Haworth Inc. has issued its 2005 corporate sustainability report, setting forth both short- and long-term environmental objectives and performance goals for the company. The report, using guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting, outlines a vision, policies and practices for sustainability.
Although issuing GRI corporate sustainability reports is common practice for European corporations, Haworth is among leading North American companies to issue a report to GRI guidelines and the first in the office furniture industry. The report gives valuable information to customers who share concerns for environmental impact and arms them to compete in global markets.
Franco Bianchi, Haworth president and chief executive officer, explains, “Our report states our long-term objectives in sustainability and our current results. Our holistic approach assesses environmental impacts that reach from product design through production to customer uses and the impacts on the environment of our processes, products, and facilities. We highlight our commitment to social performance and to the communities we operate in.”
Haworth’s long-term environmental objectives include zero waste and emissions, energy management, “green” transportation, social responsibility, sustainable product and workspace design, sustainable site management, and stakeholder engagement.
“We continue to integrate ‘design for environment’ strategies into product development – and we have already had exciting results,” says Paul Smith, Haworth global vice president of business groups-worksystems. “Greenguard™ certified products now account for more than 90% of our North American sales.”
Haworth’s corporate sustainability report is a blueprint for the company’s future and will be used to promote environmental stewardship and enable the design and construction of more sustainable buildings and workspaces.
