Environmental Policy
Download our Environmental Policy (PDF)
Integrity Office regards environmental and community issues as integral elements of our business. We are committed to best practice environmental management in all aspects of our operations. This matches our ‘here to stay’ business objectives and our long term vision for the protection, management and sustainable utilisation of the environment. We also seek to be a responsible and respected corporate member of the communities within which we work. We will comply with all relevant legislation governing the protection of the environment. In all operations, we make a commitment to:
• Work pro-actively with all levels of government, regulatory agencies, our clients and other community stakeholders to enable environmental issues to be addressed at an early stage of operations;
• Ensure that we inform, listen to and respond to the reasonable needs of local communities affected by our projects;
• Undertake activities in a manner consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development;
• Prevent pollution and minimise other adverse impacts of our activities on the natural, built and cultural environment;
• Reduce waste through minimisation strategies and promote the efficient use of natural resources;
• Promote environmental awareness among all employees, contractors, and partners to achieve Integrity Office’s environmental objectives;
• Continually improve our environmental performance by periodically reviewing and evaluating our environment policy and management systems to ensure they remain effective and relevant;
• Encourage all employees, subcontractors and partners to take personal responsibility for environmental issues to create within themselves a feeling of ownership for the natural environment in which they operate;
• Communicate this policy to employees, our subcontractors, and the public by posting it in the reception areas of our workplace and site noticeboards, posting it on our internet sites and including it in induction processes.
Integrity Office recognizes the importance of, as well as its responsibility to protect our Environment. Integrity Office is committed to operating its business in an environmentally responsible manner - in every aspect of production, from design and product development through to manufacturing, distribution and installation of office partitions, storage and furniture systems.
Here at Integrity Office we continuously monitor the environmental impact of utilizing raw materials and the work process used in the manufacturing of office furniture. Integrity Office is committed to finding more ways to reduce, recycle and re-use. Reducing waste and conserving natural resources are the responsibility of every worker, supplier and sub-contractor working for Integrity Office.
In some cases, Integrity Office has eliminated the use of disposable packing materials by using alternative shipping methods such as blanket-wrapping, which saves a significant amount of space for shipping. For example, we can load 200-250 blanket-wrapped task chairs onto a semi trailer that will usually accommodate only 100 boxed task chairs. This ensures less pollution from vehicle emissions as well as providing more effective transportation and faster service.
Integrity Office bulk-packs a large variety of office products for shipping, approximately 85% of shipped goods. Normally used for large orders, this method significantly reduces the amount of disposable packaging used. Depending on the product size, bulk-packed products such as screen panels, worktops and metal legs are placed together in a cardboard box or attached to a reusable shipping pallet with recyclable steel or plastic banding. Because the furniture products are packaged together, bulk-packing generates much less space. Like blanketwrapping, this saves space in shipping.
Reducing Waste
Integrity Office products are specially designed to provide many years of service, and many products are backed by a 5-10 year warranty. The life cycle of Integrity Office products can be extended by refurbishing and reupholstering. Integrity Offices’ Trilogy System, for example, can easily be updated or rejuvenated by replacing the old fabric (which can be recycled) with new upholstery. Integrity Office work surfaces are also readily refurbished by relaminating or re-finishing damaged surfaces. Outside of this arrangement many of the products are re-used in a second life usually on the second-hand market when the original purchaser disposes of them to a third party.
In addition to preventing tons of material from being sent to landfill, refurbishing and third party sales saves the customers a significant amount of money. Integrity Office also makes replacement parts available. Using these parts customers can extend the life of the furniture, replacing just the worn out parts instead of discarding the entire piece of furniture. In many cases, worn parts; made of steel, fabric, wood or plastic can be recycled, further reducing the amount of land fill materials.
Integrity Office, as a major user of wood and laminated furniture, including case goods, systems furniture and seating products, is committed to conserving wood and encouraging sound forestry management practices. Integrity Office supports the industrial policy of the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). In addition to asking our suppliers to identify the sources of all hardwood used, Integrity’s manufacturers purchase wood from domestic sources whenever possible. By helping to ensure the careful preservation and management of the world’s forests, Integrity Office also protects the long term availability of a valuable natural resource.
Integrity Offices’ environmental policies seek to preserve all aspects of the environment, including the air. One significant way to preserve the air is by preventing, reducing or eliminating manufacturing-related emissions known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemicals that contribute to the formation of ground—level ozone and are found in many paints, adhesives and cleaning solvents.
Integrity Office has reduced VOC output by utilizing alternative methods of painting, which are either VOC-free or produce minimal amounts of VOCs. An example is the Trilogy System’s metal legs and beam, with screen partitions are powder-coat painted and this method is completely VOC-free. Integrity Office also uses non-solvent base adhesives, further eliminating VOC’s. High performance water based and hot-melt adhesives both VOC-free are used in place of solvent-based adhesives on a range of office products.
The next best thing to preventing waste is recycling it to produce useable materials and new products from office paper and corrugated cardboard, to fabric scrap and steel. Integrity Office currently uses recyclable corrugated cardboard in shipping goods. We also have a number of local fabric suppliers who now have a completely recyclable fabric on the market, to be generally used on chairs and panel systems.
