Environmental Statement

At Office Furniture Scene, we care about the environment and not only recognise, but appreciate, that our operations & the operations of our suppliers may have an impact on the local & ultimately global environment. We believe it is our obligation to consider all aspects of our products impact on the environment, throughout their life cycle; from raw material selection, right through to sustainable production methods, as well as the reduction of waste and pollution in all aspects of the manufacturing processes.

We are addressing, and will continue to address, the latest environmental issues through our suppliers ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems. These systems are under constant review and assessment, so as to ensure that they continually evolve, to suit the ever-changing needs of the environment we live in, our customers, the legislation that we must adhere to, as well as our corporate needs.

We are committed to continual improvement in all aspects. This is reflected in our strong product supplier chain having to oblige towards an ISO9001 accreditation, of which environmental concerns form a substantive part.

 

Accreditations

All of the product suppliers we use must adhere to relevant standards and accreditations within our specialised subject of personal and office use office furniture. All products must either certify towards, or have a certificate of achievement for all recognised BS standards within the range of which the furniture falls under.  These awards must also cover all range options made available to our clientele through certification towards workstations, storage and all subsidiary products. The suppliers themselves must have relevant Environmental Systems in place; these being recognised as ISO9001 and ISO14001. All desking & storage furniture systems are tested & accredited by FIRA.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) isn't just about doing the right thing. It offers direct business benefits. Building a reputation as a responsible business sets us apart from our competition & many consumers prefer to buy from ethical businesses. Companies often prefer suppliers who demonstrate responsible policies to minimise the risk of any damage to their own reputations & this has awarded our suppliers with substantial business in the past.

Sales of "environmentally friendly" products continue to grow and these products often sell at a premium price. Fine detail planning at the beginning of a development project can allow price reductions through the clarity of specification details i.e. asking “What do I really need?” & then using only what is really needed. Clear and honest discussions can save the environment as well as time & money for all parties. It's not difficult to cut utility bills and waste disposal costs, bringing immediate cash benefits as a result of communication & focus.

Green Purchasing

Green purchasing is considering both environmental and social factors when making a purchasing decision. The aim is to minimise the environmental and social impact that the items we purchase have. Traditionally, purchasing considerations went no further than the initial purchase price. Today, we know that this initial outlay may not be the largest expense. Whole life costs include this initial outlay but also consider the operational and disposal costs of the product. The cost of energy and water are likely to rise significantly faster than RPI over the coming decades, as resource scarcity and environmental controls on utility companies increase. Cost savings that might seem marginal at today's prices could well increase considerably as prices continue to rise.  Nearly every item we buy has a greener alternative for our business. The 'green' market is expanding rapidly due to the increased demand for sustainable goods.

Sustainability

The PEFC logos are an assurance that the products  you are buying are from a sustainably managed forest. All supplied MFC (melamine faced chipboard) is purchased from PEFC approved suppliers.

Furniture has to be constructed & as part of many manufacturing processes, the use of resin glue, lacquers and wood dyes are common. It is important to be aware of the potential environmental risk that these products pose. Toxic, solvent based chemicals are sometimes used in wooden furniture manufacture. This includes formaldehyde, a compound used in resin glue for MFC furniture which can give rise to VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions during production and initial use. Check with furniture manufacturers before you buy to select items that emit low or no VOCs. The materials used by our product suppliers are manufactured using the latest technology and compounds. The products are low in formaldehyde content & emit no VOC’s.

 

Supplier Accreditations