Sustainable Standards

February 2nd, 2010

Despite market uncertainties resulting from the global financial crisis, AFRDI* is finding a strong level of enquiry from both existing and new clients about the new AFRDI Standard 150 – the Sustainability Standard for commercial furniture.

Marketed as the AFRDI Green Tick, the Standard is a second-generation appraisal of the factors which make a furniture product truly green.

From the careful sourcing of raw materials, ethical sourcing of labour, energy saving and reduction of wasteful packaging all the way through to design for ultimate recycling or remanufacture at the end of its life – every element is taken into consideration.

AFRDI 150 applies metrics to many of the qualities which first-generation green standards only described in aspirational terms – setting a benchmark where caring for the environment while at the same time offering a genuinely superior product is not optional but necessary.

AFRDI expects many manufacturers will opt to have products tested for both Blue Tick – AFRDI’s established certification scheme for strength and durability, along with Green Tick – the dual certification signifying a demonstrably superior product.

*The Australasian Furnishing Research and Development Institute is an independent not-for-profit technical organisation providing standards, testing, product certification and research for buyers and sellers of furniture. The company trades as Furntech.

Furntech
furntech.com.au

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Moving Up in Queensland

Geyer has announced the appointment of Sally Macnaughton to the position of Senior Designer at their Brisbane Studio.

Macnaughton has vast experience in the area of commercial office design, as well as working on arrange of projects from multi-residential to retail, education and ‘boutique medical’.

With expertise in strategic planning, design, client and project management Mcnaughton “creates workplaces that respond to her client’s further needs”.