PAGO DESIGNS AUSTRALIA - ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT

Background:
Pago Designs is a wholly owned and operated Australian business, and we have made a commitment to minimising the environmental impact of our manufacturing processes and products. Our commitment is based not only on the sourcing of environmentally sound materials but also the ability to maximise our recyclable product content.

The need for ECO-sustainability:
It is estimated that the building and housing sector is responsible for the use of almost 30% of all materials extracted from the natural environment. With building, the furniture and paper industries, are the main consumers of timber products. Therefore questions of sustainable forestry or the quality of wood-based material are closely connected with the discussion of criteria for environmental friendly furniture.

Impact on the work environment:
On the other hand indoor air quality directly related to Sick Building Syndrome, together with productivity, is becoming critically important in assessing the performance of commercial office space. Indoor air quality is influenced by the emission of volatile organic compounds from finishes, glues and paints. Reduced exposure to noxious airborne emissions minimises the effects of chemical sensitivity related disorders, and therefore ensures increased productivity from your employees.

So, where does that leave the furniture industry?
In order to get an insight into the over-all environmental impact of furniture one has to consider the whole life cycle of furniture. This life cycle starts with the PRODUCTION of raw materials and ends with the DISPOSAL of the furniture.

According to a study done for the European furniture industry, the approximate share of materials used in furniture manufacture is as follows:
• 70% wood (-based material),
• 15% padding materials (mainly polyurethane and polyester foam),
• 10% metals
• 5% other materials (plastics, textiles, glass, etc.).

Therefore the focus will be on the environmental aspects of the main materials that are being used in furniture:
• wood;
• wood-based panels;
• plastics;
• metals;
• textiles;
• leather;
• glues;
• foam materials;
• fibre glass;

Pago Designs commitment to environmentally sustainable process and products is a matter of careful selection of materials and the constant evolution of our manufacturing processes.



PRODUCTION

Wood and wood based seat panels:

Environmental Impact:
• clear-cutting of old-growth forests
• emissions of toxic compounds (in case of impregnating or other treatment with fungicides etc.)
• use of glues resulting in air emissions (eg formaldehyde)

Pago Strategy:
Over 95% of our products consist of ply board substrate. In our seating ranges all ply moulds and frames are made from plantation timber and forest timber waste. In our ECO & Horizon workstation range all substrate will be E=0 (Zero formaldehyde emission level) grade MDF. This MDF is made from plantation timber and forest timber waste. The adhesive used in our edge-banding is an EVA based resin which does not emit harmful fumes during the process or later.

Plastics:

Environmental Impact:
• energy use
• air emissions (Volatile Organic Components - VOC)
• in case of plastic foam emissions to air of blowing agents such as HCFCs (ozone depleting)
• toxic additives such as flame retardants and heavy metals (emissions during disposal), similar to PVC during incineration disposal.

Pago Strategy:
All plastic used where possible will be Polypropylene, and therefore recyclable.

Metals :

Environmental Impact:
• energy use
• waste related to production of raw material
• emissions of heavy metals and other compounds (in case of surface treatment, galvanic processing).

Pago Strategy:
All metals where possible to be recycled but this is NOT a significant part of our manufacturing activity

Lacquering and painting (mainly for wood and metals):

Environmental Impact:
• air emission of VOC (in case of solvent-based lacquering)
• dangerous waste (spraying losses, airborne toxins.)
• emissions of heavy metals (at end-of-life of furniture)

Pago Strategy:
With Powdercoating, we make sure that all our painting, METAL AND TIMBER (MDF), is solvent free. All powdercoated items (metal and MDF) are amenable to RE-POWDERCOAT and extension of life-cycle.

Textiles:

Environmental Impact:
• use of pesticides (in case of natural fibres)
• use of brominated flame retardants
• VOC emissions to air (in case of plastic fibres)
• Air emissions (formaldehyde)
• Water emissions (dyes, pigments, fungicides)
• Durability (during use-phase)

Pago Strategy:
NOT in our scope of manufacturing activity

Leather:

Environmental Impact:
• air emission of VOC (in case of solvent-based lacquering)
• water emission of chromium compounds
• durability (during use-phase)

Pago Strategy:
NOT in our scope of manufacturing activity

Glues:

Environmental Impact:
• air emission of VOC (in case of solvent-based glue)

Pago Strategy:
Water base glue is used to attach foams to seat & back pans. Glue is Hydro carbon & solvent free. Hot-melt glue used for edge-banding and does NOT use any solvents. No glue is used for any of the joints in the manufacturing process.

Foam materials:

Environmental Impact:
• air emission of VOC (CFCs in manufacturing process)
• durability (during use-phase)

Pago Strategy:
Utilise foam manufactured via CFC-emission free process

Fibreglass:

Environmental Impact:

Pago Strategy:
Recycled where possible, or controlled landfill disposal

DISPOSAL

The amount and composition of waste originating from furniture depends amongst other things on the following parameters:

1. Lifetime of product:
This in turn is influenced by parameters such as durability, quality and ease of cleaning.

Pago Strategy: Quality is assured by attention to detail and using high quality hardware. Proper orientation in design and construction to facilitate maintenance and cleaning. All ECO & Horizon range furniture is built with HMR substrate and structurally well engineered (especially joinery) for durability.

2. Ease of disassembly:
Ease of disassembly facilitates the reuse or recycling of furniture parts and thus reduce the amount of waste to be incinerated or land filled. Ease of disassembly can be achieved by avoiding bonding techniques such as gluing or welding.

Pago Strategy:
All chairs are manufactured to allow ease of disassemble All furniture made will use cam lock fittings ONLY. NO gluejoints will be permitted in the ECO & Horizon range.

3. Composition of furniture:
The design and material selection determines whether parts can be reused or recycled.

Pago Strategy:
All plastic, foams, back & seat pans & metal can be recycled various extents.
All MDF powdercoated material can be renewed by re-powdercoating to prolong lifespan, thus ensuring longevity.
Melamine furniture, using E=0 substrate, can be re-edged and recycled to some extent.
All furniture in the ECO & Horizon range use predominantly recyclable materials, and do not contain any toxic compounds which means no harmful emissions during disposal.

Conclusion:
We will continuously develop and evolve this commitment to ensure that we are delivering against the highest possible standards of sustainability for you, our clients, and for our shared environment. To this end:
• We will move forward by launching a ECO-range of Worktops and Joinery.
• The Standard range will comprise of Melamine Board with E=0 substrate
• The Premium end will comprise of Powder-Coated MDF (which is also with E=0 substrate).
• Minimize materials wastage and implement and in-house recycling program.
So, help us to help the environment, and we can build a long lasting, eco-sustainable relationship.