Steelcase Commits to Eliminating PVC

Office furniture manufacturer Steelcase, Inc., has committed to halting its use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in time for its 100th anniversary in 2012. The company credits its collaboration with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) for the decision. Eliminating PVC from edge banding is the first step along that path, according to a company press release. “We’ve made significant progress over the past year identifying how the materials we use impact our environment,” says Allan Smith, director of environmental strategy at Steelcase. “The extensive knowledge we’ve uncovered from this process has enabled Steelcase to adopt policies and implement strategies that will minimize or eliminate the long-term environmental impact. These policies underscore Steelcase’s ongoing commitment and support for cradle-to-cradle sustainable design.” Steelcase is online at www.steelcase.com.