Consumers, businesses, and stockholders are rightly becoming more environmentally friendly, and the importance of “green” or “sustainable” products has gained prominence. Regarding call center furniture, this places a greater emphasis on the lifecycle of a product than in previous years. This column will focus on how an increased furniture lifecycle, the use of recycled content, and environmentally conscious business practices can help the environment.

Of course sustainability is important in furniture design, but what does it mean? As a generic definition, sustainability means wisely using and conserving today’s natural resources so that future generations will have resources available to meet their needs. In the world of call center furniture, the definition of sustainability also includes the often-overlooked product lifecycle. The product lifecycle is important because a furniture system with a longer lifecycle needs to be replaced less often than more expendable products. This means that the impact on the environment is reduced because the resources needed to manufacture and produce the product are reduced. Remember that just because a furniture product is “green” does not necessarily mean that it’s sustainable.

The call center market specifically recognizes that their capital cost is miniscule compared to their people cost, so they are more willing to invest in furniture that will last a longer period of time. To ensure an increased product lifecycle, a call center should not accept any less than a limited lifetime warranty on their furniture purchase; if their furniture provider doesn’t offer this warranty, they should keep shopping. By not having to dispose of or replace their furniture, they are making a very wise long-term decision.

Obviously, the use of recycled products is critical in furniture design because this practice eliminates or reduces the need to consume valuable natural resources. Since furniture is a multi-billion dollar global business, the recycling of such things as furniture fabrics, particleboards, steel, etc., has an exponential effect on a global scale. The resources that are conserved through these programs can then be passed on to future generations. With this in mind, look for a furniture company that uses worksurfaces made with 100% recycled and recovered wood fibers; this means that no new trees were harvested for the product. Also look for panel fabrics that can be composted and are manufactured in a way that they too can be recycled. If steel is used in production, find out the recycled content. If you are not sure how to find environmental information about your furniture company, simply ask. Most furniture manufacturers have published environmental statements or policies.

Since the marketplace has become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of manufacturing products, many furniture manufacturers have put in place business practices that will help to reduce the toll that their company takes on the environment. These practices may include reducing packaging, internal recycling programs, printing literature on post-consumer recycled paper, and utilizing paints that are virtually free of VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). A company with environmental policies in place generally is conscious of the impact that their company has on the environment and will continually work to introduce and improve current policies that will help conserve resources.

In review,choosing furniture for your call center that has an increased lifecycle, contains recycled content, and choosing a manufacture that has environmentally conscious business practices in place, can truly help to protect the environment.