December 29, 2009
Haworth Progresses Toward Zero-landfill Waste Status
The 10 U.S. manufacturing facilities of furniture-maker Haworth Inc. have achieved zero-landfill status, meaning that all waste is reused or recycled.
The Holland, Mich.-based company’s U.S. distribution center also has gone zero-landfill, reports the Holland Sentinal.
In 2008, the company processed 47 million pounds of recycling, and that figure is expected to be much higher in 2009. What can’t be recycled at each individual factory is stuffed into the empty spaces of a truck going back to the Holland facility.
What can’t be recycled or reused is incinerated to produce energy at a Grand Rapids, Mich., alternative energy plant.
The company’s U.S. facilities produce 4.6 million pounds of landfill waste in 2008, and zero in 2009, according to the Sentinal.
In addition to going zero-landfill at its U.S. facilities, Haworth has achieved the goal at its Shanghai and Pune, India, factories. Any remaining facilities that are not yet at zero-landfill status are intended to be by 2011.
In 2008, Haworth found that about 20 percent of CO2 emissions from truck shipping could be reduced by protecting products protected with reusable wrappings and equipment instead of cardboard boxes.
By using blankets, straps, bars and plywood tiers, the company was able to fit an average of about 65 percent more products into its trailers, reducing the number of loads needed and eliminating cardboard waste.
During a study to prove the methods, Haworth eliminated the need to make 11 truckload shipments, which would have emitted more than 27 metric tons of CO2 from burnt diesel fuel alone.
Stay Up-to-Date On Environmental Management, Energy & Sustainability News with EL's Free Daily Newsletter
Advertisers
New AltaTerra Report on Facilities Efficiency
Emerging IT Tools Reshape Building Energy Management >>
Take quiz now! >>
Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Mediterranean Blue Economy, UK Solar Tariff Revamp, Energy Dept. Loans
Reader Comments
In 1989 (which was still long over due) we received an award for the 2nd most comprehensive recycling program in the U.S. targeting 85% of a typical American families’ generated waste. This isn’t rocket science and more of us should be doing our part both corporately and individually.
Kathy | December 29th, 2009
While this is good news, this company cannot claim zero waste as they still produced ash from the incinerator which is probably in the tens of thousands of tons, based on that landfill waste figure from 2008 of 4.6 million pounds.
kim | January 11th, 2010
Please explain more details about how “reusable wrappings” are more environmentally sound than cardboard boxes, which are easily and conventionally recycled. It’s very, very likely that such wrappings aren’t so environmentally friendly to manufacture, even if they are reused.
Also, when finished, how do the wrappings fare in the landfill?
Bob | January 12th, 2010