Sustainable Product Design

keeping sustainability in mind throughout the product life cycle

It’s important to us to produce furniture that’s mindful of the environment throughout its life cycle. That’s why we design every product with longevity in mind. We manufacture our products with components that are easy to replace in the field if and when there’s wear and tear to fix or aesthetic updates to make. Components are recyclable whenever possible. And when a product’s life cycle does come to an end, we make sure they’re simple to disassemble for recycling.

Sustainable Design

Sustainable design begins with understanding what goes into our products, and we take an approach that’s both precautionary and proactive. As much as possible, we incorporate renewable and recyclable materials—like bio-based foam or recycled aluminum framework—in all of our products.

Our materials chemistry practice assesses materials to understand their potential impacts on human and environmental health. And we actively work with our supply chain to phase out materials of concern and develop suitable alternatives.

Disassembly

KI provides disassembly instructions to make it simple for our customers to recycle materials at the end of a product’s life cycle.

Disassembly Instructions

Recovery Options

KI provides assistance in the removal, repurposing, resale or recycling of used or unneeded products. We can also assist with brokering furniture from other manufacturers.

Recovery Options Matrix

Design for the Environment (DFE)

All new KI product-development projects go through a Design for the Environment analysis. The DFE program allows us to continually evaluate and improve recyclability and biodegradability, minimize energy and water use, and reduce environmental impact at the end of product life.

Product Certifications

KI holds certifications that apply stringent standards to our products, to ensure that we’re building low-emission products that improve indoor air quality and aid customers in creating healthy and sustainable spaces.

SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services certification ensures that our products meet the most stringent standards for indoor air quality.

SCS Indoor Advantage

SCS Indoor Advantage™ ensures that our products meet indoor air-quality standards that are critical to achieving LEED Certification.

CARB2 Compliant

KI complies with California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) standards for all wood-composite products.

Healthier Hospitals

KI took part in this effort to ensure that products are free from chemical additives that can affect air quality and end-user health.

The Living Building Challenge

KI’s Declare certification, through the Living Building Challenge, allows customers to easily select products that add to a Living Building Challenge certification.

Forest Stewardship Council®

We partner with many vendors who supply FSC-certified wood components to support responsible forest management.

BIFMA

KI has been certified for 175 products under this program, which recognizes commercial furniture products that are manufactured in a responsible way.

Association for Contract Textiles’ Facts

Pallas Textiles offers fabrics with Facts® certification, a sustainability rating that evaluates environmental, economic and social responsibility throughout the product life cycle.