April 17, 2002—Herman Miller, a provider of innovative office furniture and workplace consulting services, is making measurable progress in its efforts to design and manufacture more environmentally responsible products as part of its commitment to sustainability.
A major component of this endeavor is the Design for the Environment (DfE) project, a program launched to establish a protocol for sustainability that creates economic value while also valuing the environment. Initiated in 2001, the DfE team was charged with three deliverables:
- The development of an environmental rating tool for new products;
- The creation of a materials database that prioritizes existing environmentally friendly materials and spurs the development of new ones; and
- The establishment of disassembly guidelines and related training procedures.
All of these initiatives have been achieved, with associated training procedures now in progress. The DfE team currently is focused on sharing its findings with designers, suppliers, product development groups, and others who participate in the design and manufacture of Herman Miller products.
The DfE team works closely with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, a design firm dedicated to revolutionizing the design of products and services worldwide. William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart founded MBDC in 1995 to promote and shape what they call the “Next Industrial Revolution” through the implementation of eco-effective design principles. In addition to Herman Miller, the firm’s clients include Ford Motor Company, S.C. Johnson, and Nike.
