02 December 2008

LivingOn

Living Edge introduce their new LivingOn sustainability strategy.

Living Edge is delighted to announce that they are the first Herman Miller dealer in the world to carbon offset the freight emissions on all Herman Miller products travelling to Australia from Asia and the United States.

The freight emissions were calculated from the point of freight (sea/air) to all Living Edge warehouses and the offsets have been purchased from local companies including NSW State Forest and Energy Developments.

This carbon offset programme is just one part of a comprehensive sustainability strategy being developed by Living Edge which is called LivingOn.

LivingOn is the result of more than a year's worth of research and development and aims to ensure that the way Living Edge conducts business is as responsible to the planet and our communities as possible.

It involves measuring and reducing the company's own environmental impacts such as carbon footprint, water, waste and energy use. Importantly they are making sure that whatever they do in their operation is done in accordance with the standards set out by ISO 90001 and 140001.

Living Edge are working with suppliers to ensure that where possible products are made from a percentage of recyclable materials. They are encouraging both lifecycle analysis and cradle to cradle thinking within the supply chain. Already a large number of products are Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) certified (with more to come).

The company has even gone as far as having their carbon measurement, reduction and offsetting strategy independently verified by Swinburne University to make sure they are following international best practice.

In addition to minimising environmental impacts the company believe that it is critically important that they show responsibility to their people and broader community of stakeholders. Living Edge is currently developing a corporate responsibility policy which will guide their approach in this area.

In the coming months the company will be making it easier for customers to choose from their range of sustainable products by introducing a LivingOn label which will be displayed in store and new sections to livingedge.com.au. Also look out for the Living On book which will be launched this Christmas.

"We acknowledge that being environmentally responsible is a continual journey so each year we will be looking at new ways to improve our operations, services and products in order that Living Edge lives on in the most responsible way possible."

For more information on the LivingOn strategy contact marketing@livingedge.com.au or look out for the new LivingOn section of their website over the coming weeks.

livingedge.com.au