Sustainability

respondé stands for responsible design

Made in the USA respondé makes our products in the USA to ensure we use local labor and local US laws.  We don’t stop with just our products, we aim to also source our materials locally.  Yes, it is about our carbon footprint, but it is also about supporting those doing good right around us. respondé wants to use trees from our backyard and to craft modern furniture with the helping hands of our neighbors.

Responsible Design is designing products well and using materials and processes that are socially and environmentally responsible. 

Sustainability is considering environmental, social and economic measures.  A balance of these three aspects is our strive. respondé makes business decisions based on the environment, human health, employees and customers in addition to the economic variables.  Being a good neighbor and positive influence in the community is as important to use as being a healthy company.  

Our Practices:

What does sustainability mean in practice?  One example, is using safer finishes.  Safer finishes generally have a longer drying time as they use no petrochemicals.  respondé believe that good air quality for our craftsmen and customers is well worth the wait.

Longevity: At respondé we sleep easy knowing we are producing the highest quality furnishings that will last for generations.  We make designer furniture with style and quality that your grandchildren will want to inherit.  

Design: respondé makes quality furniture that looks great and uses the least amount of material.  We could build bulkier but our belief is the least amount of material used to create a durable piece of furniture is the most responsible way to design, leaving more materials for future use or for a more pleasant walk through the forest. 

Printing:  We save paper whenever we can. But when we need to print, respondé‘s printed material uses vegetable-based ink on Recycled Paper at a facility powered by wind.  This printing method is not the least expensive option but it is better for the environment and our health, plus the quality is impressive.  Thanks greenerprinter.com 

Shipping: In the long lifecycle of responde's durable furnishings, shipping is small part yet we pay attention to all the details.  To reduce our environmental impact, we craft our pieces in the USA with local materials and deliver them to you with carbon offsets when possible. Utilizing UPS has made reducing our carbon footprint from transit much easier. We pay the extra dimes to ship with carbon offsets. 

Finishes:

respondé sources the cleanest finishes available. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are found in most standard paints, adhesives and finishes.  Our priority is to source the cleanest finishes to keeping your interiors low in VOCs. 

Oil and Wax: respondé uses natural finish on our solid wood. Our oil and wax finish has Zero VOCs(less than 50 grams/liter).  This finish protects the natural wood and ensures good indoor air quality.

PolyWhey: Is a Low VOC finish that uses the biproduct of cheese and yogurt to make a durable finish that produces low emissions.  This finish protects you from the harsh fumes of standard petrochemical finishes and saves whey from going into the water stream.  Polywhey is a strong durable finish that naturally protects surfaces. 

Powdercoating is extremely durable and has very Low VOCs, making it a responsible choice.  After metal is welded, it is cleaned of oils and residues and then is electrically charged.  The charged metal is sprayed with color powder pigment.  The excess pigment falls to the ground and is harvested for reuse, while the charged metal proceeds to an oven and bakes on the powder pigment.  This creates a strong, even finish, not easily achieved with sprays.  Plus, powdercoating has low emissions.

Materials:

Aluminum contains up to 65% recycled content and is 100% recyclable.  Plus, Aluminum weighs one-third the weight of steel so it reduces emissions from transportation.  Find more information on the sustainability of Aluminum at: http://www.aluminum.org/sustainability

Rapidly Renewable Materials are made from natural sources that regenerate in less than 10 years.  Bamboo is a great example ready for harvest every 3-5 years.   Find more information on rapidly renewables at: http://www.leeduser.com/credit/CI-2009/MRc6

Recycled Materials are materials made from items that would have gone into the waste stream but were diverted by being recycled.  Materials including paper, plastic, glass, metal, textiles, etc are often recycled to generate new materials.

Recyclable are items that can easily be diverted from the standard waste stream and utilized to make new materials.  Mixing Materials such as different types of plastics etc makes an item extremely difficult to recycle. 

ReUSE incorporating a former item or material into a new item or use.  Reusing is recommended.

USGBC & LEED:

United States Green Building Council(USGBC) http://www.usgbc.org/

LEED Credits responde will help support your LEED inititives.  We have LEED GA and LEED AP on staff to help provide data from FSC, Recycled Content, Rapidly Renewable, Locally Sourced Credits

 LEED AP an Accredited Professional through the US Greenbuildig Council(USGBC)  who has experience on LEED projects as well as proven competency during the LEED AP Exam.

LEED GA a US Greenbuilding Council(USGBC) Green Associate