Furniture
Sustainable practice relates to furniture in a number of ways - from design and materials selection, through to manufacturing, supply chain and waste management.
Commercial furniture, in particular, is an area where consumers are increasingly making buying decisions based on the sustainability of a product.
The links below will help you implement sustainable business practice in your specific business field.
Case studies
Formway
Formway aims to reduce the environmental impacts of their furniture products and services by implementing life cycle thinking, and using environmental factors as a source of innovation and inspiration.
Sustainable Product Design Case Studies
The sustainable product design case studies showcase leading examples of sustainable product design in New Zealand. The case studies consider how companies leading in sustainable design have considered environmental and sustainability elements as part of new product design and development processes. The case studies show case how sustainable design can improve brand and market share as well as assist innovation.
Guides
A Guide to Sustainable Office Fit-outs (Ministry for the Environment)
This guide is designed to help you consider how moving into new offices (fit-out) - or changing around existing offices to meet new needs (refurbishment) - can be done in ways that are as mindful of the environment as possible.
Design for Sustainability resources (Sustainability Victoria)
The Design for Environment Quickstart Series provides concise, easy to digest information sheets that can assist designers and product developers with integrating environmental factors into new product design projects. This includes a Quickstart Guideline on Furniture Sustainability by Design (PDF 335KB).
Eco-labels: a short guide for New Zealand producers [PDF, 120 KB] (Landcare Research)
This document provides an overview of the main eco-label categories, their meaning and specifications, and explores their use in a trade context.
Government Procurement: Timber and Timber Products Policy Guidelines (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry)
These Guidelines aim to ensure that all Government agencies buy only legally sourced timber and timber products and strongly encourages Government use of sustainably produced timber. Available resources include model clauses for procuring wood products and information on timber certification schemes.
Guidance for Voluntary, Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting
This publication gives guidance for corporations on voluntary Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reporting, including emission factors. It is intended to help those corporates that wish to voluntarily monitor and report greenhouse gas emissions on an organisational basis for their New Zealand operations.
Product Innovation: The Green Advantage (Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage)
This Australian guide introduces business to Design for the Environment by outlining economic, operational and marketing benefits. Case studies are included, as well as strategies for applying Design for the Environment.
Organisations
Centre for Design (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)
The Centre for Design focuses on sustainability and eco-efficiency as a source of innovation and responsible business development. The Centre has a directed programme of research, consultation, professional development and knowledge sharing for design methods and tools that support sustainable product design.
New Zealand Green Building Council
The New Zealand Green Building Council is a broad-based industry organisation that has been formed to lead New Zealand's focus on green building. The Council is made up of industry leaders committed to developing market-based solutions that help deliver efficient, healthier, innovative buildings for New Zealand.
Plastics NZ
Plastics NZ offers information on the sustainable design of plastics, including design guidelines for recyclable plastics.
Scion Research
Formerly known as Forest Research, Scion is focused on applying a deep knowledge of plantation forestry, wood and fibre to the development of new biomaterials from renewable plant resources. This includes exploring sustainable consumer products.
Sustainability Victoria
Sustainability Victoria works in partnership with business and industry, community, schools and government to help reduce waste in Victoria, Australia. Sustainability Victoria's website provides overview information, guidance and resources on Design for Environment, including case studies.
Other resources
Enviro-Mark®NZ (Landcare Research)
Enviro-Mark®NZ is an internet-based five-step certification programme that gives businesses a tool for managing their own operations and supply chain. It covers health, safety and environmental management and is suitable for all sizes and types of organisations. Enviro-Mark®NZ offers personal, expert advice about environmental management, practical "how to" information, recognised environmental certification through Enviro-Mark®NZ, and contribution towards programme costs.
EnviroSmart®
EnviroSmart® is a council funded initiative focused on improving the environmental performance and resource efficiency of business throughout New Zealand.
European Green Procurement Database (European Council)
Impact minimisation specifications by product group, based on objective scientific data and aligned with the European life-cycle eco-label specifications.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
The Forest Stewardship Council has an international labelling scheme for forest products, which provides a credible guarantee that the product comes from a well-managed forest.
Websites
BusinessCare website (BusinessCare)
BusinessCare offers businesses information, funding and training in sustainability, with a focus on cleaner production. They provide hands-on training in the methodology of cleaner production, as part of their Toolkit for Change programme.
Think something should be added to Simply Sustainable? Send your suggestion to webmaster@mfe.govt.nz.
