Burnes’ Aims to Cut Waste 25% in 3 Years

As part of Burnes Home Accents’ Eco-Design strategy, the company is introducing a collection of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic photo frames to mark its first year.

The enterprise-wide sustainability initiative aims to reduce overall corporate waste by 25 percent within a three-year period. The company is using its manufacturing facility in Durango, Mexico, as a working model for testing and implementing socially conscious practices.

In addition, the company is also being audited by the Forest Stewardship Council, which is documenting the chain of custody of raw materials coming into the factory, and expects to be certified by spring 2009.

Among the Burnes’ zero waste efforts is a closed-loop system that enables the Durango plant to capture all sawdust produced during the cutting process. The sawdust is then sold to a Burnes supplier, who uses it to create medium density fiberboard, which Burnes then purchases for manufacturing the backs of photo frames, as well as other products.