Denise Luther, Senior Graphic Designer @ Ergotron

I have been enjoying the “GreenBuzz” email newsletter from GreenBiz that my friend Michelle told me about. While reading a recent article on EPEAT, the Green Electronic Council’s green computing certification program, I was compelled to click on a link for the Steelcase “Be a Green Giant” initiative.

Not only does this site meet my own aesthetics for beautiful design (the elegant lateral navigation makes for a seamless, holistic visual experience), it also offers practical tips for “creating significant positive change for both people and planet.”

My favorites:

1. Kick off a program of sustainability at the office. Form a group that focuses on improving environmental and social issues. Make sure to measure activity and impact. After all, you’ll want to celebrate big accomplishments.
2. Tired of all the greenwashing? Don’t just settle for “green”—look into the full social and environmental impact of the products you use. If you don’t like what you find, consider options that achieve higher standards.
3. Tired of seeing all those paper cups in the trash? Initiate a recycling program at work—create a contest to see which department can create the least amount of non-recyclable waste. Your recycling bins will see significantly more use.

(Click here for the rest of the 16 tips)

Ergotron has implemented a recycling program at our St. Paul office/warehouse as one of our sustainability efforts.

Carrie Grossman (from our purchasing department) tracks recycling of scrap plastic, wire/cable, TVs, keyboards and power supplies.  Since July of 2008, Ergotron has stopped 8,149 pounds of these materials from ending up in Minnesota landfills. We recycle pop cans and bottles, steel, aluminum, cardboard, plastics, pallets, and more.

We also saved $4,500 in six months by installing energy-efficient lighting.

We are working toward ISO 14001 certification (a global environmental standard) in 2009.

What’s on your “green” to-do list for 2009?

Not-so-big Carrie shows off the giant recycling container donated by Dakota County to help jump-start Ergotron’s recycling program.

As a supplier partner to many market making PC OEM and display companies around the globe, we’re asked routinely at Ergotron what our “green” initiatives are.

If you’re not green these days, you’re nowhere.

While we have extensive recycling and packaging/containerization efforts going on, I’ve said, and my team thinks I’m using marketing spin, that Ergotron’s products are  beyond green: they are designed for re-use.

I’m not being flippant.  I’m very, very serious.

Many companies these days build their products to be “disposable.”  They build for obsolescence.  They count on a “refresh” cycle to have an annuity business model. Ergotron doesn’t.

Quite the contrary, we build our products to outlive the flat panel monitors, notebooks and large displays they attach to.

We build them so well, we know they frequently outlast two monitors’ fields lives.  We see some factory floors that still have our Command Center arms and pole mounts that were shipped in the early ‘90s. 

How does making something that lasts and lasts to begin with play in today’s green washed discussions? 

What’s the more ecological trade off? 

Building something to last and in so doing, not consuming double raw materials or energy for a second or third time?

Or, building something using sub-standard, but “green” components, and then having to make a second and possibly even third product to deliver the field life of the less green version?

You tell me.

Denise Luther, Senior Graphic Designer @ Ergotron

At a recent family reunion, I was talking to my cousin’s wife, who has worked at one of the biggest event graphics companies in the state for the past 20 years. “So how does that feel?” I asked. “Like I’ve spent two decades of my life filling landfills,” she replied. The company used to recycle most of their construction materials and signage, but stopped some time ago. This was horrifying news.

I’ve been happy to discover that one of my vendors, Big Ink, has implemented a Zero-Waste Graphics Recycling Program for their customers. They accept PVC, polystyrene, paper-based materials, acrylics and aluminum. The PVC is turned into plumbing pipe and outdoor furniture, the polystyrene into commercial landscape materials. They also offer what they call Eco-Green Options: biodegradable fabrics and boards, and a fabric with 100% recycled content.

I’m interested to hear about techniques, workflows, materials, vendors from other marketers/designers. The heroes and the villains helping move us all toward more sustainable design practices.