Page 41 - Occupational Health & Safety, April 2018

mance and further position themselves as the top choice for envi- ronmentally conscious specifications.
1. Eliminate the need for replacement.
The greatest thing manufacturers can do to make the least im- pact on the environment—but the most impact for clients—is to design a product that stands the test of time. Make the choice to stand for high-performance and durability above all else; choose to create the last product a designer will need to specify for a given space. This is a conscious choice, and deciding to choose perfor- mance first will not happen by accident. While it’s true that this requires greater investment on the front end, the lower life-cycle cost your customers will enjoy will be worth it for both them and your business as designers continue to return for each new project.
2. Reduce, reuse, recycle.
Understanding the value and importance of creating sustain- able goods through waste-reducing practices has a major impact on the bottom line. In the flooring industry, so much of the excess from the manufacturing process could result in waste. Leftover raw materials and chemicals used in processing can have a major effect on the environment. Reusing what remains post-manufacturing, such as sawdust, as an energy and heat source reduces unnecessary energy use and the amount of waste that would otherwise end up in of landfills. What processes can you introduce to make use of additional materials?
3. Embrace transparency.
In the past, designers generally chose products based on whom they knew, not product merit. Designers now have the ability to take all aspects into consideration as more knowledge is available through third parties and online. Reliance on a local sales repre- sentative is taking a back seat as designers realize the best product may not be the product they’ve always used. Every time a designer specifies a product, it is their reputation on the line.
Transparency’s Benefits
We have a responsibility to ourselves, our designers, and our lega- cy to practice transparency. It’s not just the right way; it’s the best
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way. As an added bonus, manufacturers see tangible results from transparency as they clearly communicate how building and design elements affect the health of building occupants and the environ- ment, as well as solutions to reduce it. One practical way to work toward greater transparency is to seek well-known third-party cer- tifications, such as a FloorScore Certification1 or a Health Prod- uct Declaration. Through these declarations, designers are able to quickly determine which companies meet their standards and, in turn, educate their client quickly and clearly on why they’ve chosen your products.
In the next five years, we’ll see sustainability in commercial projects moving from a luxury to a requirement. Examining your product and its performance now will put you ahead of the curve. A product that outperforms all others, while keeping sustainabil- ity at the forefront, gets people talking. If you produce the right thing, using the best practices, the people who care will catch on. Together, we can make the future of the entire industry that much better—and greener!
Jason Brubraker is the vice president of sales and marketing with Ny- dree Flooring, a Forest, Va., based manufacturer known for producing acrylic-infused engineered wood flooring that was founded in 2001 with the acquisition of Gammapar acrylic-impregnated wood flooring and its primary competitor, PermaGrain, in 2003. These technologies have been refined since 1968 and are used to manufacture extremely durable, stylish, acrylic-infused engineered wood flooring products. Ny- dree Flooring delivers superior customer service, impeccable manufac- turing quality, and a constant focus on innovation backed by a strong commitment to sustainability. The company is FloorScore® certified and is Chain of Custody certified by Scientific Certification Systems to Forest Stewardship Council standards (Chain of Custody Number SCS- COC-003343). To learn more, visit nydreeflooring.com.
REFERENCES
1. http://rfci.com/knowledge-center/floorscore/
APRIL 2018 | Environmental Protection EP5
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