Sustainability
Working Toward a More Hospitable Environment
Supporting a Healthier, More Hospitable Environment
At Grand Rapids Chair Company, we’re all about making environments more pleasant, comfortable, and healthy. Our sustainability efforts—which are geared to make the planet more hospitable for all of us and future generations—are just a natural extension of our business plan. We are dedicated to crafting products that support a healthier environment.
Sustainability Efforts that are Backed
Our strides towards sustainability are ongoing. As part of our commitment to measuring social and environment impacts, we are proud of our growing list of certifications.
MindClick Sustainability Assessment Program
The MindClick Sustainability Assessment Program (MSAP) measures all aspects of ESG strategy from materials, chemicals, packaging, health, and end of use to determine a ranking of its product categories. Grand Rapids Chair was evaluated and ranked Leader in four product categories and Achiever in four product categories.
Intertek's Clean Air Silver Certification
Through Intertek’s certification program, Grand Rapids Chair Seating Products* have been tested for VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and achieved a Silver certification. Clean Air SILVER conforms to the ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard credit 7.6.1.
*Excludes TON— Merano, Leaf, and Bentwood products
Intertek's Clean Air Gold Certification
Grand Rapids Chair Tables with Laminate 3mm Edgeband Tops are now Clean Air GOLD certified. Clean Air GOLD conforms to the ANSI/ BIFMA e3 standard credits 7.6.1, 7.6.2 +/- credit 7.6.3 or conformance to California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2 01350 (2017).
Made in Michigan
Our products are built in our Grand Rapids, Michigan factory. We focus on reducing reliance on foreign manufacturing operations and promoting social sustainability - supporting our community by providing good working conditions and wages to the people who live here.
Clean Materials
- Steel and aluminum products are finished with a baked-on powder coat paint process that eliminates VOCs while maximizing color consistency and UV production.
- Upholstered seat boards and table tops are made with oriented strand board, minimizing VOCs.
- Our wood seats, backs, and frames are finished with an environmentally-friendly water-based finishing system that allows for a wide range of hues while maximizing color consistency and UV protection.
- 100% recycled fabrics and PVC-free vinyls are available from fabric partners including Momentum Textiles, CF Stinson, and a variety of other companies.
- Outdoor table tops are made from HDPE – a recycled and recyclable plastic.
Repurpose and Recycle
- We use steel that contains up to 30% of recycled content
- 100% of internally generated steel and aluminum scrap are recycled
- 100% of scrap wood is recycled
- 100% shipping skids and corrugated board are recycled
Our products are manufactured to be easily disassembled at the end of their useful life. Most of the furniture components can be recycled. Because of the durability of our products, they are also frequently repurposed and reused secondhand. Some of our favorite charitable donation sites include local soup kitchens, or you can visit Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity to identify a drop-off location near you.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
As a family-owned business, Grand Rapids Chair Company has always focused on long-term interests over short-term rewards. Our fundamental purpose is to create something of lasting value—for our customers and employees, our community, and our planet. That’s why sustainability is just as important to us as building high-quality products. And it’s why we continue to work for even greater sustainability every day.
