A leading international expert on sustainable development said today, Monday 8th October, Steelcase, the world’s leading office space and furniture designer, has been aiming to reduce its global carbon footprint by 25 per cent by 2012.

Hélène Babok-Haeussler, Director of European Internal Communication and Sustainable Development Programs for Steelcase, spoke at theMuseums and Galleries, Energy and Carbon (MAGEC) Forum, which is supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Hélène Babok-Haeusslersaid: “Steelcase has been championing the need for environmental responsibility in industry and applying design expertise to create innovative products with reduced environmental impact as part of our global commitment to sustainable business practice.

“It was great to be able to share Steelcase’s transparent approach to sustainability, and our commitment to eco-friendly and socially responsible design and manufacture of our products throughout their life-cycle at a forum dedicated to reducing carbon emissions in their sector.”

The speech showcased several examples of Steelcase’s long-term approach to sustainability. These include the 100% PVC free universal storage unit and the 32 Second chair’s Eco-Smart+ packaging, which delivers significant environmental improvements, such as less packaging waste, and better transportation efficiency with lower energy consumption and C02 emissions.

The presentation also focused on highlighting Steelcase’s environmental credibility extends beyond its range of desking, storage and seating products, but also to its packaging, transport and factories that produce its products.

About Museums and Galleries Energy and Carbon Forum (MAGEC):

24 museums, galleries and libraries and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), supported by the Carbon Trust, CarbonSense and Faber Manusell, came together in late 2004 to look at a number of issues in connection with energy use and carbon emissions across the sector as a whole including:

• benchmarking – making use of the forum as a means to pool energy data;
• energy auditing / walk-arounds to identify high energy, consumption;
• gearing up for the EU Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings Directive – to get an understanding of the directive and what it means for the sector;
• refurbishment of buildings – ensuring the right decisions are made at the beginning of the design process.