Framerica® Facility Certified “Green”
September 1, 2008, Yaphank, NY- Framerica®’s purpose-built, New York based facility has been certified as an Environmentally Preferable Product Downstream Licensed Facility (EPP Downstream) by the Composite Panel Association. The program is designed to provide retailers, distributors, designers, specifiers, OEM’s and consumers an easy way to identify environmentally responsible products. To that end, Framerica has pledged to continue using its BonanzaWood® substrate from sources that are CPA EPP certified. The CPA EPP Certification Program is the most widely-specified environmental certification program for composite wood panels in North America . Seeking licensing for its facility seemed natural for Framerica, especially considering that its entire manufacturing process has been designed to curtail any negative impact on the environment. The company circulates its sawdust through a state of the art furnace system, using the energy in processing and to heat its facility. The most advanced fixtures and power systems likewise reduce impacts. Local initiatives are involved in recycling any and everything possible. Company officials say they will continue all “earth friendly” policies as a way of providing customers will products that they can be proud of.
Framerica® Offers EPP-Certified BonanzaWood Moulding, Recycles Materials & Abides By Eco-Conscious Philosophy
Long before being environmentally friendly became fashionable, Framerica was focused on it. When constructing its purpose-built facility, Framerica implemented a floor plan allowing for ultra-efficient manufacturing processes, including a state-of-the-art furnace system that burns all wood waste to heat the facility.
“We reuse and recycle everything possible, ” says Jay Van Vechten, Framerica’s vice president of production.
Framerica uses only energy-efficient fixtures in its factory and warehouse and offices, where computers and lights shut off automatically after designated times of inactivity. It is also a participant in a New York statewide energy curtailment program, and a company-wide, top-down implementation of an eco-conscious philosophy requires all employees to actively consider the impact of purchases, activities and waste on the environment and then constantly report on where improvements might be made.
Framerica’s new Web site includes more than 2,000 high-resolution images. “One of the special things we considered when designing the Web site was how it would affect our need to print catalogs,” says Dave Rosner, senior vice president of marketing. “We dedicated additional capital and resources to make the imagery that much better—all in the hopes of reducing the effects of the thousands of catalogs we had been mailing each year.”
Framerica’s products have earned Environmentally Preferred Product (EPP) certification from the Composite Panel Association of wood manufacturers, and BonanzaWood saves deforestation from solid wood and the oil consumption attributed to plastics. Framerica has used BonanzaWood as the primary core for its mouldings for more than 10 years. BonanzaWood contributes to absolutely zero deforestation, in many instances utilizing wood waste from post-consumer products that would otherwise be destined for landfills. (More Info: 800-372-6422, www.framerica.com)
Larson-Juhl Helps Replenish Forests, Recycle & Reduce Waste
Larson-Juhl has participated in the green movement since 1991, teaming up with American Forests to launch the Global ReLeaf Program, through which the company has made donations that have assisted in the planting of at least 275,500 trees throughout the world.
At Larson-Juhl’s manufacturing facility in Ashland, Wis., the company has adopted four chief eco-friendly principles. For one, the facility maintains air quality that meets government guidelines. “We strive to research new technologies in coatings that create beautiful, rich finishes while not causing harm to our environment,” says Arlynn Rook, the company’s public relations coordinator. In fact, Larson-Juhl recently won the Prevention, Environment and Prosperity Award for the company’s efforts to reduce waste in its finishing operations.
Secondly, Larson-Juhl sees environmental responsibility as a team effort. The company continually looks for ways to reuse and recycle and takes its cardboard waste to a local recycling company.
Third is responsible lumber management. “We strive to use North American vendors who comply with all federal, state and local harvesting guidelines,” Rook says. “More than 70 percent of the frame mouldings produced in Ashland are made from woods such as ash, cherry, hard maple, oak or walnut. These woods create beautiful mouldings and are very sustainable.”
Finally, Larson-Juhl strives to use lumber efficiently. The company reuses and recycles its excess wood within the community, donating shavings to local farms for animal bedding and larger pieces to a paper mill and power plant to generate steam energy for electricity and heat. “We are proud to say that we do not send any processed wood waste to landfills,” Rook says. (More Info: 800-886-6126, www.larsonjuhl.com)
Nielsen Bainbridge Uses Eco-Friendly Technology, Conservation & Recycled Materials
Nielsen Bainbridge was taking environmental responsibility seriously long before the current eco-friendly trend, says company spokeswoman Caroline Mastres. The company’s manufacturing facilities practice environmentally responsible processing options, and many of the company’s products and packaging come from environmentally friendly material, she says.
“Our environmental initiatives include air-quality improvements and optimization,” Mastres says. “We have invested in high-tech scrubbers (oxidizers) that maintain pure and clean air, our air pollution emissions are lower than government regulations, the water used to process Nielsen moulding is purified in our state-of-the-art treatment facility and returned to nature cleaner than before, and when manufacturing our Nielsen metal line, our scrap material is recycled and repurposed.”
Nielsen Bainbridge’s Alpharag matboard is manufactured from 100-percent renewable cotton, and many of the company’s non-archival matboards are made with recycled fiber. Nielsen Bainbridge’s employees commit to minimizing waste through waste reduction programs at the company’s manufacturing facilities and practice heating, cooling and water conservation.
“As a market leader, we are constantly investing in research and new technology to determine innovative ways to use natural resources efficiently,” Mastres says. “Proactive environmental management is critical to our future, and we will continue to identify new initiatives to improve the quality of life, preserve natural resources and minimize our footprint for future generations.” (More info: 800-526-9073, www.nbframing.com)