Sept. 26, 2008 - Steelcase, a manufacturer of office furniture, has earned chain-of-custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council, demonstrating that the wood used in its products comes from sustainably managed forests.

The certification, granted by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent third party, ensures the company meets the FSC tracking requirements to verify its wood products are sourced responsibly.

Working with well-managed forests is not only beneficial for the environment, but it can also provide a continuous yield of raw materials, Steelcase says. The company works with loggers who use wood-harvesting techniques that do not cause additional environmental damage, instead of clear cutting, which can take an area out of production for 50 years.

The Steelcase Wood business operates out of the world's first LEED certified manufacturing facility by the U.S. Green Building Council. Since opening the Michigan facility in 2001, the company has made upgrades to lessen the facility's environmental impact. Recently it has switched from solvent-based to water-based finishes, which has contributed to a reduction in VOCs by 91%.

This FSC certification comes on the heels of other recent environmental accomplishments by Steelcase, such as achieving the most Cradle to Cradle (C2C) product certifications in the industry. The company has also signed an agreement to purchase all of the green power produced from a new wind farm in Texas for at least five years.

For more information about the company’s sustainability program, click here.