At Eurofurn we understand the responsibility we share with others towards building a strong sustainable community for future generations.  That is why Eurofurn, is working with its staff, domestic and overseas suppliers on initiatives to improve our supply chain, material use and processes.

Design for Environment Initiative

We believe that the first step in reducing our impact on the natural environment is to design products with the environment in mind.  Eurofurn designs are based on four principles that guide and shape the way we do business, manufacture products and distribute.

Efficient Design Principles

By designing products that keep the consumption or input of resources to a minimum.

The principles of Efficient Design are:

• Avoiding unnecessary components and processes.
• Minimising resource use in the production process including raw materials, energy and water.
• Using renewable resources wherever possible.
• Reducing the use of “throwaway” consumables in the production and distribution processes.

Safe Design

By designing products that avoid toxic or hazardous substances in the raw materials themselves and during the production process.  The minimisation of the substances reduces the risk to both the workers who make the product, the consumer using the product and the environment that deals daily with airborne, waterborne and solid wastes before, during and after the products lifecycle.

The principles of Safe Design are:

• Minimise and avoid processes that generate emissions of volatile organic compounds such as solvents.
• Minimise and avoid materials and finishing processes that produce toxic waste.

Cyclic Design

By designing products so materials can be continuously cycled through industrial or natural systems.

The principles of Cyclic Design are:

• Can be re-used for their original purpose or an alternative use.
• Can be re-manufactured (e.g. furniture).
• Specify renewable resources such as plantation grown timbers.
• Specify recyclable materials for which there are readily available collection systems.
• Keep the number of different materials and components to a minimum to assist recycling efforts.
• Allow for different materials to be easily separated for recycling.
• Use biodegradable materials where appropriate.

Communication Design

By ensuring product related environmental communication is accurate, relevant, informative and verifiable.  By encouraging responsible purchasing and consumer behaviour.

The principles of Communication Design are:

• Providing information on the appropriate use of the designed product to maximise a product useful life.
• Provide information that identify the appropriate reuse or recycling options.
• Using appropriate logos, and labels to identify material use, recycling logo and correct care for product longevity.