October 17, 2006

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester awarded Clean Corporate Citizen (C3) designation to Herman Miller, Inc. at a ceremony in Spring Lake on October 17. Five of the office furniture manufacturer's six facilities in West Michigan received the award including its Main Site facility in Zeeland, its Midwest Distribution Center in Holland, and the Spring Lake facilities located on 171st Avenue, Hickory, and Van Wagoner. The company's GreenHouse facility in Holland received the award in 2005.

"I am pleased to formally recognize the Herman Miller staff for their dedication to protecting and improving the environment and the quality of life in their communities," said Director Chester. "Herman Miller is demonstrating our belief that a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand-in-hand."

To qualify for C3 designation, candidates must adopt a facility-specific environmental management system, active pollution prevention initiatives, and have a consistent record of compliance with applicable environmental requirements.

"The C3 program places the burden of proof on its recipients to show they operate in an environmentally responsible manner," said Paul Murray, director of Environmental Health and Safety at Herman Miller. "We've used this as an opportunity to put our Environmental Management System under the microscope. The C3 annual renewal requirement provides objective feedback so that our employees remain vigilant in our EMS initiatives."

Each Herman Miller manufacturing and shipping location is certified to ISO 14001, the international standard for environmental management. Herman Miller's 2020 environmental goals will be achieved via the collective facility-specific targets and programs, including the following:

• Main Site (Zeeland) represents Herman Miller's earliest example of environmentally-friendly buildings and the first facility in Michigan to earn Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification, with 50 percent of property set aside as green space. The Energy Center provides steam for the Main Site from burnable solid waste including wood scrap from sister facilities. The facility partners with Michigan State University, the DEQ, and Shady Side Farm in Ottawa County to recycle 135,000 pounds of poultry manure waste and manufacturing sawdust into safe and beneficial mulch. In addition, associates from Main Site work with Madison Middle School to increase student literacy through environmental scientific study focused on water quality issues, wetlands, and invasive species.
  
  
• 171st Avenue Operations (Spring Lake) recycles 88 percent of solid waste, has reduced water use by 20 percent, uses bio-diesel to fuel switcher trucks and lawn equipment, sends all used coolants and oils to recycling, and has set a goal to divert 100 percent of waste powder from landfill. Its VOC emissions have been reduced from over 100 tons per year to zero through the substitution of powder paint for wet coating.
  
  
• Hickory Operations (Spring Lake) recycles 91 percent of solid waste, has achieved a 20 percent reduction in water use, and operates a pilot program for converting café waste into compost. The facility uses bio-diesel for switcher trucks and lawn equipment, and innovative training helps associates find and fix energy-draining equipment or situations.
  
  
• Midwest Distribution Center (Holland) has reduced by 80 percent the amount of solid waste sent to landfill, achieved a 50 percent reduction in waste sent to Herman Miller's Energy Center, uses new fuel efficient vehicles, and assesses all contracted carriers to ensure sustainable business practices. The facility uses native plants to filter storm water runoff and eliminate fertilizers, herbicides, and lawn mowing.
  
  
• Van Wagoner Operations (Spring Lake) recycles 98 percent of solid waste with zero going to landfill, already achieving Herman Miller's corporate goal of zero landfill waste by 2020. In addition, they use bio-diesel equipment to reduce air emissions, send out used oil for recycling, and landscape facility grounds with native plantings to minimize fertilizers and mowing.

The Clean Corporate Citizen program is open to establishments regulated under any of Michigan's environmental statutes. Designations are valid for one year and must be renewed annually. More information on the Clean Corporate Citizen program is available on the DEQ's Web site at www.michigan.gov/deqc3.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future

Revised October 17, 2006 by Pat Watson