For Ashley Furniture Industries, environmental stewardship begins at home. We continually seek to recycle, reuse, and replenish everyday.
We begin by using more than 67 million square feet of medium density fiberboard (100% recycled wood) annually in our Arcadia, WI manufacturing facility, doing our part to aid in natural habitat preservation, slowing of deforestation and reduction in landfill waste.
All of our solvents and most of our finishes are water-based, which allows us to avoid the use of harmful chemical solvents. This has allowed us to reduce our air emissions by 86% from 1997 to 2007.
We have alaso reduced our hazardous waste from 188 drums per month in 1994 to only 3 drums per month in 2007. We use much of this waste as fuel, enhancing energy recovery and reducing our use of fossil fuels.
We distribute more than 25,000 trees in observance of National Arbor Day.
We maintain over 1000 trees and shrubs on our Arcadia Campus alone, and have planted more than 600 trees in the community.
Our Fleet
Believe it or not, Ashley's transportation fleet generally runs idle 40-5-% of the time while our furniture is being loaded and unloaded. Our trucks are powered by highly efficient engines that allow us to cut our fuel consumption down to 1/10th of a gallon of diesel per hour when idling. Other engines burn an entire gallon of fuel per hour under the same conditions. We also use Bio Diesels when available. Additionally, our 2008 motors actually return cleaner air to the environmentthatn what they intake.
GREEN Recycling by Ashley
• Pallets recycled: 13,000 per year
• Aluminum recycled: 7.5 Tons per year
• Office paper recycled: 60 Tons per year
• Sheet metal - unprepaired recycled: 180 Tons per year
• Wood by-products recycled: 65,000 tons per year
• Corrugated recycled: 11 trailer loads per week
• Plastic film recycled: 24 trailers per year
• Densified styrofoam recycled: 50 trailers per year
• Computer equipment recycled: 9000 lbs per year
• Used oil which is re-refined into new oil: 12,500 gallons per year
• Used bulbs recycled: 3000 per year
When is White GREEN?
Question:
Why do we paint our new plant interiors white?
Answer:
We save 40% on lighting energy and it makes a nicer work environment.
Question:
How much has Ashley invested in painting our new plant interiors white?
Answer:
Ashley has made an initial investment of over $1,000,000.00 in painting our new plants and additions that will save on lighting energy costs forever.
FACTS:*
Ashley purchases Sherwin Williams ECCO-FRIENDLY water based white paint. This interior paint is perfect for occupied areas. This is an environmentally preferred premium product.
Features:
• Low odor and no-VOC formula
• Long-term durability
• Highest indoor air quality ratings
• Can be applied in occupied rooms without causing disruption
• Anti-microbial - inhibits growth of mildew
No harmful fumes are emitted during the painting process, so there are no health risks or concerns for employees working in the areas being painted.
Green building occupants are healthier & more productive.
Green buildings typically have better indoor air quality and lighting.
* Source: Sherwin Williams