Frequently Asked
Environmental
Questions

Q:

 What is The HON Company doing to address concerns about the environment?

A:

 Since our early days The HON Company has been making good decisions about effective use of raw materials and natural resources — because it is the right thing to do AND makes good financial sense.  Today, environmental stewardship is firmly embedded in all HON manufacturing processes.  At The HON Company, we believe in shared responsibility for shared goals.  As member/owners, HON employees understand that each individual can make an impact on the environment every day. Our goal is to move beyond what is required and focus instead on what we are capable of.


Q:

 What is Rapid Continuous Improvement?

A:

 Implemented by The HON Company in 1992, RCI empowers employees to develop more efficient production processes and eliminate waste, thereby benefiting the environment and the bottom line.


Q:

 What is LEED®?

A:

 LEED® is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  It was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as a roadmap for environmentally conscientious decisions.  LEED® for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) is where furniture can make the biggest contribution.


Q:

 How can HON office furniture contribute toward LEED-CI credits?

A:

 Most HON products can contribute toward one or more LEED-CI credits.  For example, because of initiatives such as Nature Core™, Comold and bulk packing we are able to address Materials and Resources credit areas.  Our efforts to certify our product to the SCS Indoor Advantage™ certification program, the most rigorous criteria for indoor air quality in the U.S., allow us to address Environmental Quality credit areas.

Learn more about our contribution to LEED®. >>


Q:

 What is Nature Core™?

A:
Nature Core™ is an alternative construction material offered in HON Initiate panel systems made primarily from a natural fiber, kenaf, which can be spun into coarse, strong threads and is second only to cotton in the volume grown around the world. The kenaf fibers are combined with a synthetic fiber and processed into roll goods. These roll goods are then treated with patented smoke and flame-retardant applications and are processed into rigid board stock.


Q:

 What is the environmental benefit of Nature Core™?

A:

 The natural fibers are an annually renewable crop and the fire retardant materials are natural and nonbrominated.  Additionally, there is no formaldehyde added to the product.


Q:

 What is Comold?

A:

 Comold is compression molded wood.  It is comprised of postconsumer wood waste that is combined with a no formaldehyde added binding agent and molded into structural components used in many HON chairs.


Q:

 What is the environmental benefit of the Comold?

A:

 The HON Company's utilization of Comold allows for thousands of tons of postconsumer wood waste to be diverted from landfills every year.  Consequently, this eliminates the need to cut down roughly 400,000 trees every year.


Q:

 How can bulk packing help with Construction Waste Management?

A:

 Hundreds of millions of tons of construction debris is generated annually by the U.S. Construction Industry. The HON Company's bulk packing efforts allow us to reduce the amount of packing material that is delivered to the site, which in turn assists in diverting construction debris from landfills.


Q:

 What are the Indoor Advantage™ certification programs?

A:

 The Indoor Advantage™ (IAQ) certification programs, developed by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), test and certify compliance with specific indoor air quality emission requirements.

Indoor Advantage™ certifies conformance with LEED-CI criteria for EQ4.5, as well as BIFMA X7.1
Low-Emitting Furniture and Seating.

Indoor Advantage™ Gold certifies additional conformance with California 01350 Special Environmental
Requirements and Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS).

Learn more about which HON products are IAQ Certified. >>


Q:

 What is the benefit of the Indoor Advantage™ certification programs over alternative certification programs?

A:

 Products achieving Indoor Advantage™ Gold have met specific air emission requirements for indoor air quality standards. Additionally, Indoor Advantage™ testing methods can be applied to individual components as well as complete assemblies, making it possible to work with component suppliers to reduce the environmental impacts of materials they sell to The HON Company.  Older certification programs use a simple pass/fail test which provides little opportunity to understand where improvements can be made.  A major benefit of HON's use of the Indoor Advantage™ programs is that supplier improvements made for The HON Company benefit all other users, whether or not they test their products.


Q:

 How is The HON Company being recognized for its environmental initiatives?

A:

 The environmental benefits of The HON Company's dedication to excellence are widely recognized.  In 2004, The HON Company was awarded the General Services Administration’s Evergreen Furniture and Furnishings Award and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Pollution Prevention Award.  In 2005, the company was recognized for contributions to USEPA's Lean and the Environment Tool Kit.  In 2006, the company was recognized as the first furniture company to have its products certified by the SCS Indoor Advantage™ program in accordance with the recently released BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association) X 7.1 furniture emissions standards.