Nienkämper Furniture strives to be a good corporate citizen
both locally and globally. We feel it is our duty to be aware of the impact our
activities have on the personal health and well being of our employees, the
community in which they live and the greater global community from which we draw
our clientele and the resources required to manufacture our products.
Environmentally, it is our policy to manufacture and deliver our products in a
manner that complies with all legal regulations, and further, to incorporate
those technical developments and opportunities available to continually lessen
our impact on the environment.
Recycling wherever possible has been a standard operating
procedure for many years. Leather cuttings are made into handbags and luggage.
Foam off cuts are returned to source and are made into carpet underlay. Wood
scrap is used as a fuel to produce electric energy. Cardboard cartons are
re-used when possible or recycled and re-manufactured into containers. Aluminum
off cuts are re-processed into raw aluminum for re-manufacture. Shredded office
paper is used as a packing material while other office paper is re-cycled. Cans,
office cartridges, and reclaimed oil are all recycled on an ongoing basis.
Promoting the use of responsible materials is a fundamental
element of our mission statement. We promote the use of leathers that are tanned
with chromium free processing, and use foams that exclude CFC’s and PBDE’s.
Aluminum is used extensively in the table program because all scrap materials
from the manufacturing process are recyclable, and at the end of the product
lifespan the component material is still recyclable. All medium density
fiberboard (MDF), used to manufacture tables, is certified by Scientific
Certification Systems® as 100% recovered and recycled wood fiber made up of at
least 60% post-industrial waste and the balance (40%) recovered fiber. In
addition, Forest Stewardship Council® certified cores and veneers are available.
In daily operation, ongoing attention is paid to reducing
environmental impact through substitution with non-polluting processes or
materials and through physical controls. New advances in waterborne and UV cured
finishes are being investigated for application to reduce solvent emissions.
Solvent-based finishes are high solids sprayed through pressure pumps, leading
to a significant reduction of solvent emission. Airborne solids are captured
with extensive dust collection systems.
Throughout our activities, we respect the people we encounter
and the environment within which we operate.