We are serious about
respecting and protecting the planet.
LEARN ABOUT HORIZON'S GREEN COMMITMENT
Long before governments issued regulations protecting the environment and many years before the introduction of ISO 14000, the people at Horizon were demonstrating a profound respect for the environment through a series of practical and innovative activities. Our motive behind these activities was as straightforward then as it is today, it is the right thing to do.
QUALITY AND DURABILITY
One of the most important ways to be environmentally responsible is to manufacture and market products that are built to last! In this age of disposability, manufacturers are building disposable seating and ergonomic accessory products having a very short lifespan with the sole focus on price point. This compromise of quality and durability not only serves to “cheat” the consumer in the long run, but also overloads our landfills in the process. Horizon’s constant focus on quality and durability of components and raw materials we use as well as the products we manufacture, serves to ensure that the product we deliver will have a longer life span. The modularity of Horizon Seating also means that replacement parts and components are available should you choose to repair rather than replace your seating product.
Some of our environmental initiatives include:
Horizon is committed to maintaining Clean Air Gold® Certification for our most popular models manufactured in Canada. Clean Air Gold® Certification is a key component in BIFMA Level e3 certification process, ensuring that products do not off-gas or introduce potentially harmful airborne substances to the office environment.
Eliminating the use of tropical woods listed in CITES, (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) as well as maximizing the use of wood products from managed forests.
All foam and polyurethane components are manufactured using Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) free blowing agents. Bio-based foams are being introduced to replace fossil fuel (oil) based product on an on-going basis.
Adhesives used in the manufacturing of HORIZON Seating are water based, having a reduced environmental impact and are designed to reduce or eliminate “off-gassing” in the finished product, contributing to a healthier work environment for the end user.
Maximizing the use of powder coat paint finish technology on metal parts and components used in our products.
Foam and the Future
Horizon has formed partnerships with reliable source suppliers who have spent many years on award winning research, development and experimentation in resilient foam for use in seating products.
The result is a change in the composition of resilient foam (cushions) to create an innovative new foam product. This new foam compound contains natural renewable resources in place of petrochemical based polyols and ultimately reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The new “Bio-renewable foam” is manufactured from natural seed-based oils such as soybean and others which are rapidly renewable and will not adversely affect the food chain. 15-20% of the end product is therefore Bio based.
Bio-renewable foam performs equally as well as traditional foam, is CFC free, has a low odour emission, superior UV stability, stable consistency and density and the raw material is renewable and plentiful. As an added benefit, the energy consumption to manufacture foam from Bio based materials is significantly less than what is required for traditional petrochemical based processes.
Textiles for Today and Tomorrow
Horizon has been on the leading edge of recycled and recyclable fabrics for many years now having a broad offering of budget and midrange upholstery fabrics. HORIZON was among the first office seating manufacturers to offer a mid range line-up of in stock, open line fabrics made from 100% recycled materials which are also 100% recyclable at the end of their life span. These fabrics offer an earth friendly alternative without compromising quality, durability, comfort, or beauty!
Horizon Furniture is among the first office product manufacturers to offer upholstery options manufactured using bamboo fibre. Long used as a construction material and as a source for food, bamboo is gaining recognition in the home and contract furnishings market due to its properties as a soft, durable, breathable fibre. There are over 1000 species of bamboo on the planet with some species capable of growing up to one metre per day. Its adaptability to different climates and precipitation levels, coupled with its 3-5 year harvesting period – significantly shorter than most softwoods- make it one of the world’s most versatile, rapidly renewable resources.
Additional Horizon initiates to further support our role in environmental stewardship:
Wood Components
Horizon endeavors only to use plywood components which are certified to have come from sustainable, managed forests. This means that the logs used are either from fully mature trees or cut from FSC – Forest Stewardship Council- certified plantations. Adhesives used in the production of curved plywood components are well within the E1 standard for emissions, which is the lowest level available in the market today. Along with the majority of responsible manufacturers, Horizon has also eliminated the use of tropical woods listed in CITES, (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
Waste Reduction Plan
Horizon Furniture has worked diligently for many years on waste reduction programs. We are constantly looking for new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle waste. Every year we adopt new processes that will divert more waste away from landfills and toward useful applications.
Our track record is impressive … Horizon currently recycles close to 95% of the waste materials it generates each year. This means that less than 5% of the total waste generated by Horizon ends up in landfill! And we are committed to reducing that amount by at least another 5% in the upcoming year. But there’s still work to be done … In addition to waste diversion and reduction plans already in place, we are also developing new uses for our fabric scraps. We won’t rest until we are recycling 100% of our waste. It is possible.
Packaging
All companies use shipping cartons and various kinds of packaging to protect their products during transport and storage … and Horizon is no exception. At Horizon, however, we are committed to using only recycled cardboard for our shipping cartons. To be classified as “recycled,” according to Environment Canada’s Environmental Choice program, a product must contain at least 50 % recycled material.
Did we meet the government’s guidelines? Once again, we exceeded them! Horizon’s shipping cartons contain at least 80% recycled material.
That’s not all… Here are some other ways that Horizon’s packaging program preserves our environment:
Horizon’s shipping cartons are made of recycled paper. They in turn can be recycled.
Horizon allows its dealers to return used cartons. Cartons are sorted, inspected and re-labled for re-use on future orders.
Our cartons are imprinted with water-based inks, which do not use harmful solvents, or contain heavy metal pigment. These inks are easier to break down for recycling.
Horizon will ship products assembled and poly bagged or blanket-wrapped, eliminating the need for cartoning altogether, whenever shipping distance is feasible for this transportation method.
By using different-sized cartons, we are able to reduce the amount of packaging needed. Our packers choose the smallest box possible for each product.
Horizon is shipping more and more chairs “knocked down”. These chairs require a small amount of assembly but save 50-75% of carton space as well as transportation costs over fully assembled products. Reduced shipment sizes mean less truck loads are required to move goods, thereby further reducing our carbon footprint.