many interior design projects are won by her firm’s ability to educate businesses on eco-friendly buildings, furniture, and design.

“It’s nice to introduce some of these (environmental) lines to clients and see them go ‘Wow!’ over it,” said Sielaff.

Business offices also are buying eco-friendly furniture in efforts to achieve their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications too, said Pfeiffer. Earning the LEED certificate—a nationally recognized award—qualifies building owners for tax rebates, zoning allowances, and other incentives in hundreds of cities.

--Ted Fackler, Contributing Writer

Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 (Archive on Monday, February 18, 2008)
Posted by jstoltz Contributed by jstoltz

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