GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Steelcase Inc. (NYSE:SCS), a $2.3 billion manufacturer of office, contract and healthcare furniture, said it is far ahead of the goals it set in 2001 to reduce its impact on the environment.
 
The company's progress is detailed in its 2010 Corporate Sustainability Report released on October 18. It covers Steelcase's environmental achievements and benchmarks over the last year. 

During the past year, Steelcase said it has realized "breakthroughs in sustainable packaging, PVC reductions, including elmination of PVC edgebanding in 17 product lines, and environmental education, to name a few." The company said it will continue to improve its products and operations, and to meet goals that coincide with its 100-year anniversary in 2012.

Steelcase said it regularly monitors its progress and uses key metrics to measure improvements keyed to benchmarks it developed in 2001. Among its achievements, Steelcase said since 2001, it has:
* Reduced its waste by 63%;
* Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 59%;
* Reduced water consumption by 71% (a 7% increase from last year); and
* Reduced VOC emissions by 94%.

“There is no standing still in regards to sustainability,” said Jim Hackett, president and CEO of Steelcase. “There must be movement and progress in order to build a strong future for the planet, its institutions and its people. This belief is deeply embedded in Steelcase’s DNA, and continues to focus and inspire us in today’s challenging times.”

Click here to view the complete report.

Read Steelcase's press release.