Kimball International has a long history as an environmentally sensitive company. From our Company's inception as a wood furniture manufacturer, relying on nature's resources to create our products, the ideas of conservation and sustainability, of sensitivity toward our environment, have been deeply ingrained in our culture. Concern for our environment and "leading by example" in the promotion of environmentally responsible business practices is something that Kimball International believes in as part of our corporate philosophies. Kimball International's sustainability practices include initiatives to reduce water usage, solid waste generation, VOC emissions, hazardous waste materials and Greenhouse Gases. Environmental goals are set and results measured against benchmarks.
Environmental Policy Statement
Kimball International is dedicated to continued excellence, leadership, and stewardship in protecting the environment, the health and safety of our employees, and the members of the communities in which we work and live. Our commitment is to exceed customer expectations and to fully comply with Federal, State, and Local environmental regulations. Within the design and production of products, in collaboration with our customers and suppliers, we strive to eliminate pollution generated at the source, use renewable materials and maximize the reclamation and recycling of materials to minimize adverse impact on the environment.
All Kimball International manufacturing locations have implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS) and nearly all of these locations have achieved third-party ISO 14001 registration, the global standard for environmental protection, and commitment to continuous improvement. The ISO 14001 Environmental Management System requires continuous improvement initiatives to reduce impacts on the environment.
To read our Environmental Policy, click here
To read our ISO 14001 Registration, click here
Waste Reduction and Recycling
Kimball International’s Corporate Recycle Center (CRC) supports the programs of numerous regional facilities, providing a central location for consolidating recyclable materials for re-sale and transport. Currently, the CRC recycles over 65 different waste materials. Among the materials recycled are steel, aluminum, glass, fabrics, printer cartridges, electronic equipment, and several types of plastic, wood, and cardboard, which is either sold for reuse or recycled by type of material. The sustainability and continuous improvement projects have reduced the overall waste generated at Kimball International facilities as the amount of recycling has steadily increased.
Extended Producer Responsibility
Kimball International collaborates with Green Standards to provide a sustainable solution for the redistribution of surplus workplace furniture, equipment, and supplies. This strategic partnership diverts products from landfills at a 98.6% diversion rate and donates products to non-profits, schools, and charitable organizations.
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Sustainable Global Wood Purchasing
Kimball International strives to ensure that wood used in the manufacturing of our products is obtained from environmentally and socially responsible sources. Knowing we are procuring wood responsibly not only supports our sustainability initiatives but also provides assurance that our wood-based components have the lowest possible burden on the global environment. It is Kimball International’s policy to work with partners who share our values of responsible management of wood from the forests where our raw materials are harvested. Kimball International strives to use wood from properly managed forests to reduce the environmental impact we have on our industry.
Kimball International expects suppliers of wood-based materials to follow all applicable laws of the United States of America including the Lacey Act, in addition to laws of the country where they are located and international treaties and agreements to which the United States is a signatory. We will not use species listed in CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendices I or II, for the manufacturing of our products. Our Supply Chain Team will give preference to suppliers who participate in the following programs: Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), American Tree Farm System (ATFS), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), and Composite Panel Association’s Eco-Certified Composite (ECC). Kimball International conducts business ethically based on our Business Partner Code of Conduct and expects our business partners to do so as well.
Growing with Green Buildings
As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), we prioritize building practices that support the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. Our portfolio of furniture solutions may contribute toward LEED® certification. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.
LEED Registered Projects:
Showroom, Chicago, IL – LEED Silver
Showroom, Washington, D.C. – LEED Silver
Manufacturing Facility, Santa Claus, IN – LEED Silver
View our Membership Certificate
ecoChecker
Kimball International’s ecoChecker tool is a digital database where you can explore our brands and portfolio of products to easily find, compare, and evaluate a wide range of environmental and social criteria. This product portal, powered by ecomedes, provides verified, 3rd party certification and scientific data points that can fuel ESG disclosures, LEED credits, and a growing number of enterprise declarations. The recycled content, certifications, and more are available for each product series. ecoChecker can help with calculations and documentation, making it easy to evaluate how Kimball International furniture can contribute to sustainability efforts.