Nienkämper Furniture strives to be a good corporate citizen both locally and globally. We feel it is our duty to be aware of the impact our activities have on the personal health and well being of our employees, the community in which they live and the greater global community from which we draw our clientele and the resources required to manufacture our products. Environmentally, it is our policy to manufacture and deliver our products in a manner that complies with all legal regulations, and further, to incorporate those technical developments and opportunities available to continually lessen our impact on the environment.
Recycling wherever possible has been a standard operating procedure for many years. Leather cuttings are made into handbags and luggage. Foam off cuts are returned to source and are made into carpet underlay. Wood scrap is used as a fuel to produce electric energy. Cardboard cartons are re-used when possible or recycled and re-manufactured into containers. Aluminum off cuts are re-processed into raw aluminum for re-manufacture. Shredded office paper is used as a packing material while other office paper is re-cycled. Cans, office cartridges, and reclaimed oil are all recycled on an ongoing basis.
Promoting the use of responsible materials is a fundamental element of our mission statement. We promote the use of leathers that are tanned with chromium free processing, and use foams that exclude CFC's and PBDE's. Aluminum is used extensively in the table program because all scrap materials from the manufacturing process are recyclable, and at the end of the product lifespan the component material is still recyclable. All medium density fiberboard (MDF), used to manufacture tables, is certified by Scientific Certification Systems® as100% recovered and recycled wood fiber made up of at least 60% post-industrial waste and the balance (40%) recovered fiber. In addition, Forest Stewardship Council® certified cores and veneers are available. In daily operation, ongoing attention is paid to reducing environmental impact through substitution with non-polluting processes or materials and through physical controls. New advances in waterborne and UV cured finishes are being investigated for application to reduce solvent emissions. Solvent-based finishes are high solids sprayed through pressure pumps, leading to a significant reduction of solvent emission. Airborne solids are captured with extensive dust collection systems. Throughout our activities, we respect the people we encounter and the environment within which we operate.
