Page 48 - Green Builder Sept-Oct 2016
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CREDIT: LEE INDUSTRIES
Making an impact. LEE Industries’ soy-based cushions and other Less waste. By partnering with a waste management company,
products save 57 gallons of crude oil each day. nearly all raw waste materials used by LEE Industries are distributed
for use in other products.
something we always wanted to do,” says MMEAARDIPOOWSAS is Green Globe certified. Stem uses linseed
Bondi Coley, marketing manager at LEE live life free oils and low-VOC finishes, and doesn’t use
Industries. “We have a mission to be any fire retardants, formaldehyde or harsh
committed to manufacturing Earth-friendly PUTTING IT chemicals.
products with sustainable processes by TO THE TEST
people who care about the environment.” SUSTAINABLY SOURCED
Green Builder® Media is working on Mariposa
Using recycled materials also is becoming Meadows, a carbon-neutral compound that Consumers also are concerned about where
more common. For a standard back or throw will function completely independent of the materials in their furniture are harvested.
pillow, LEE Industries uses 100 percent grid. When complete, the VISION House® LEE Industries holds certifications from the
recycled clear and white plastic bottles. To project will serve as the Green Builder® Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Forest
create just one back cushion, they use 116 Media Sustainability Institute. Construction Stewardship Council. It also requires all
recycled plastic bottles. The company’s seat of Mariposa Meadows is being guided by vendors to provide information that wood
deck covers and trim pads are made of 80 11 sustainability tenets: used for frames comes from sustainably
percent regenerated material that consists ¦¦ Energy efficiency harvested forests.
of virgin and waste fibers. ¦¦ Renewables
¦¦ Water and resource conservation Stem ensures all wood products are
Stem is using natural wool and latex ¦¦ Indoor air quality sourced from sustainably harvest forests
instead of polyester-based materials, as well ¦¦ Smart technology as well. It also uses bamboo, which grows
as natural oils to replace harsh chemicals ¦¦ Durability quickly, like a weed, and is replaced soon
in stains. ¦¦ Resilience after harvesting.
¦¦ Multifunctional living spaces
REPLACING HARMFUL CHEMICALS ¦¦ Onsite food production The Azure Furniture Co. takes this concept
¦¦ Indoor/outdoor living spaces a step further. All of its products are made
Until 2013, a California law required flame- ¦¦ Wildlife protection using pine wood sourced from Colorado
retardant chemicals to be in all upholstered and within 150 miles of the company’s
furniture—even though the chemicals were As part of the indoor air quality manufacturing facility. All trees Azure uses
proven to be extremely harmful to people’s tenant, Green Builder® Media is working have been attacked by mountain pine beetles,
health and the environment. with LEE Industries to use high-quality, which are killing pine trees in the Rocky
environmentally friendly furnishings and Mountain region quickly.
In 1984, LEE Industries was one of the upholstery.
first furniture manufacturing companies Historically, these beetles have been
to eliminate chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in killing pine trees for millions of years.
cushions. CFCs are a greenhouse gas that is However, climate change is making this
harmful to the environment and contributes natural process a problem. The trees rely
to ozone depletion. The company also uses on winter weather to kill the beetles.
only low-VOC finishes.
The dead trees are not just disrupting the
Formaldehyde, known to cause health ecosystem, but also posing safety issues.
problems, is a common ingredient in “Especially in Colorado, beetle kill pines are
furniture. As an alternative, the Azure right in front of everyone. When you go
Furniture Co. developed a clear coat that skiing or hiking, you always see dead trees,”
46 GREEN BUILDER September/October 2016 www.greenbuildermedia.com
