RANDOLPH, Vt. -  High-end corporate furniture manufacturer WallGoldfinger Thursday was presented with a Vermont Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence at the Statehouse by Deb Markowitz, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources last month

The award honors a WallGoldfinger wood products waste diversion program started in by former maintenance supervisor John Crowne, and continued under current supervisor Adam Salls.
 
In 2014 and 2015, the program diverted more than 23,000 pounds of plywood, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and veneer scrap from the waste stream to partners around the state, including non-profit ReSOURCE, Green Mountain Drums, the Vermont Woodworking School, and to Atlantic Plywood.

At the same time, WallGoldfinger is reducing its waste removal costs and impact on the environment.

“I am really proud of you,” said Gov. Peter Shumlin. "What we’re really honoring is your innovation.”

In looking at programs worthy of the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence, a key factor considered by Vermont was whether the program could be easily replicated at other businesses or organizations. The awards, she said, are meant to lift up businesses in hopes others will follow suit.
 
One strong aspect of WallGoldfinger’s program is that it is both impactful and easy to implement.

“It’s not a ton of extra effort to set aside waste materials, but the benefits measure in the tons. If they’re not already, other businesses could make a similar impact,” said WallGoldfinger CEO John Wall. “We’re very thankful to the governor’s office and the Agency of Natural Resources for recognizing both the impact of our program and its potential on a statewide level. We do hope others can follow this example and pair their ‘waste’ with organizations in need.”

WallGoldfinger previously won the award in 2000 for pollution prevention for the low emission spray guns used in its finishing department.

 WallGoldfinger also recycles the typical papers, plastic and more; has a scrap metal recycling program; is Forest Stewardship Council certified; is a Vermont Green Business; uses high efficiency lighting and equipment with high efficiency motors to reduce electricity use; uses non-toxic materials, such as adhesives, as often as possible; and operates out of a factory heated with biomass woodchips.

“Our clients are located around the country and around the world. Our business consequently could be located anywhere. We chose Vermont 45 years ago – and we choose it today – for its natural beauty. We want to be part of maintaining that,” said Wall, who accepted the award on behalf of his company.
 
Founded in 1971, WallGoldfinger designs, engineers, manufactures and installs the world’s finest executive furniture, including custom boardroom and conference tables, lecterns and credenzas and meticulously-crafted Arbor and Summit product lines. Built for today’s business people, WallGoldfinger’s furniture solutions are innovatively designed to integrate the latest communication technology, built with responsibly-sourced materials and made in the United States in a state-of-the-art facility in Randolph, Vermont.

Owned by John Wall, WallGoldfinger products are displayed in a New York City showroom, represented by a sales force around the country and sold to top corporate, institutional and government decision makers in collaboration with leading architects. Nationally known for its work with Fortune 500 corporations, leading financial and insurance institutions, large law firms, universities and government agencies, WallGoldfinger clients include the White House, New York Stock Exchange, International Monetary Fund and the United Nations.