The BIFMASustainability Standard&

Introduction to the Standard and level • Purpose and Scope of the BIFMA Furniture

Sustainability Standard

• The Standard vs level certification

• Projected impact of the standard

Purpose of the BIFMA e3 2008 Furniture Sustainability Standard

• The purpose of this voluntary standard is to provide measurable market-based definitions of progressively more sustainable furniture by establishing performance criteria that address environmental and social aspects throughout the supply chain

Scope of the Standard• The standard provides a pathway towards

sustainability by establishing measurable criteria for multiple levels of achievement and/or performance

• This standard is applicable to all business and institutional furniture; this includes but is not limited to:– Moveable walls, Systems furniture, desking systems,

casegoods, tables, seating and accessories• The standard is also applicable to materials and

components manufactured by suppliers to furniture manufactures

Scope of the Standard• This standard is applicable to business & institutional

furniture manufactured in one facility or multiple facilities, one country or multiple countries.

• It addresses product-based characteristics in the general areas of:– Materials– Use of energy– Human and ecosystem health– Social responsibility impacts

The Standard vs level certification• The standard is the structure of the evaluation• Level certification is a third party validation of the

products characteristics and score

The Standard

• Manufactures and suppliers can self report their data based on the e3 standard

• Self reporting the score is not level certified

Level certified

• Manufactures and suppliers are required to get approved 3rd party verification of their scores to become level certified.

• The listing of approved 3rd parties for level will be found on the level website.

Need for Industry supported standard• The marketplace is filled with green product ratings

and evaluation metrics.• Architects, Designers, and Specifiers are having a

tough time keeping track of all the rating systems and product attributes.

Projected impact of level• level will provide a holistic evaluation of a product’s

impact rather than single attribute values such as recycled content, rapidly renewable or certified wood.

• Specifiers will have a more streamlined process of evaluating a product’s sustainable benefits.

• The furniture industry can help elevate the sustainability conversation.

Elements addressed in the Standard• The standard is divided into four basic elements

consisting of various prerequisites and credits that are potentially available to organizations seeking product conformance to the standard.– Materials– Energy & Atmosphere– Human and Ecosystem Health– Social Responsibility

Structure of the Program

Prerequisites• Each element has one or more prerequisites that are

required as the minimum performance against the standard.

• Once all the prerequisites are met; products may achieve additional credits toward multiple levels of achievement in each element by meeting the specified performance requirements.

Structure of the Program

Structure of the Program

Frequency of Evaluation• Products must be reevaluated if significant changes to

materials, processes or the facility occur that affect the eligibility for any credit within the scope of conformance at the time of change.

• Regardless, the frequency of conformance evaluation shall not exceed three years.

Element Review

Element Review

• Materials• Energy & Atmosphere• Human & Ecosystem Health• Social Responsibility

Element Review

Materials

Materials – Prerequisites and Credits

Energy & Atmosphere – Prerequisites and Credits

Human & Ecosystem Health – Prerequisites and Credits

Social Responsibility – Prerequisites and Credits

The Standard and level certification

The beauty of level• level showcases a holistic view of sustainability

• level provides a transparent review of:– An organization that is utilizing sustainable principles in

the operations of its facilities that produce green products, for customers looking for a higher level of sustainability from its suppliers.

level web resources

Contact Information

• Brad Miller• Director of Communications and Government Affairs• Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers

Association (BIFMA) International• 678 Front Ave. NW, Suite 150• Grand Rapids, MI 49504• Telephone Number: 616-285-3963• E-mail Address: bmiller@bifma.org• Internet Site: http://www.bifma.org